Ashoka: Innovators for the Public

Ashoka: Innovators for the Public
Oak Tree (image)
Founder(s) Bill Drayton
Tax ID No. 51-0255908[1]
Founded 1981 (in Washington, D.C)
Location Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, USA
Key people Bill Drayton
(CEO and Chair)
Diana Wells
(President)
Sushmita Ghosh
(President Emeritus)
Area served over 60 countries and supports the work of over 2000 Fellows[2]
Endowment over $32 million (in public support)[3]
Employees 160 staff in 25 regional offices throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa[4]
Website http://ashoka.org

Ashoka: Innovators for the Public is a nonprofit organization based in Arlington, VA, supporting the field of social entrepreneurship. Ashoka was founded by Bill Drayton in 1981 to identify and support leading social entrepreneurs through a Social Venture Capital approach with the goal of elevating the citizen sector to a competitive level equal to the business sector. The organization currently operates in over 70 countries and supports the work of over 2,000 social entrepreneurs, elected as Ashoka Fellows . Ashoka also creates what it calls "mosaics" of best practices that map the commonalities and intersections of key principles that guide Fellows’ individual solutions.[5] Ashoka’s initiatives include Changemakers, Youth Venture, and Full Economic Citizenship.

Contents

History

Ashoka was founded in 1981 by Bill Drayton, who has been called "the godfather of social entrepreneurship" by David Gergen.[6] Ashoka began with an annual budget of $50,000, and elected its first Fellow in India in 1981. During its first decade, Ashoka focused exclusively on finding and investing in leading social entrepreneurs in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Central Europe. During the 1990s, Ashoka expanded its services beyond directly supporting fellows. Today, Ashoka has an annual revenue of nearly $30 million,[7] and has expanded into North America, Western Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East.

Other Programs

Changemakers

Changemakers sponsors collaborative competitions intended to develop innovative solutions to social problems. The open sourcing social solutions model aims to challenge the traditional focus of issues like human trafficking and conflict resolution with a broader, more complete set of stakeholders. Participants include individuals, nonprofits, nongovernmental organizations, public corporations, private companies, and government agencies.

Social entrepreneurs can post their project information on the Changemakers.com website. Any visitor to the website can view these projects and registered users can communicate with participants to help refine and improve their project up until the competition deadline. The website also serves as a library resource for social entrepreneurs, with information on a variety of topics such as aging, health, and rural development.[8]

Changemakers was founded in 1994 by Sushmita Ghosh, the president emerita of Ashoka, and originally started as a magazine based in Calcutta, India. The project was placed online in 1998.[9]

Changemaker Campus Initiative

Ashoka U is working to develop new models for higher education, envisioning a day when universities everywhere serve as an enabling environment in which every individual has access to the resources, learning opportunities, role models, and peer community needed to actualize their full potential as changemakers. Through the Changemaker Campus partnership, Ashoka U works with teams of entrepreneurial students, faculty, and staff from across campus to transform select universities into hubs for social innovation. Now in its second year, the Changemaker Campus Consortium includes Babson College, College of the Atlantic, Cornell University, George Mason University, Johns Hopkins University, The New School, Tulane University, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the University of Maryland–all chosen specifically on their ability and readiness effect cross-campus change.

Youth Venture

Youth Venture invests in teams of young people to start and lead their own social ventures. The concept for Youth Venture emerged following an Ashoka Fellow collaboration around youth and civic participation. Currently, Youth Venture operates in the US, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, India, South Africa, Thailand, and across Europe. Ashoka Youth Venture works with "iCivics", Sandra Day O'Connor's civics-education initiative, to encourage youth activism through Impact Projects.

Global Academy

The Global Academy is a group of social entrepreneurs. Members of the program attempt to direct and advance the field of social entrepreneurship, and to bridge social and business entrepreneurs. Founding members include Muhammad Yunus, Alice Tepper Marlin, Bill Drayton, Peter Eigen, Oded Grajew, and Fazel Abed. The Global Academy also established the University Network, a network of academics and practitioners focused on strengthening teaching and research in social entrepreneurship so that more action will result.

Full Economic Citizenship (FEC)

In 2003, Ashoka launched the Full Economic Citizenship (FEC) initiative. This program is intended to enable business-social alliances to develop the products and the distribution channels to serve currently marginalized markets better. In particular low income housing, health care, small farmers' and energy sectors. Ashoka's goal is to transform these sectors by encouraging these types of partnerships.[10]

For instance, in 2004, Ashoka worked with Cemex, a global cement and building products company, to identify ways in which Cemex could leverage social distribution networks to deliver housing products and services to the poor.[11]

Social Financial Services

Ashoka started the Social Financial Services (SFS) program to address the lack of quantity and diversity in financial support for social ventures. SFS works with leading financial intermediaries to educate them about the value inherent in the social sector and helps them develop new products and services with the goal of having those institutions invest strategically in the sector.[12] In 2006, SFS partnered with Deutsche Bank to launch Eye Fund I, a fund intended to provide loans and guarantees to support the development of affordable, sustainable and accessible eye care for the world's poor while providing a near-market return for investors.[13] In 2007, this partnership was selected as number 13 on Fast Company magazine’s ‘Fast 50: 50 Profit-Driven Solutions for what Ails the Planet’.[14]

Fellows

Fellows by Country

As of July 23, 2010:

Rank Country Year Founded Total Fellows Fellows Per Year Sub-Regional Office Region
1  India 1982 283  ? Bangalore, India Asia
2  Brazil 1986 273 15-20 São Paulo, Brazil South America
3  Mexico 1987 145 10 Mexico City, Mexico North America
4  USA 2000 126 ~23 Arlington, VA, USA North America
5  Indonesia 1983 111  ? Bandung, Indonesia Asia
6  South Africa 1991 90  ? Johannesburg, South Africa Africa
7  Thailand 1989 82  ? Bangkok, Thailand Asia
8  Nigeria 1991 70  ? Dakar, Senegal Africa
9  Poland  ? 68 5-6 Warsaw, Poland Europe
10  Bangladesh 1987 57  ?  ? Asia
11  Colombia 1994 49 2-4 Lima, Peru South America
12  Argentina 1994 48 4 Buenos Aires, Argentina South America
13  Pakistan 1980s 44  ? Karachi, Pakistan Europe
14  Nepal 1987 41  ?  ? Asia
15  Chile 1994 38 4 Buenos Aires, Argentina South America
16  Egypt 2003 36  ? Cairo, Egypt Middle East/North Africa (MENA)
16  Saudi Arabia  ? 36  ? Cairo, Egypt Middle East/North Africa (MENA)
18  Peru 1994 33 2-4 Lima, Peru South America
19  Ecuador 1994 31 2-4 Lima, Peru South America
20  Bolivia 1995 26 2-4 Lima, Peru South America
20  Germany 2005 26  ? Frankfurt, Germany Europe
20  Hungary  ? 26 2 Budapest, Hungary Europe
23  Canada 2002 24 15-20 Toronto, Canada North America
23  Turkey 2000 24  ? Warsaw, Poland Europe
25  Czech Republic 1994 23  ? Warsaw, Poland Europe
26  Uganda 2001 21  ? Nairobi, Kenya Africa
27  Uruguay 1994 20 1-2 Buenos Aires, Argentina South America
27  France 2006 20  ? Paris, France Europe
27  Burkina Faso 1993 20  ? Bamako, Mali Africa
30  Senegal 1992 19  ? Bamako, Mali Africa
31  Spain 2006 17  ? Madrid, Spain Europe
31  Kenya 2002 17  ? Nairobi, Kenya Africa
33  Paraguay 1995 16 1-2 São Paulo, Brazil South America
33  Slovakia 1995 16  ? Warsaw, Poland Europe
35  Venezuela 1996 15 1-3 Lima, Peru South America
35  Sri Lanka 2003 15  ? Colombo, Sri Lanka Asia
37  Mali 1992 13  ? Bamako, Mali Africa
37  Zimbabwe 1990 13  ? Johannesburg, South Africa Africa
39  Costa Rica  ? 11  ? ? South America
40  United Kingdom 2003 9  ? London, United Kingdom Europe
41  Lithuania 2000 8  ? Bratislava, Slovakia Europe
42  Tanzania 2003 6  ? Nairobi, Kenya Africa
42  El Salvador  ? 6  ? ? South America
44  Ireland 2006 5  ? Dublin, Ireland Europe
44  Gambia  ? 5  ? Bamako, Mali Africa
44  Ghana 1992 5  ? Dakar, Senegal Africa
44  Guatemala  ? 5  ? ? South America
44  Switzerland  ? 5  ? Paris, France & Frankfurt, Germany Europe
49  Lebanon  ? 4  ? Cairo, Egypt Middle East/North Africa (MENA)
49  Côte d'Ivoire 1992 4  ? Bamako, Mali Africa
49  Cameroon 1993 4  ? Dakar, Senegal Africa
49  Jordan  ? 4  ? ? Middle East/North Africa (MENA)
53  Palestine  ? 3  ? Cairo, Egypt Middle East/North Africa (MENA)
53  Belgium  ? 3  ? Paris, France Europe
53  Afghanistan 2006 3  ? Karachi, Pakistan Europe
53  Nicaragua  ? 3  ? ? South America
57  East Timor  ? 2  ? Bandung, Indonesia Asia
57  Mozambique 2000 2  ? Johannesburg, South Africa Africa
57  Israel  ? 2  ? Tel Aviv, Israel Middle East/North Africa (MENA)
57  Kuwait  ? 2  ? Cairo, Egypt Middle East/North Africa (MENA)
57  Sweden  ? 2  ? Dublin, Ireland Europe
62  Latvia 2003 1 <1 Bratislava, Slovakia Europe
62  Morocco 2007 1 <1 Cairo, Egypt Africa
62  Guinea-Bissau 1994 1  ? Bamako, Mali Africa
62  Zambia 1991 1  ? Johannesburg, South Africa Africa
62  Botswana 1999 1  ? Johannesburg, South Africa Africa
62  Denmark  ? 1  ? Dublin, Ireland Europe
62  Iceland  ? 1  ? ? Europe
62  Italy  ? 1  ? ? Europe
62  Netherlands  ? 1  ? ? Europe
62  Singapore  ? 1  ? ? Asia
72  Slovenia  ?  ?  ? Bratislava, Slovakia Europe
72  Philippines  ?  ?  ? Makati City, Phillippines Asia

Fellows by Continent

As of 2007[17]:

Continent Total Fellows
Asia 638
South America 571
Africa 293
Europe 192
North America 167
Worldwide 1,861

Fellows by Field of Work

Field of Work Total Fellows
Human Rights 422
Economic Development 411
Civic Engagement 375
Learning/Education 334
Health 311
Environment 258
Worldwide 2,111

Fellows and programs

Organizational Leadership

Board of Directors

Global Office Locations

29 Offices Around the Globe[21][22]

Office Name City Country Countries Handled Region
Ashoka Andean Region Lima  Peru Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

South America
Ashoka Colombia Bogota  Colombia Colombia South America
Ashoka Brazil/Paraguay São Paulo  Brazil Brazil/Paraguay South America
Ashoka-McKinsey Center for Social Entrepreneurship São Paulo  Brazil none South America
Ashoka Southern Cone Buenos Aires  Argentina Argentina, Chile, Uruguay South America
Ashoka Canada Toronto  Canada Canada North America
Ashoka: Emprendedores Sociales Mexico City  Mexico Mexico and Central America North America
Ashoka United States Arlington, VA  United States United States North America
Ashoka Arab World Regional Office Cairo  Egypt Egypt, Morocco, Jordon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Middle East/North Africa (MENA)
Ashoka France/Belgium/Switzerland (French-speaking) Paris  France France/Belgium/Switzerland (French-speaking) Europe
Ashoka Deutschland gGmbH Frankfurt  Germany Germany/Switzerland (German-speaking) Europe
Ashoka Hungary Budapest  Hungary Hungary Europe
Ashoka Ireland Dublin  Ireland Ireland/Denmark/Sweden Europe
Ashoka Israel Tel Aviv  Israel Israel Europe
Ashoka Innovators for the Public in Poland Warsaw  Poland Poland/Czech Republic/Turkey/Slovakia Europe
Ashoka Slovakia Bratislava  Slovakia Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia Europe
Ashoka Spain Madrid  Spain Spain Europe
Ashoka UK London  United Kingdom United Kingdom Europe
Ashoka India Office Bangalore  India India Asia
Ashoka Indonesia Bandung  Indonesia Indonesia Asia
Ashoka Pakistan Karachi  Pakistan Pakistan Asia
Ashoka Philippines Makati City  Philippines Philippines Asia
Ashoka Sri Lanka Colombo  Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Asia
Ashoka Thailand Bangkok  Thailand Thailand Asia
Ashoka: Innovators for the Public Johannesburg  South Africa South Africa

Africa
Ashoka East Africa Nairobi  Kenya Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda Africa
Ashoka Sahel Bamako  Mali Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Senegal Africa
Ashoka Southern Africa Johannesburg  South Africa Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe Africa
Ashoka Senegal Dakar  Senegal Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria Africa

References

  1. ^ http://ashoka.org/facts
  2. ^ http://ashoka.org/facts
  3. ^ http://www.ashoka.org/sites/ashoka/files/SOR_2007_Compressed.pdf Ashoka 2007 Summary of Results
  4. ^ http://ashoka.org/facts
  5. ^ Drayton, W: "Everyone a Changemaker: Social Entrepreneurship's Ultimate Goal". Innovations, Vol. 1/No.1, p. 80-96, 2006
  6. ^ [1]"Gergen, David (2006-02-12). "The New Engines of Reform". U.S News & World Report."
  7. ^ "Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax". 2003
  8. ^ http://proxied.changemakers.net/library/
  9. ^ http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/faq
  10. ^ Full Economic Citizenship, Ashoka. Retrieved 2009-09-01
  11. ^ A Lever Long Enough to Move the World
  12. ^ Social Financial Services | Ashoka.org
  13. ^ "Deutsche Bank to launch Investment Fund supporting Eye Care Hospitals in Developing Countries". Deutsche Bank, 2006
  14. ^ Fishman, C: "Deutsche Bank: A Perfect Vision of What's Needed". Fast Company, 2007
  15. ^ http://ashoka.org/fellows
  16. ^ http://ashoka.org/regions
  17. ^ http://www.ashoka.org/sites/ashoka/files/SOR_2007_Compressed.pdf Ashoka 2007 Summary of Results
  18. ^ http://clintonglobalinitiative.org/Page.aspx?pid=2469
  19. ^ Emily Mitchell, Rachele Kanigel, Elizabeth Lea (February 21, 2000). "Rodrigo Baggio". Time magazine. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,996110,00.html. Retrieved October 16, 2011. 
  20. ^ "Rodrigo Baggio Barreto". Fellow biography. Ashoka: Innovators for the Public. http://ashoka.org/fellow/rodrigo-baggio-barreto. Retrieved October 16, 2011. 
  21. ^ http://ashoka.org/fellows
  22. ^ http://ashoka.org/regions

Bibliography

External links