Social Venture Network
Encyclopedia
The Social Venture Network (SVN) is a network of socially responsible business leaders committed to building a just
and sustainable
world through socially and environmentally sustainable business. As of 2007, SVN has over 430 members in the United States
.
SVN was founded in 1987 by Joshua Mailman, Wayne Silby and Richard Perl. The organization provides:
SVN has been identified as the launching pad for several other successful organizations in the business ethics
and corporate social responsibility
spheres, including Investors' Circle, Net Impact
, Business Alliance for Local Living Economies
(BALLE), and Business for Social Responsibility (BSR).
In 2004, SVN launched the SVN Book Series, a series of paperback guides to creating socially responsible businesses.
In 2005, SVN joined the Social Impact Leadership Coalition, funded by a grant from the Kellogg Foundation, as part of a "network of networks" dedicated to economic justice.
In November 2008, SVN member Gregor Robertson
was elected Mayor of Vancouver
, and was documented taking funds from donors he met through SVN, including Gary Hirshberg
and Mark Deutschmann.
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
and sustainable
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
world through socially and environmentally sustainable business. As of 2007, SVN has over 430 members in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
SVN was founded in 1987 by Joshua Mailman, Wayne Silby and Richard Perl. The organization provides:
- Two annual conferences
- Local member gatherings
- Social Venture Institutes
- Community forums for its members which include Ram DassRam DassRam Dass is an American contemporary spiritual teacher and the author of the seminal 1971 book Be Here Now. He is known for his personal and professional associations with Timothy Leary at Harvard University in the early 1960s, for his travels to India and his relationship with the Hindu guru Neem...
, Tetsugen Bernard GlassmanTetsugen Bernard GlassmanBernie Glassman , aka Tetsugen Bernard Glassman, is an American Zen Buddhist roshi and co-founder of the Zen Peacemakers , an organization established in 1996 with his late wife Sandra Jishu Holmes...
, Gary Erickson, Eileen FisherEileen FisherEileen Fisher, Inc. is an American women's clothing retailer founded by a clothing designer of the same name. Her clothing is known for simplicity. She has sometimes used non-traditional models in print advertisements, including employees of the company....
, Mark AlbionMark AlbionMark Albion is an American author of values-based business literature, professor, and social entrepreneur. He received his post-secondary degrees from Harvard University, including a BA in Economics, a joint MA/MBA and a joint PhD in Business Economics from Harvard University and Harvard Business...
, Ben CohenBen CohenBen Cohen may refer to:*Ben Cohen , American businessman, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's*Ben Cohen , English rugby union player*Ben Cohen , English bridge player and author...
and Amy DominiAmy DominiAmy Domini is an American investment adviser and author known for her work in "social investing". As one of the founders of KLD Research & Analytics, Inc., she helped created the Domini 400 Social Index, a stock market index selected according to a set of social and environmental standards...
.
SVN has been identified as the launching pad for several other successful organizations in the business ethics
Business ethics
Business ethics is a form of applied ethics or professional ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and entire organizations.Business...
and corporate social responsibility
Corporate social responsibility
Corporate social responsibility is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model...
spheres, including Investors' Circle, Net Impact
Net Impact
Net Impact is a nonprofit membership organization for students and professionals interested in using business skills in support of various social and environmental causes. It serves both a professional organization and one of the largest student organizations among MBAs in the world...
, Business Alliance for Local Living Economies
Business Alliance for Local Living Economies
The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies is a growing North American alliance of nearly 60 fully autonomous local business networks with their own names, missions, and initiatives, representing about 20,000 US and Canadian entrepreneurs. All networks share a commitment to Living Economy...
(BALLE), and Business for Social Responsibility (BSR).
In 2004, SVN launched the SVN Book Series, a series of paperback guides to creating socially responsible businesses.
In 2005, SVN joined the Social Impact Leadership Coalition, funded by a grant from the Kellogg Foundation, as part of a "network of networks" dedicated to economic justice.
In November 2008, SVN member Gregor Robertson
Gregor Robertson (politician)
Gregor Angus Bethune Robertson is a Canadian politician who has been the 39th Mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, since 2008. He was elected as part of the Vision Vancouver party slate...
was elected Mayor of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, and was documented taking funds from donors he met through SVN, including Gary Hirshberg
Gary Hirshberg
Gary Hirshberg is chairman, president and CEO of Stonyfield Farm, an organic yogurt producer, based in Londonderry, New Hampshire. He has been with the company since 1983....
and Mark Deutschmann.
External links
- Conscious Manager - Balance in business and life. Online magazine