Series: Financing Social Entrepreneurs

Financing Social Entrepreneurs is a weekly podcast interviewing people who fund and support social innovation in different ways, grant providers, impact investors of various kinds, angel investors, foundations, family offices and more. They talk frankly about how they work, how they make investment, grant and funding decisions, what they will invest in, or support, and what they cannot— they talk about the pros and cons of different sources of funding, share lessons and insights, and provide invaluable advice for any social entrepreneur or innovator looking to finance a sustainable social business.

Episode 14: Interview with Debra Schwartz, Managing Director of Impact Investments at the MacArthur Foundation

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States. Based in Chicago, the Foundation makes grants and impact investments to support non-profit organizations in Chicago, across the U.S., and in

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Episode 13: Interview with Kevin Barenblat, founder of the Fast Forward accelerator

Kevin Barenblat is a highly experienced software entrepreneur with a passion for applying technology for good. He is a big believer that talented people can leverage technology to create scalable solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems. Kevin i

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Episode 12 Interview with Clara Miller, President of the Heron Foundation: Going all in at the Heron Foundation

Clara Miller is President of the Heron Foundation, a US foundation that helps people and communities help themselves out of poverty. Heron began as a grant-maker 25 years ago.

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Episode 11:  Interview with Christine Looney and Graham MacMillan from the Ford Foundation 

The Ford Foundation has long been a pioneer when it comes to supporting social change via social sector innovations such as the Green Revolution, microfinance, public-private partnerships in cities, and impact investment. In this interview, Christine Loon

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Episode 10: Interview with Joel Solomon, Chairman of Renewal Funds, co-author of the Clean Money Revolution

Joel Solomon is a highly experience social investor who has invested in over 100 early-growth stage companies in North America. Joel was instrumental in the development the Endswell Foundation, the largest, BC-based, charitable foundation in British Colum

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Episode 9: Christie George, director of New media ventures: funding new media & technologies supporting progressive change

Christie is director of New media ventures –the first seed fund and national network of angel investors supporting media and tech startups that disrupt politics and catalyze progressive change in the US. She has overseen investment into a growing portfoli

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Episode 8: Interview with Tom Dawkins, founder of the StartSomeGood platform| How crowdfunding enables social innovation

In recent years crowdfunding has become an increasingly popular way for entrepreneurs and others to raise money for businesses and projects that might otherwise not get funded. Tom Dawkins is founder of the StartSomeGood crowdfunding platform that is desi

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Episode 7 Interview with Jim Sorenson: how Foundations can catalyse social entrepreneurship using PRIs

Jim Sorenson is a highly successful entrepreneur and business executive who has become a pioneer in the field of impact investing. Jim has built successful companies in sectors ranging from technology and life sciences to real estate and private equity in

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Episode 6 How Ceniarth supports social entrepreneurs.

Ceniarth is a family office and related private foundation that supports social entrepreneurs delivering market-based solutions that improve livelihoods in underserved communities.  Ceniarth primarily engages in developing economies in sectors such as agr

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Episode 5 Interview with Min Pease, leader of Echoing Green’s impact investing program

Building on the interview with Echoing Green President Cheryl Dorsey in episode 4 of Financing Social Entrepreneurs, this episode focuses on Echoing Green’s new impact investment programme. Min Pease leads the impact investing program at Echoing Green whe

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