Reflection Journal #6

 

Capital, Money, Cash, Donations, Grants, Revenue

How do non-profits and social innovators stay 'in business' and have the ability to pursue their mission? Money. Without the 'business' of getting money, it is very difficult to carry out missions to make social improvements. There are grants, loans and donations that may provide an influx of capital and help with reaching goals or providing services, but those are not always consistent or reliable. A business component that generates revenue will help social innovators fund their programs and continue their impact.

image from skoll.org

Vera Cordeiro is someone worth knowing about. In reading about her this week, I am struck by her tenacity, vision and the power of embroidered sheets. She saw a problem. As a pediatrician she treated patients who went home to unsanitary living situations and returned to the hospital for further care. She recognized that all the medical care she could provide would not heal children who did not have adequate shelter or food. Even though family care was beyond the duties of her "job", she convinced others to join her in caring for their patients, raffled off embroidered sheets to get the funds to register their organization, and began work to meet the needs of the families in Brazil. Her efforts led to a 60% reduction in readmissions. She started Renascer to change the way poor families live.
This video shares how Renascer breaks vicious circles of health care problems and poverty in ways that could be implemented globally.

https://youtu.be/ZBq3zskQ0H0 

Does money buy happiness? Can money change the world?

"Money doesn't buy you happiness, but it buys you a big enough yacht to sail right up to it." - Johnny Depp.   

Money alone cannot buy happiness, but the lack can bring misery. Money can change the world when used in ways that improve lives. Money brings power, power to determine adequate housing, power to obtain educations, power over medical care, power over food insecurity, power to choose healthy relationships. Money can be used to impact people who are struggling. Money can be used to fund organizations that make differences in communities, countries and worldwide as they address social needs and crises. While money itself is not happiness, it can be used in the pursuit of happiness.




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