How can media help create a better world?

The Transformational Media summit is a new initiative bringing together leaders from across the globe to explore the role that media can play in creating a peaceful prosperous world. It consists of a workshop on the 27th, followed by the summit of the 28th.

Themes include, new economic paradigms, nurturing creativity, developing transformative story-lines, and social media and democracy.

Participants in the workshop will learn about leadership and creating transformational media content, defined as media that creates positive change through a transformational process with the intention to help create a better world. Expert coaches include Hollywood’s no1 rated script writing consultant, Dara Marks. Participants of the workshop will receive a certificate from the UN mandated University for Peace Centre for Executive Education.

The summit on the 28th, will be a celebration and exploration of the potential for media to create positive change across a number of key themes. It will include inspiring examples from across the world, with panel discussions, debates and performances.

There are a limited number of places available for both the workshop and summit, and for full programme details and to register please visit the website: ww.transformationalmedia.org.uk

There is growing interest in the role of market-based solutions in addressing the problems of poverty, through inclusive businesses that tap into the potential of the global poor as customers and suppliers—the so-called ‘fortune at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP).’ Encouraged by the growth of microfinance, many promising new models are emerging. This has elicited a rush to the new field of ‘impact investing’—producing social or environmental good as well as financial return—with hundreds of funds set up in just a few years and billions of dollars waiting to be invested.

But many investors report that they are struggling to find good opportunities in which to invest for impact. Why is that? Will impact investors really be able to take new models for inclusive business all the way from idea to scale? Meanwhile, philanthropic and aid funders are asking how they should engage with these market-based solutions. How should they harness the full potential of this early experimentation? If impact capital is the key to scaling these solutions, what then is the role of philanthropy?

View the full report here: http://www.mim.monitor.com/blueprinttoscale.html

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.