Comments on: Nonprofits proud to be “unbusinesslike” these days http://laurapierceconsulting.com/nonprofits-proud-be-unbusinesslike-these-days Helping Nonprofits Thrive Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:38:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Laura http://laurapierceconsulting.com/nonprofits-proud-be-unbusinesslike-these-days#comment-32 Laura Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:18:13 +0000 http://www.laurapierceconsulting.com/blog/?p=71#comment-32 A further warning against adopting business practices uncritically--this time in the evaluation arena: http://www.blueavocado.org/content/economy-bad-decisions-and-nonprofits-101508 A further warning against adopting business practices uncritically–this time in the evaluation arena:

http://www.blueavocado.org/content/economy-bad-decisions-and-nonprofits-101508

]]> By: Joshua Marcengill http://laurapierceconsulting.com/nonprofits-proud-be-unbusinesslike-these-days#comment-31 Joshua Marcengill Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:08:56 +0000 http://www.laurapierceconsulting.com/blog/?p=71#comment-31 Great point of view! Thank you for this perspective. On some level however, I can see major benefit in the emergence of philanthrocapitalism. This word, a mouthful, means much more than adding business objectives to the world of nonprofits. If we embrace it then we may be the ushers of a brighter future. I agree that it is not so necessary for 20+yr old experienced groups, but for new NPO’s and possibly for innovations sake alone, systemic changes must take place like this. The biggest problem with philanthrocapitalism and the latest media surrounding it (including the new book) from my point of view, is that it is all very short sighted. These are great stories, but we can't all be Bill Gates or google.org. We need an everyman's-philanthrocapitalism. The company I work with, Life Connect Intl. along with countless other groups are looking to externalities to make that happen. Groups like ours hope that positive externalities will utilize capitalism by harnessing the same power that caused the current mess we’re in to get us out. That’s real power… and frankly, there has to be a better way for nonprofits to make money than the current. Chasing money sucks, and I refuse to waste my nonprofit resources on kissing up to foundations or the government when I could be using those same resources for impact! The power corporations have is tremendous and easy enough, they have but one objective that moves them… money... and all we have to do is connect the incentives. We may be idealist, but isn't that what it's all about?! Great point of view! Thank you for this perspective. On some level however, I can see major benefit in the emergence of philanthrocapitalism. This word, a mouthful, means much more than adding business objectives to the world of nonprofits. If we embrace it then we may be the ushers of a brighter future. I agree that it is not so necessary for 20+yr old experienced groups, but for new NPO’s and possibly for innovations sake alone, systemic changes must take place like this. The biggest problem with philanthrocapitalism and the latest media surrounding it (including the new book) from my point of view, is that it is all very short sighted. These are great stories, but we can’t all be Bill Gates or google.org. We need an everyman’s-philanthrocapitalism. The company I work with, Life Connect Intl. along with countless other groups are looking to externalities to make that happen. Groups like ours hope that positive externalities will utilize capitalism by harnessing the same power that caused the current mess we’re in to get us out. That’s real power… and frankly, there has to be a better way for nonprofits to make money than the current. Chasing money sucks, and I refuse to waste my nonprofit resources on kissing up to foundations or the government when I could be using those same resources for impact! The power corporations have is tremendous and easy enough, they have but one objective that moves them… money… and all we have to do is connect the incentives. We may be idealist, but isn’t that what it’s all about?!

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