Innovative Hybrid social venture model - Impact Makers

Last year I founded a rather unique social venture (Impact Makers) based in Richmond, Virginia. I think our model is fairly unique in that it is based on a corporation's mission to maximize profits in order to maximize "community stakeholder value" rather than the traditional "shareholder value" - but the corporation competes in the free market.

Specifically, Impact Makers is a “social venture” operating in the management consulting space, and I believe is truly unique in that it:

- Provides professional services (currently focused in healthcare) at market prices - Competes with other firms to win business - Pays market salaries to its professionals - Is a nonprofit structure with books open to the public - Contributes all profits to community organizations (and consulting time)

For a brief overview of our organization, you can visit our website at: www.impactmakers.org

I would greatly welcome any thoughts on our model generally, and whether you know of similar models out there?

I look forward to hearing back from you. - Michael

posted by MPirron on 11/26/2007 1:36 pm | COMMENTS (3)
Comments (3)

Hi Michael, very interesting concept. Have you heard of the Social Venture Network?

posted by Barry Jacobs on 11/29/2007 3:40 pm

Barry:

Thanks for your comment. Yes, I have been in contact with SVN - and have a call to speak with their membership director next week.

posted by MPirron on 12/ 1/2007 6:49 am

What a great concept! I definitely would like to be with a company that has that model. Not sure of your current rate of growth, but I would think from a marketing perspective that if you sell to the baby boom generation that you would have more of an invitation on sales. Also have you thought of doing anything with AARP? I am sure they would give you press. Another thought is I wonder what the market is for hiring baby boomers who want to go into semi-retirement and could work at a company like yours, where an individual works for you firm a whole year and then in the 2nd or 3rd year they work part time say 6 or 8 months out of the year and take the rest off or maybe spend time a portion of "time off" volunteering. Baby boomers have made one heck of an impact on society and still can, they just need to be incented! Plus brinigng in all these semi-retired, they probably have loads of experience and backgorund and also one heck of a social network and can get you into a variety of doors!

-walt

posted by wdenhaan on 12/10/2007 9:23 am

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