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In a tough funding environment nonprofits are looking for innovative sustainability options. One model being adopted by a growing number of nonprofits and community-based media centers is the social enterprise - a business venture tied to the social mission of the organization and leveraging its core strengths.

What are some examples of successful nonprofit social enterprises in the technology and media space, how does one get started, what is an appropriate legal structure to adopt, and where can you find funding and other support for such efforts?

These questions will be addressed by social enterprise funders, experts, and nonprofit social enterprises.

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Takeways:                                                                                                                                                             

• Understanding what a social enterprise is and how a nonprofit can get started setting one up
• Examples of nonprofit social enterprises in the technology space, and some challenges they face
• Funding opportunities for nonprofit social enterprises

Panelists:

Robert Matthew Cabeza, Executive Director, YMCA of Greater Long Beach Downtown Community Development Branch

Laura Efurd, VP and Chief Community Investment Officer, ZeroDivide Foundation

Samra Haider, Enterprise Development Manager, REDF

Paul Lamb, Consultant, ZeroDivide (Moderator)

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About the Panelists: 

Robert Cabeza has twenty-six years experience in youth development programming, and community development resulting in the ability to lead unique collaboratives designed to better the lives of youth and families.  Mr. Cabeza has expertise in personnel,  administration, volunteer/staff  recruitment and training, long range and strategic planning, grant writing, fund raising, community relations, traditional and non-traditional after-school programming, outdoor education.  Mr. Cabeza has a special focus on youth development and technology equity for underserved communities.  Prior to becoming Executive Director with the YMCA, he was the YMCA Youth Institute Director, Associate Executive Director of the Ketchum Downtown YMCA in Los Angeles, Youth Services Director for the YMCA of Greater Long Beach, and Director of Recreation Services for The Foundation for the Junior Blind. He is a fellow of the ZeroDivide Z-Fellows Program and has been a panelist and presenter at several national conferences.  Mr. Cabeza is the first non-school-based educator to be named an Apple Distinguished Educator. He is presently on the California State Senate Task Force on Intersession and Summer Programming for Youth. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from San Jose State University. He has been married for 12 years and has a 9 year old son.

Laura L. Efurd is Vice President and Chief Community Investment Officer. She is responsible for all of the foundation’s programmatic work including grants, initiatives and policy development and implementation. Ms. Efurd has over 15 years of legislative and public policy experience. She served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison in the Clinton Administration. She coordinated the Administration's legislative activities around employment and training issues as Associate Director of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Department of Labor. Laura was Legislative Director to the late Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink of Hawaii, working on policy issues related to education, labor, welfare, civil rights and health care. She is a recipient of the Women's Information Network Young Women of Achievement Awards and a 2002 Asian Pacific American Women's Leadership Institute Fellow. She serves on the Federal Communications Commission Consumer Advisory Committee and the Board of Trustees for the Patsy Takemoto Mink Foundation for Low-Income Women & Children.

Samra Haider is REDF’s Enterprise Development Manager. She manages business assistance projects with specific portfolio organizations and the pipeline by providing hands-on assistance, such as market research and financial analysis, as well as business mentoring. Additionally, she supports REDF’s portfolio pipeline development, Farber Program, and field advancement. Prior to joining REDF, Samra spent several years as a Consultant with Oliver Wyman (formerly Mercer Management Consulting). She worked on a variety of projects focused on strategy, operations, and organizational design. She also helped deliver leadership workshops to executives at several for-profit and non-profit organizations (over 500 individuals). Samra holds a BA in Economics from Columbia University, an MSc in Human Rights from the London School of Economics, and an MBA from the Wharton School.

Paul Lamb is a consultant with Zerodivide, a foundation supporting technology-enabled social ventures. He is also the Principal of Man on a Mission Consulting, and a senior consultant with Social Enterprise Ventures. Paul is a founder and former Executive Director of The Stride Center, an award-winning program providing computer training and job placement for low-income and underserved youth in San Francisco’s East Bay. He has developed several successful nonprofit programs and social enterprises in the areas of youth, workforce development, and technology. Paul is also a frequent radio commentator and OpEd contributor on technology and social issues in a variety of publications including NPR’s Marketplace and on CNET.com. Paul is the co-author of the Be A Better Partner Handbook for Couples and a founder of the Cool ‘n Conscientious blog. Paul’s business background includes positions as Director of Programs and Executive Director of the China Business Forum at the US-China Business Council in Washington, D.C., a business analyst for Ernst & Young, and a marketing consultant for both U.S. and Asian firms.

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