Social Impact Blog

SocialVentures hosted its third annual Nonprofit Sustainability Showcase event at Vue Columbus on February 7, 2019. Four SocialVentures’ Nonprofit Catalyst participants shared their social enterprise concepts with more than 200 attendees. These four nonprofits will join the rapidly growing social enterprise sector in Central Ohio, which today is more than 100 strong, approximately 60 of […]

Nick Hirsch is the Managing Director of Coffee Crafters Academy. This business operates cafes inside of correctional facilities as a hands-on program to teach inmates marketable skills and to develop a positive work history that will help them obtain employment once released. It is a for-profit social enterprise of Nothing Into Something Real Estate (NISRE) […]

In January 2017, EmpowerBus was just an idea on paper and comprised two components: one that involved providing children with safe, reliable school transportation, and another one for workforce transportation. Later that year, EmpowerBus co-founders Jerry Tsai and Aslyne Rodriguez decided to participate in SEA Change, a social enterprise accelerator program. They were matched up […]

Founded in 2002, L.A. Catering is one of LifeCare Alliance’s two social enterprise divisions. LifeCare Alliance has been serving the local community through its nutrition and health programs—most notably the Meals on Wheels program—since 1898. All profits from L.A. Catering are reinvested in LifeCare Alliance to support older adults, medically challenged, and disabled individuals in […]

Lisa Hinkelman, a former professor at The Ohio State University (OSU), has turned a research study into a multi-state business. Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX) is a nonprofit committed to equipping girls with the knowledge and skills they need to lead healthy, independent, productive, and violence-free lives. The organization achieves this by providing a K-12 school […]

John Rush has started three for-profit businesses over the past six years that are committed to creating more stable lives for survivors of human trafficking, recovering drug addicts, the formerly incarcerated, and those that society has neglected. In six years, he has created 668 jobs and expanded his customer base by 2000 percent. CleanTurn’s brands […]

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 […]

Bikes for All People (B4AP), the social enterprise bicycle shop owned and operated by Church and Community Development for All People (CD4AP), was launched in September 2014 to provide affordable, reliable and predictable services and support to all bicyclists on the South Side and beyond. A full-service bicycle shop that provides sales, service and accessories […]

Steve Votaw has used his two degrees in criminal justice to tackle its underlying causes. He spent the first 18 years of his professional life expanding Directions for Youth and Families to a $8 million nonprofit serving at-risk families. For the past three years, Steve has served as president of the Furniture Bank of Central […]