Know of innovative nonprofits in the greater Boston area?
Nominate them for Boston's 2011 Social Innovation Forum!
Nonprofit leaders, click here to learn about the Forum and our application process!
InTheKnow@RootCause shares knowledge and conversations that flow from Root Cause's work to advance innovation for social impact. This informative newsletter provides updates about goings on here at Root Cause, including details about our publications and the work of our initiatives. InTheKnow@RootCause also highlights select appearances of Root Cause in the media and at conferences and other events.
For all the latest Root Cause news, please sign up to receive InTheKnow@RootCause. Look for the newsletter in your inbox every four to six weeks.
Check out past issues of InTheKnow@RootCause here:
Issue 8: School Readiness Reports Released
On March 31st, Root Cause's independent research department, Social Impact Research, released its Social Issue Report on school readiness in Massachusetts, as well as Organization Reports on 21 high-performing school readiness organizations in Massachusetts. Guidestar, an organization that shares information about nonprofits with the public, has partnered with Root Cause to include the school readiness findings on their website. Also: Social Innovation Forum director Susan Musinsky receives the 2010 Social Capital,Inc. Idealist Award and Andrew Wolk shares the reading list for his "Public Leadership in the 21st Century" study group at Harvard Kennedy School.
Issue 7: The Role of Government in Social Innovation
This issue focuses on some exciting developments in the world of social innovation and government, including an event that Root Cause's Public Innovators initiative hosted at the Capitol (you can find links to podcasts from the event within the newsletter), as well as the OneStar Foundation's Governor's Nonprofit Leadership Conference, which highlighted Root Cause's partnership with OneStar and Dallas Social Venture Partners to launch the Texas Social Innovation Initiative. You can also view footage from the social media-based conversation about social innovation in Texas that took place at the conference.
Issue 6: New Book on Performance Measurement
On November 4, 2009, we launched our second How-to Guide, Building a Performance Measurement System: Using Data to Accelerate Social Impact, along with a new mini-site on performance measurement that includes background information, a conversation on the topic, resources, templates from the book, key terms, and success stories from social innovators who have used performance measurement to improve their effectiveness. On the topic of performance measurement, we also noted Andrew Wolk's recent op-ed in the Philanthropy News Digest on why performance measurement is crucial to nonprofit success, as well as a blog post of his on why randomized control trials come up short for most social impact efforts. Additionally, we highlighted an article from the Wall Street Journal that explores the new kinds of resources financial advisors have at their fingertips when discussing philanthropy with their clients, including Root Cause's Social Impact Research.
This issue contains several announcements about Root Cause's latest public appearances, including the publication of an executive profile of CEO Andrew Wolk in the Boston Business Journal, as well as Andrew's visit to the White House to hear President Obama speak about his Community Solutions Agenda. Also check out this issue to learn about the launch of Root Cause's Strategic Philanthropy Workshops, the commencement of the Social Innovation Forum's selection process for its 2010 Social Innovators, and the Hewlett Grant that Social Impact Research has been awarded to develop a research report subscription service for the advisors of philanthropic investors.
This issue of our newsletter contains several updates on Root Cause publications, including our forthcoming How-To Guide, Building a Performance Measurement System, as well as a Key Measures Report describing the experiences of the Social Innovation Forum's 2008 Social Innovators with performance measurement. Other highlights include a recap of Root Cause's participation in the Future Trends Forum in Madrid, plus an announcement about an op-ed by Andrew Wolk that calls for a Massachusetts Office of Social Innovation.
The third installment of InTheKnow@RootCause provides a follow-up on Root Cause's participation in the 2009 Social Enterprise Alliance Summit, at which Andrew Wolk participated in an armchair keynote address with Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu and presented the Lt. Gov. with the first annual Public Innovator Award. This issue also features a case profile on CHAMP, a client of Root Cause Consulting, as well as several updates on the work of the Social Innovation Forum, including the 6th annual SIF Showcase Event and the release of a Social Impact Report Card for 2008.
See this issue for details on a host of speaking events featuring Root Cause's leadership, including multiple conferences at which Andrew Wolk discusses the role of government in advancing social innovation. Issue 2 also features an excerpt on financial sustainability from Root Cause's first How-To Guide, Business Planning for Enduring Social Impact, and announces the launch of the Grant Ticker developed by Social Impact Research.
The first issue of InTheKnow@RootCause announces the debut of CEO Andrew Wolk's blog as well as the beginning of Root Cause's partnership on the Policy Track at the Social Enterprise Summit. Also check out this issue for a Root Cause case study on WriteBoston, one of the Social Innovation Forum's 2006 Social Innovators.