Update on Social Innovation Shared Space Feasibility & Business Plan

Pillar Nonprofit Network and Emerging Leaders  are excited to provide you with an update on the progress of the Social Innovation Shared Space Feasibility & Business Plan. 

We have come together to create a community workspace comprised of diverse groups of people, who positively impact the community, encourage collaboration, incubate emerging enterprises, and spark new models and ideas to contribute to the economic prosperity of London.  

1. Design Jams - Pillar and Emerging Leaders co-hosted 3 Design Jams with 130 attendees to determine the interest and vision for a social innovation shared space for London. The overwhelming response was a need and a commitment by attendees to be part of co-creating a social innovation shared space. check out the video captured by webisod.es at the Design Jams http://bit.ly/10LNG3p

2. Pre-application - We have had 96 pre-applications completed to date and it is still an open application process. Please visit http://londonsharedspace.ca/  and feel free to share with others. This is an opportunity to confirm interest in playing a part as a tenant, a member or an interested participant. We have documented an interest in 20,000-30,000 square feet so far.

3. Business Model & Financials - We are currently confirming the business model and testing the financial assumptions for a social innovation shared space.

4. Social Innovation Shared Space Bus Tour - on Friday May 10th we hosted a diverse group of 40 attendees on a bus tour to visit the Centre for Social Innovation Annex & Artscape Wychwood Barns in Toronto. Attendees had the opportunity to see first hand how these spaces work and to ask questions.

5.. Site Selection - We have a site selection committee who is developing the criteria and requirements to determine how it relates to our real estate needs.

We are working towards having a draft feasibility and business plan in June. 

We greatly appreciate the support of London Community Foundation and United Way London & Middlesex who have generously funded the feasibility and business plan process.

If you have any questions or input please feel free to contact us.

Warm regards,

Michelle Baldwin, Executive Director Pillar Nonprofit Network

mbaldwin@pillarnonprofit.ca   519-433-7876

Sean Quigley, Executive Director, Emerging Leaders

ed@emergingleaders.ca    226-289-2360 

Social Finance London: is in gathering mode

Guest Blogger: Lina Bowden, Social Finance Specialist

How does a community go about addressing its most pressing social issues and how does it achieve its goals of inclusivity, resiliency and vibrancy? The system we currently accept is one where governments and nonprofits have the primary responsibility for achieving these goals. Businesses and citizens contribute through philanthropic contributions and volunteerism but most traditional models do not expect much more from the business sector.

For a number of years now, social finance has been a growing concept that provides another way to tackle community needs with significant potential for impact. Charitable Foundations (like our own London Community Foundation) are allocating part of their investments to loan funds that make social investments in the community with a blend of financial and social or environmental returns. Individual and institutional investors have the same opportunity to explore ways of investing a small portion of their investment portfolios in local social investments. At the same time, community groups are devising new ways to utilize capital injections that are paid back to an investor, as alternatives to models that rely solely on grant dollars. Similarly, microloans to micro-entrepreneurs are being used to help individuals who face financial stability challenges.  Social enterprises are also on the rise as nonprofits and social entrepreneurs are finding innovative business models that address their mission.

Gathering Steam

In 2011, the United WayLondon & Middlesex partnered with Goodwill, Family Service Thames Valley & Libro Financial to pilot a microloan / matched savings program. Also in 2011, Pillar Nonprofit Network, in partnership with the Richard Ivey School ofBusiness and United Way London & Middlesex, launched the Social Enterprisefor Sustainable Communities initiative, which provides grants to start up social enterprises as well as supports and coaching. London CommunityFoundation established a Social Finance Committee and a Loan Fund that initially will focus on affordable housing investments. Community Futures Fund offers loans to start up businesses (including social enterprises) in Middlesex County.  Throughout 2012, models for raising social purpose capital, such as community bonds, were being explored by a number of community groups.  

Gathering at Grosvenor

London kicked off 2013 with a collective exploration of community-based social finance.  On Monday January 21^st, 2013 thirty-two of London’s community’s leaders gathered at Grosvenor Lodge to talk about social finance within the context of our city of London.  Participants were from organizations that are already exploring or implementing social finance opportunities, including the City of London, Libro Financial, London Community Foundation, Sisters of St. Joseph, OceanRock Financial, Pillar Nonprofit Network, Richard Ivey School of Business, United Way of London and Middlesex, Community Futures Fund, Old East Village, Westany Holdings, WOTCH. We also had invited guests from the Centre for ImpactInvesting at the MaRS Centre in Toronto.

Four themes emerged from our discussion:

1)     The work around social finance could not be done by one organization alone in our community, but rather should have collective ownership and leadership.

2)     We need to engage more people in the discussion from the business sector and local players from the investment field.

3)     Education and awareness of this new field will be critical in generating a level of confidence and understanding of social finance approaches. This applies both the supply side (investors) and the demand side (community groups with ideas for using the capital for long term social impact).

4)     We need an intermediary or clearinghouse to connect the supply and demand locally, while linking to existing structures outside of our community, such as the Social Venture Exchange.

Gathering a Shared Leadership Group

Early in May 2013, London Community Foundation, United Way London & Middlesex, Pillar Nonprofit Network and the Sisters of St. Joseph enthusiastically agreed to collectively fund and support the continuation of the work started at the Grosvenor Gathering. A 12-month initiative, Social Finance London, has been launched to continue to bring people together to talk and learn about localized social finance opportunities. Throughout June, we will formulate plans to move this work forward here in London, while tapping into the incredible resources that already exist here in Canada, such as socialfinance.ca and the Centre for Impact Investing team. If you are interested in getting connected with Social Finance London contact me at lina.bowden@gmail.com.

Federal Government steps into social finance through HRSDC Call for Concepts

At the close of 2012, HRSDC announced a Social Finance Call for Concepts.  Last week HRSDC released their report, sharing some of the examples of how investment capital from the private sector (foundations, pension plans and individuals) can be tied to the government’s social program dollars to create meaningful social impact.

In other countries, ideas such as social impact bonds (SIBs) have garnered much attention –both from skeptics who say governments must not relinquish their responsibility for investing in social programs –and from proponents who see the exponential benefits to communities when the private sector, nonprofit sector and governments work together.

I personally see many positive outcomes from our government’s interest in social finance. A social impact bond program is only one of the ways to garner cross-sector investment in social needs. There are many other opportunities for cross-sector investment in solutions to social problems and some of these are highlighted in the report from HRSDC. As Canada moves forward with possible new policies and partnerships that support social finance initiatives, there is a great potential to have magnified impact on our communities. 

The recent Globe and Mail article provides some further background.

Lina Bowden, MA, FCMA

Social Finance London

Email: lina.bowden@gmail.com

Twitter: @linabowden

   

Leadership is a “Balancing” Act

Recently I (Chris Moss) facilitated a workshop called "Authentic Leadership" at Pillar Nonprofit Network. This course was created from many different materials I collected while doing my Master's Degree in Leadership a few years ago in British Columbia. Part of this transformational program was to experience a ropes course. As I shared about this experience with the nonprofit leaders enrolled in my workshop, I was told it was very inspirational and had motivated them to reach higher for their goals. 

That said, our local YMCA has an amazing course right here in London. Since I love promoting our local social enterprises I asked them to share some information with you:

Guest Blogger: Megan McIlmoyl, Marketing and Communications Intern, YMCA of Western Ontario

Participants must leave their briefcases and backpacks at the door and prepare for a day of climbing, balancing and swinging through a high impact course when they do teambuilding at the YMCA of Western Ontario’s Outdoor Leadership Centre. This outdoor setting offers a unique, hands-on experiential learning opportunity full of adventure and teamwork.

The Outdoor Leadership Centre offers high and low ropes courses, a climbing wall, cooperative games, and more .There are activities designed for all age groups, from pre-schoolers to adults. Activities are followed by an in-depth de-brief where participants can share openly about their experience.

Instructors are dedicated to providing you with an action-packed, team-building program. And they’re trained in CPR and First Aid too!

The YMCA Outdoor Leadership Centre is located on the grounds of the Scouts Canada Spencer Lodge, a scenic 27 acre pocket of wilderness in North London. If you are looking for a unique way to initiate collaboration, cohesiveness, and creative communication, contact the Y today!

Check out more info at http://ymcawo.ca/outdoor-education or call them at 519.858.1707.

Social Innovation Shared Space: Great things are afoot!

Guest Blogger: Sean Quigley, Executive Director, Emerging Leaders

Sometimes an idea comes up and fades away and comes up again and fades. But some ideas have too much pull, are too good, not to continue working on. Such is the case for a shared space for social innovation. 

What is a shared space for social innovation? Well one example of this is Toronto’s Centre for Social Innovation. From their website : “The Centre for Social Innovation is a social enterprise with a mission to catalyze social innovation in Toronto and around the world. We believe that society is facing unprecedented economic, environmental, social and cultural challenges. We also believe that new innovations are the key to turning these challenges into opportunities to improve our communities and our planet. CSI is a coworking space, community centre and incubator for people who are changing the world. We provide our members with the spaces, relationships and knowledge they need to turn their ideas into impact.”

Pillar Nonprofit Network (Pillar) and Emerging Leaders (EL) have recently begun working on a feasibility study for such a space in London. Through generous funding from the London Community Foundation, Ministry ofCitizenship & Immigration and United Way of London Middlesex, and with partners such as Web.isod.es, and the Centre for Social Innovation, we are exploring how to make this sticky idea a reality in London.

Pillar and EL have been hosting a series of design jams to tap the brilliant energy and great ideas of our partners and the wider London community. We have asked questions about whether London needs a social innovation shared space? Who are the people and organizations that would be a good fit? Where should this space be located? How can it be sustainable? Should it be only nonprofits or should it be a mix of social entrepreneurs, social enterprise, start-ups, and established businesses?

On March 19^th, EL hosted one of these jams at the Goodwill Centre and there was a coming together of ideas fueled by our seeders. The Seeders are people who have a strong vision of what this space could be. We have heard from entrepreneurs, nonprofits, community leaders, and Londoners who create impact in our community. There was open, honest, and respectful discussion about what this space needs to be, combined with a palpable excitement about the need for such a space.

Pillar and EL will continue to carefully work through the process of understanding the feasibility of this kind of space and continue to engage the community in helping us to shape these ideas into a concrete plan that can be honestly evaluated. We are truly excited by the potential of this space and all signs are pointing towards this dream becoming a reality.

As we continue along this path and explore this potential, we will share our progress both here and on social media. In the meantime, stay tuned. Great things are afoot!

The word IS out here in London: social enterprise can be a tool for making our community great.

Guest Blogger: Lina Bowden, Volunteer Advisor for Social Enterprise for Sustainable Communities

London, Ontario has been getting an education in social enterprise, thanks to a Trillium-funded initiative called Social Enterprise for Sustainable Communities. In January 2010, Chris Moss joined the Pillar team as Manager, Social Enterprise and leader of this project, which has two important goals.

• First, we wanted to be able learn from the cross-sector engagement process of three cities: London, Sarnia and Ottawa and share these learnings with other communities. Our project partners, Ottawa’s Collaborative for Innovative Social Enterprise Development (CISED) and the Sarnia Community Roundtable, are part of a dynamic community case study that Oana Branzei and Marlene LeBer are compiling on behalf of the Richard Ivey Business School.
• Second, we wanted to create a made-in-London-for-London support system for social enterprise. What would this look like? Well frankly, when we set out to do this, we didn’t really know! Yes, there were some solid social enterprises already in our community; the likes of Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU), Goodwill, YMCA of Western Ontario and Pathways Skills Development. But, to stimulate and support social enterprise in London we knew we needed a grassroots approach. We needed to listen carefully to what our community was telling us it needed, while learning, learning and learning about other models in other places that brought positive results. Now that we are two years into this project, I see incredible insight in Trillium’s interest in a project that focuses on awareness, engagement and conversation, exploring how social enterprise becomes part of the fabric of a community.

This past week, our team took pause to reflect on the impact this project has had on London. After numerous hours dedicated to running events, workshops, networking breakfasts, tours and most important of all coaching and connecting, we asked ourselves: what difference are we making in the lives of Londoners?

1. Our support to the newly formed, successful Impact Junk Solutions operated by WOTCH is one significant and exciting milestone for our team.
2. We have also brought a number of groups together to collaborate. For example, YOU Café and Meals on Wheels, two social enterprises that now are partnering to provide 200 meals a day to seniors.
3. Many other nonprofit organizations have benefited from the supports provided by this project, and they continue to move forward with ideas and possible plans for expanding their toolkit to include social enterprise as a means to achieving their mission.
4. In my own view, an unintended and important impact of this project on the community can be best described as nurturing the social entrepreneur. Before this project, there was no home for social innovators, people who call themselves change-makers, community activists, people who challenge status quo and see an opportunity to use a business model to solve a pressing issue or enhance our city. These people might represent an existing nonprofit or they may be individual citizens or groups of citizens who want to make a difference and do it sustainably.

With one year left for this project, we are pleased that we are already ahead of schedule in meeting our expected outcomes that were identified in our project proposal.

1. We have most certainly “increased awareness and conversation of social enterprise and its value”.
2. We have demonstrated an “increased cross-sector collaboration between nonprofit, business and government sectors”.
3. We are starting to visualize the social enterprise support system we want to design for London.

• It is welcoming, nurturing and non-judging so that social entrepreneurs have the freedom and confidence to express themselves and their social enterprise.
• It demands sweat equity, passion and perseverance on the part of the entrepreneur and of course, we challenge with the question “is it sustainable?” (Chris gives homework to everyone.)
• It is primarily a one-on-one model, coaching and inspiring individuals to design a viable social enterprise around their dream for a better London.
• Making connections across sectors, sourcing experts, advisors, supply chains and potential partners is one the most important role that Chris plays. Each relationship is different, but nearly always, she is able to match-make in order to accelerate the social enterprise planning.
• We know that raising capital to seed these ventures is a significant need and we are working with important community partners (across the nonprofit, government and business sectors) to consider the possible frameworks to enable a social finance framework
• We have significantly leveraged tools and resources that already exist. For example, we have used Enterprising Nonprofits(enp) resources almost exclusively as our workshop materials and coaching tools to help nonprofits and social entrepreneurs in the idea generation, exploration, readiness, feasibility and business planning phase. We have also been fortunate to be part of a provincial network called the Ontario SocialEconomy Roundtable (OSER), that has helped us stay plugged into what is happening in the area of social enterprise and social finance across the province. OSER also provides us with an opportunity to play a role in shaping policy and practice in this new field.

It has been immensely rewarding to be involved in this project that has significantly stretched my own thinking about community development. While we have questioned over the past two years ‘who’ might be the target recipient of our efforts, it seems pretty clear to us today who that target is.

1. We need to be ready to motivate existing charities and nonprofits in exploring whether social enterprise is right for them. At the organization level, we can support them in preparing to execute on a social enterprise plan, if it is right for them and there are numerous resources at our fingertips, thanks to groups like Enterprising Nonprofits and other support systems that we leverage.
2. We need to be ready to nurture social innovators and change makers. We have witnessed increased interest in social entrepreneurship, particularly with youth. The floodgates have opened as many of these caring citizens are streaming to Chris’s door asking for someone to listen to them. The possibilities are endless if we feed this passion and energy with a process that helps these individuals move their ideas along. If we choose not to help them, they may give up on their dream or leave London to find a city that offers the right kind of supports.

Thank you Pillar, United Way and Ivey for the chance to be engaged with you on this project. I look forward to the next year as we continue to stimulate and support the social enterprise conversation in London and Middlesex.