In support of lifelong career advancement for all MIIS students and alumni, the San Francisco Fisher Alumni Chapter invites you to their latest professional development seminar. Registration is free and light appetizers and refreshments will be served.

Joining as keynote speakers are MIIS Alumnus Jonathan Axtell, Associate Producer, Social Capital Markets (SOCAP), and Ross Baird, Executive Director, Village Capital.

Jonathan joined SOCAP in 2009, which has since grown to become the leader in convening the social enterprise and impact investing space. He manages SOCAP’s daily operations, including oversight  of the production process for all convenings, advising and implementing national and global expansion, as well as leading partnership and business development efforts.

Ross developed the Village Capital concept in 2009, and has led the development of programs worldwide. Before launching Village Capital, he worked with First Light Ventures, a seed fund focused on impact investments. Prior to First Light, Ross worked on the development of four education-related start-up ventures: the Indian School Finance Company in Hyderabad, India; the National College Advising Corps in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and two ventures using technology to promote civic participation.

To register, please follow this link: http://miisevent420.eventbrite.com/

Topic: “Impact Investing”

When: Friday, April 20, 2012

Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Where: Hub SoMa – 925 Mission Street,  San Francisco, CA 94103

Agenda:

6:30 pm – 7:00 pm: Registration & Networking Reception

7:00 pm – 7:45 pm: Keynote Presentation

7:45 pm – 8:15 pm: Q&A

8:15 pm – 8:30 pm: Acknowledgments and Wrap-Up

This is a complimentary event for MIIS students, alumni and their guests. Should you have questions, please email Paul Buckman at paulbuckman@prodigy.net. We look forward to seeing you on April 20th!

The Argidius Foundation and the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs Announce Finance Challenge to Stimulate Small Businesses in Emerging Markets

Around the world, small businesses form the backbone of a healthy economy, generating employment, wealth and ultimately, global prosperity. But these businesses need capital to grow, which, in the developing world, is usually difficult and expensive to procure. On March 27th- at ANDE’s third anniversary celebration in London- the Argidius Foundation—a charitable foundation promoting businesses as a way to mitigate poverty —and the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) announced an opportunity for organizations to help unlock financing for small and growing businesses (SGBs) in emerging markets.

The Argidius-ANDE Finance Challenge seeks innovative financial solutions for firms requiring 15,000-200,000 euros (20,000-250,000 USD) in start-up capital. Four to six finalists will be awarded grants of approximately 200,000-300,000 euros in August to conduct 12-18 month pilot programs, during which ANDE will provide ongoing guidance. Provided impact targets are met, a grand prize of one million euros will be bestowed in spring 2014 to the most successful pilot.

For more information about the challenge guidelines and criteria, please visit http://as.pn/sgbprize. Entries will be accepted until midnight on June 15, 2012. Follow #SGBprize on Twitter for updates on the competition.

Social Impact Exchange
2012 Conference on Scaling Impact, June 13-14 – New York City

Social Capital Markets would like to invite funders to attend a two-day conference on June 13 & 14 in New York City. The Social Impact Exchange 2012 Conference on Scaling Impact is by invitation only for philanthropic individuals, families, family foundations and national funders interested in learning about innovative methods to support high-impact nonprofits that are growing.

The conference includes presentations from foundation CEOs and nonprofit leaders, as well as knowledge sessions and exclusive peer networking opportunities. The Social Impact Exchange is a national membership association dedicated to creating a growth capital marketplace to more efficiently fund the growth of proven, high-performing nonprofits. For more details, please visit www.socialimpactexchange.org or contact conference@growthphilanthropy.org.

Affiliates receive a 50% registration discount ($595, instead of the full cost of $1,190). To receive the discount, indicate that you were invited by “Social Capital Markets” when prompted by the online registration website.

The Frontier Market Scouts Program at the Monterey Institute of International Studies

The Frontier Market Scouts (FMS) Program is now accepting applications for summer 2012 training and field programs! FMS selects and trains aspiring professionals who desire a career in social venture and impact investing.  Jointly developed and managed by the Monterey Institute of International Studies, Sanghata Global, and Village Capital, the FMS program turns compassionate and capable young professionals into talent scouts and investment managers serving local entrepreneurs and social-minded investors in low-income and weak-capital regions of the world.

FMS is looking for passionate and pragmatic idealists who hold a strong belief in enterprise and market development as the most important means to large scale and sustainable improvement of living standards in developing countries. The ideal Frontier Market Scout also has a solid background in business and management, and a superb aptitude for immersive learning in dramatically different environments. Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalence. A limited number of training scholarships, including full scholarships, are available for highly-qualified applications.

Interested June-December 2012 fellows should apply online at http://go.miis.edu/fmsapp by April 1, 2012. For more information visit http://www.fmscouts.org or contact Carolyn Taylor Meyer at (831) 647-6417.