Resource Roundup

Our members recommend the following resources:

Acumen

“Neither the markets nor aid alone can solve the problems of poverty. More than two billion people around the world lack access to basic goods and services—from clean water and electricity to an education and the freedom to participate in the economy. We’re here to change that. Our vision is a world based on dignity, where every human being has the same opportunity. Rather than giving philanthropy away, we invest it in companies and change makers.

“Acumen was founded by Jacqueline Novogratz in 2001 to use power of entrepreneurship to build a world where everyone had the opportunity to live with dignity. Our goal was to invest “Patient Capital” to bridge the gap between the efficiency and scale of market-based approaches and the social impact of pure philanthropy, in entrepreneurs bringing sustainable solutions to problems of poverty.”

Novogratz is the author of Manifesto for a Moral Revolution, which examines twelve leadership principles for anyone interested in building a better world.

You can watch Novogratz’s TED talks here.

Loretta Ross Online Courses

Join reproductive justice champion and human rights activist Loretta Ross for her upcoming online courses, Calling In the Calling Out Culture and White Supremacy in the Age of Trump. Sliding scale fees.

Trickle Up Foundation

”Glen and Mildred Robbins Leet were lifelong advocates for human rights and economic justice. Skeptical about the effectiveness of giant, complex anti-poverty programs, they asked themselves, “What’s the simplest thing we could do help people escape extreme poverty?”

“Their answer: Invest in women.

“Provide seed capital grants of $100 to help them start a business. Help them save for future business expansion and family emergencies. Encourage them to work together, share knowledge, and support each other through challenges. Help women plan for a brighter future for their families, gain the skills and confidence necessary to realize their dreams, and inspire other women in their community.

“‘In years working in the international community,’ said Mrs. Leet, ‘we saw first-hand what an overwhelming need there was for a program that would truly benefit the person at the bottom. We saw the massive infusions of aid did not trickle down. The rich were getting richer, and the poor were getting poorer.’

“The Leets tested their idea with 10 women in the Caribbean island of Dominica. It worked and now, four decades later, Trickle Up has helped 1.5 million people create profitable businesses that feed their families, send their children to school, and provide enough to save for the future.”