Social Impact Blog

When John Rush began contemplating a move from Chicago to Columbus nearly a decade ago to launch what would become CleanTurn, he knew he wanted to do something different. Something bigger and more flexible than a traditional nonprofit. Something that enabled the organization to partner with multiple nonprofits and the public without depending on grants […]

Furniture Bank’s two social enterprises provide needed support for nonprofit’s bottom line In 2016, Furniture Bank of Central Ohio launched its first social enterprise, Furniture with a Heart, a furniture thrift store, followed by its second venture in 2017, Downsize with a Heart, a service-based enterprise helping individuals declutter, pack and move into smaller homes. Now that […]

Like so many social enterprises, Roosevelt Coffee Roasters works hard to build the long-term sales pipeline that will empower the organization to create significant social change. But long before the organization can break through the barriers of social injustice, the quest to break even and make good on the loans borrowed to start up the […]

The time to Knock Out Poverty in central Ohio is NOW! Your online donation to SocialVentures at knockoutpoverty.org can help us win a portion of the $200,000 prize pool at stake in United Way of Central Ohio’s friendly bracket challenge, Knock Out Poverty. If you haven’t made an annual gift yet (or even if you have) […]

Over the past five years, Philanthropitch, the social impact fast pitch competition, has been on a mission to scale innovative nonprofits in communities around the nation. Presented by Kiwanis Club of Columbus & co-hosted by SocialVentures, the first annual Philanthropitch Columbus will take place at the the Speaker Jo Ann Davidson Theatre in the Riffe […]

Philanthropitch has announced six of the seven total finalist organizations to pitch at the inaugural Columbus event on March 4, 2019. The seventh finalist organization will be announced at SocialVentures’ Nonprofit Sustainability Showcase on February 7, 2019. Presented by Kiwanis Club of Columbus and co-hosted by SocialVentures, Philanthropitch Columbus event will take place at Jo Ann […]

B Labs and its Certified B Corp program have gained significant traction over the years as a way to communicate businesses’ transparency as it relates to their commitment to ethical business practices, as well as their commitment to using environmental sustainability. Similarly, Conscious Capitalism is also trending among corporations examining their 360-degree impact, and exploring […]

Fit to Navigate wins crowd favorite at SEA Change Social Enterprise Accelerator Pitch Day – Columbus 2018. Photo courtesy of GIVEBACKHACK Columbus. On August 22, more than 200 individuals gathered to hear eight organizations pitch their social enterprise concepts at SEA Change Social Enterprise Accelerator Pitch Day – Columbus 2018. A total of 15 organizations […]

During SocialVentures’ annual Positioned to Prosper event, which took place on August 7 at the Columbus Museum of Art, Allen Proctor, President & CEO, SocialVentures, announced that SocialVentures will co-host the first annual Philanthropitch in Columbus on March 4, 2019. Philanthropitch is a social impact fast-pitch competition on a mission to scale innovative nonprofits. Presented […]

During the August 7 presentation at SocialVentures’ annual Positioned to Prosper event, Allen Proctor announced that Social Ventures Fund has made its first investment in Roosevelt Coffee Roasters. Social Ventures Fund, LLC lent $50,000 to Roosevelt Coffee, LLC. Kenny Sipes, Founder of The Roosevelt Coffeehouse, came to the stage to talk about his new business […]