Author Archives: Kate

What are Social Entrepreneurs Made of?

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Kate

In an earlier post I mention how two authors in the Stanford review oppose focusing on the person behind the innovation (they instead emphasize the process – the innovation itself). I think they make a very valid point about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Social Entrepreneurship | Leave a comment

How to Correctly Light a Fire Under Folks

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Kate

The candle problem is a cognitive performance test invented by the psychologist Karl Duncker that was first published in 1945. A participant in the experiment is provided with a box of thumbtacks, a book of matches, and a candle, all … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Building, Social Change | Leave a comment

The Gray of Social Change

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Kate

Not all social change is clearly good or bad, black or white. Just about any change is bound to have both positive and negative consequences. Whichever side – the pros or the cons – outweighs the other usually directs whether … Continue reading →

Posted in Evaluating and Measuring, Foreign Aid, Philanthropy, Social Change | 1 Comment

Innovation – the Means and the End

Posted on June 17, 2012 by Kate

In my last post, I discussed the idea of CSR in terms of “creating shared value,” as described by Porter and Kramer (as opposed to the traditional understanding of CSR– corporate social responsibility). Closely related to this, and in fact … Continue reading →

Posted in Social Change, Social Entrepreneurship | Leave a comment

There’s Giving, and There’s Strategic Giving

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Kate

As my co-blogger Peter Hurford discussed in his most recent post, some charities are far more effective than others in achieving their mission. Even with the best intentions at heart and passionate people at work, certain organizations simply cannot do … Continue reading →

Posted in Philanthropy, Social Change | Leave a comment

Buying Happiness

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Kate

“If you think money can’t buy happiness, you’re not spending it right.” According to Michael Norton’s speech “How to Buy Happiness,” on http://www.ted.com, money can in fact buy happiness…if you’re not spending it on yourself. Hearing this for the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Social Change | Leave a comment