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"Green and Social Entreprenuership Awards, Competitions, and Fellowships One potential source of funding for green and social entreprenuers is through an award, competition or fellowship. These program vary and include cash prizes for one-time contests, seed funding for new ventures, and later-stage funding for existing organizations. Note that some of these program provide funding for non-profit ventures only. The amount of funding provided by these programs vary, but can be as large as $1 million. These programs also can provide a variety of other resources beneficial for entreprenuers, including technical assistance and connection to a network of other entreprenuers."

"Green VC is developing a comprehensive resource of funding sources for entreprenuers working on socially- or environmentally-focused ventures. Please visit the pages below for some initial funding sources and feel free to send suggestions for additional sources to info [at] greenvc.org * Green and Social Venture Business Plan Competitions * Green and Social Entreprenuership Awards, Competitions, and Fellowships * Green and Social Venture Capital * Green and Social Venture Credit and Lending "

"# Who invests in Global Partnerships funds and why: Beckett noted that GP funds are structured to appeal to a variety of social investors: * Philanthropic investors who like the 12-to-1 leverage that donating to a fund offers * Foundation investors who want to align their portfolios with their mission * Individual investors who like the fixed-income-like return and the business-like approach to alleviating poverty. "

"The Ultimate Guide to Social Entrepreneur Funding"

"Government Funding and Programs Federal, state, and local governments offer a variety of programs to support green and social enterprises, including incentive programs for businesses to implement energy efficiency and clean energy measures. To suggest an addition to this list send an e-mail to info [at] greenvc.org"

"Entrepreneur Commons is a platform to support entrepreneurs through self-help groups and loans. The fund is managed by a not-for-profit social network of entrepreneurs - a support platform that can scale, and that also provides a way to screen deals, based on inclusion of every entrepreneur into the process rather than exclusion through a competitive process. It is especially useful to social entrepreneurs, for whom the regular funding processes do not really work. And it simplifies the investment decision for social investors because success can easily be measured - when the beneficiary businesses are social businesses and loans (with rates that can be benchmarked against market returns) are paid off, then the social investor can be satisfied that he has done his part."

"Green and Social Venture Capital One potential source of funding for green and social entrepreneurs is venture capital (VC). Venture capital firms generally make equity investments in enterprises beyond the seed stage of development. In addition to financial resources venture capital firms can provide business guidance and other resources to entrepreneurs. Many traditional venture capital firms now have dedicated funds and staff that focus on one or more aspects of environmental or social responsibility. In addition, some VC firms (sometimes known as "social venture capital firms") explicitly incorporate additional investment criteria, such as social or environmental benefits, in their mission and investing activities. This page also includes links to some relevant "angel investors." Angel investors generally provide capital at an early stage of an enterprise's development, prior to the period of investment by traditional venture capital firms."

"NewSchools Venture Fund is a venture philanthropy firm working to transform public education through powerful ideas and passionate entrepreneurs so that all children - especially those in underserved communities - have the opportunity to succeed."

"Investors' Circle is a network of over 225 angel investors, professional venture capitalists, foundations, family offices and others who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable economy. Since 1992, Investors' Circle has facilitated the flow of over $133 million into more than 200 companies and small funds addressing social and environmental issues."

"Committed and innovative people change the world. Our mission is to enable youth and adults to solve challenges with sustainable, innovative solutions. The world needs genuine innovators-those who dedicate themselves to an ideal, draw from many domains, and reframe challenges as opportunities. Innovators not only move mountains but often change the entire landscape. That landscape defines the potential available to the rest of the community. When focused on important problems innovations can result in enormous social good. We plan to increase the potential for innovative solutions in areas where good ideas are needed most. Springboard Innovation was formed in 2004 to help fill the gap of learning and support for those who wish to make a difference in a new way. We create opportunities for community members to learn how to launch social ventures, provide ongoing consultancies, help them network with others, help them get seed funding, and work to build a supportive ecosystem in the cities where they live. Springboard works through four core strategies. These work together to offer both a sequenced continuum of experience and a cycle of programs and resources that allow leaders and supporters to connect at any point, nurturing community-led community change. "

The Utilikilts Company is committed to pioneering a comfortable alternative to trousers by producing "Men's Unbifurcated Garments" (MUG's). The Utilikilt has become a growing social phenomenon, inspired debate, consistently challenged the media, changed lives, and created a common symbolism among its wearers. With customers all over the world, the Utilikilts Co. continues to both pioneer and to follow the best examples it can find, in every area of running a socially responsible business. We became a B Corp because Utilikilitarians are evangelists. We want to have an impact on public policy in this country. Our politicians aren't doing what we need them to do and hopefully a community of businesses like this can become a constituency for change. The Utilikilts Company, established April 2000, was originally founded in order to fund a global arts project that would travel the world putting on an interactive road show of music, dance, video art, and drama and leaving change in its wake. The Utilikilt was one of several designs implemented by Form Follows Function, an original design company, in order to raise money for this Arts project. The Utilikilt spawned the Utilikilts Company, and right before our eyes, this unique garment began to accomplish the goals that Form Follows Function had originally set out to promote. The Change We Seek™ Utilikilts seeks to set a global example, defining "business with a conscience", driving a worldwide paradigm shift toward a more conscientious form of capitalism, and channeling company gains and resources back into the community. * Our mission statement explicity states that the management of the company will not exploit cultures, peoples or environments to achieve capital gains. * We strive to be socially, environmentally, and economically responsible and make a vigilant effort to construct a profitable, sustainable, and transparent business class or corporation type having 7th generation values that will

About ShoreBank Pacific ShoreBank Pacific is the first commercial bank in the United States with a commitment to environmentally sustainable community development. We believe that long-term community prosperity goes hand-in-hand with a healthy environment. With that vision, ShoreBank Pacific, a Washington State chartered, FDIC insured bank, was formed in 1997 as a joint project of ShoreBank Corp., the nation's first community development bank, and Ecotrust™, an environmental non-profit. Through our lending programs, ShoreBank Pacific brings together conservation and community and economic development. We continue to create wealth in communities that wouldn't have access to banking otherwise. We've built a fantastic place to work that is founded on honesty and excellence. We became a B Corporation to support our mission and lend our credibility to a system that identifies and supports "good businesses." When you deposit your money at ShoreBank Pacific, you are helping to create sustainable companies, vibrant communities, and healthy environments by providing funds to our lending programs. Like other banks, we provide commercial loans; however, unlike other banks, we are conscientious to whom we lend, and potential customers are "scored" using a program of sustainability criteria, including conservation, community development, and economy measures. A healthy and sustainable business will translate into a healthy and sustainable community and economy. ShoreBank Pacific is wholly owned by ShoreBank Corporation, the nation's first community development and environmental banking corporation. The Change We Seek™ ShoreBank Pacific profitably assists businesses, and through them their communities, to be sustainable in economic, social, and environmental practices. * We lend money from our EcoDeposits™ program to businesses and non-profits that are committed to improving their sustainable footprint. While many of our loan customers are environmentally rel

"For nearly 40 years the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) has been a leader of the corporate social responsibility movement. ICCR's membership is an association of 275 faith- based institutional investors, including national denominations, religious communities, pension funds, foundations, hospital corporations, asset management companies, colleges, and unions. "

Our mission is to ignite a national movement of young social entrepreneurs who align people, planet and profit. We are a community hub for young social entrepreneurs, and a grower of their social enterprises. Now two years in the making, YSEC was founded by a group of 20-somethings whose experiences as community organizers made it crystal clear that something needed to change. We saw young people in the social sector squeezed by huge expectations but sparse resources: no professional guidance, business education, access to funding, lack of credibility, and the list goes on. YSEC is our response. It is a front-door to the social sector - a hub for connections, education and support of young people in social enterprise.

"One potential source of funding for green and social entreprenuers is through a green or social venture business plan competition. These programs are organized by business schools and other organizations and are generally geared to ventures that are at an early stage in their development. Eligibility varies from event to event, but most school-based competitions require participation by students. Prize levels vary, but can exceed $50,000."

"Green and Social Venture Credit and Lending One potential source of funding for green and social entrepreneurs is through loans and credit. Some banks and other institutions that include a focus on supporting green and social entrepreneurs are listed below."

"The Lemelson Recognition and Mentoring Programme (L-RAMP) recognises, connects, mentors and funds ideas that seek to serve the rural poor, with a focus on ideas in agriculture, water, energy and dairy. We support innovations right from the idea stage and incubate them till they enter the market. "

"We encourage rigorous researchers to tackle the questions of enterprise solutions to poverty, and find the role models and artists that embody the experience of innovation in the world's poorest countries."