What Do Impact Entrepreneurs in the US Need to Succeed?

National Survey aims to query 1000's of growing businesses.
Jul 25, 2012 5:15 PM ET

The Rockefeller Foundation has commissioned SJF Institute, a nonprofit organization affiliated with Investors’ Circle, along with the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship at Duke University, to document the financial and business needs and potential of domestic impact entrepreneurs -- for-profit companies based in the US aiming to make a scalable and sustainable positive impact on social and environmental problems.  The information collected will be used to inform future philanthropic efforts as well as to inform domestic policy around impact entrepreneurship. 

From Stonyfield Farms to Ben and Jerry’s to thousands of other companies, the effort to use the private business sector to impact society’s needs has existed for years, and that interest has only grown recently.  The promise for even greater change is compelling and this study will help clarify what impact entrepreneurs really need most in the way of services and organizations that will help burgeoning companies do better and what will support the growth of this transformative sector.

A nationwide effort has launched with hopes to gain input from thousands of enterprises.  Anyone that is a domestic for-profit entrepreneur using their company to create positive social or environmental impact is invited to participate. The survey is estimated to take approximately 20 minutes.  Every completed survey will be entered into a random drawing to win a free iPad. Take the survey before August 7 here:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/dom-3BL