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2007 Conference; Social Enterprise: Mission (no matter how laudable) Is Not Enough to Effect Long-Term Social Change

Once again, Great Bay returned to the Wentworth by the Sea Hotel, New Castle, NH for our annual conference, because it continues to receive rave reviews from all attendees.

This year's topic was:  "Social Enterprise: Mission (no matter how laudable) Is Not Enough to Effect Long-Term Social Change."

Our two outstanding guest speakers were Clara Miller, President and CEO of the Nonprofit Finance Fund, and Paul C. Light, Goddard Professor of Public Service at New York University.

 

 Clara's presentation included insights from her work: "Hidden in Plain Sight: Understanding Nonprofit Capital Structure" - Optimal Capitalization Models, and "The Iron Triangle" - balancing/maximizing the dynamic tension between Mission and Program - CapitalStructure - Organizational Capacity.

Paul's presentation captured highlights from his research and publications: "Sustaining Innovation and Nonprofit Performance," and "The Four Pillars of High Performance." Any organization can be innovative once. The challenge is to "build organizations that produce results by hedging against the inevitable surprises and vulnerabilities that lurk in today's environment, while exploiting opportunities to shape the future to their advantage."

The following comments were gleaned from remarks attendees' posted in our online conference evaluation survey:

 

• "Clara Miller's presentation was truly thought provoking and resulted in my consulting several of her papers which I have found quite interesting and useful. I would credit her with stimulating a re-examination of the capitalization of risk in the business niche we have been in as well as influencing how we will go forward with an initiative that is currently underway."
• "She had great information on a topic area that really matters but rarely gets discussed."
• "Useful, practical, concise, clear!"
• "Paul Light is a wonderful speaker and clearly passionate about this sector. He had a great deal to say that resonated strongly with many of us."
• "Paul's spoke more to sustaining our mission each day, making the environment both challenging and effective."
• "It's good to feel like I'm part of a social enterprise movement/industry. He was very motivating, funny, and relevant."

Case Studies

In a third program component, "Lemons to Lemonade" interactive exercises were introduced to small groups who scrutinized grantee-related case studies to analyze strategies implemented to help organizations overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. The groups examined Case Studies in terms of Social Mission/Business Strategies: What has worked (why and/or why not); What has not worked (why); and What it will take to accomplish future goals.

One participant said:

"The exercise was useful in hearing different ways to attack a single problem. The varied, different enterprises in which the participants of our group were engaged brought different perspectives to the group. This fact created an opportunity to really listen to these perspectives, weigh them against your own, and attack the questions in a way that a homogenized group may miss."



The following are a selection of additional comments about the conference in general from the attendees:

• "It is a great opportunity to catch up with other network members, to gain insight and inspiration and to share ideas for partnership and interaction."
• "I would have to say that I enjoyed each aspect of it equally. The group is a dynamic and therefore we were all excited to meet and talk with each other to continue the learning."
• "Once again Great Bay has introduced the group to thought leaders of significant value to all of us engaged in social enterprise. And, once again, these particular speakers were not only provocative but also connected to the deep currents of thinking and action in the field."
• "I feel like the conference gave me many ideas and increased my enthusiasm to be able to put these ideas to the test. I left feeling invigorated to help improve/promote the mission and to base everything that we do around the mission more effectively."
• "First, I love the structure of the 2 days - the chance to meet socially and then to roll up our sleeves and work together. I find the entire structure to be excellent. It flows well and provides a great balance between listening and participating."
• "I continue to find the Great Bay Conference a most satisfying and thought provoking experience. Its nature is quite different from the typical gathering in any field. If anything, I would endeavor to amplify those differences. The essential difference is in the manner and nature of the involvement of conference participants in the entire event."
• "I cannot remember the last time I learned as much or met such remarkable people. I saw how others struggle with or have struggled with issues that affect my organization deeply. I learned from their stories and hope that others learned from me."