Ashoka: Innovators for the Public

Ashoka: Innovators for the Public

Oak Tree (image)
Founder(s)	Bill Drayton
Tax ID No.	51-0255908
Founded	1981 (in Washington, D.C)
Location	Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, USA
Key people	Bill Drayton (CEO and Chair) Diana Wells (President) Sushmita Ghosh (President Emeritus)
Area served	over 60 countries and supports the work of over 2000 Fellows
Endowment	over $32 million (in public support)
Employees	160 staff in 25 regional offices throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa
Website	http://ashoka.org

Ashoka: Innovators for the Public is a nonprofit organization based in Arlington, VA, supporting the field of social entrepreneurship. Ashoka was founded by Bill Drayton in 1981 to identify and support leading social entrepreneurs through a Social Venture Capital approach with the goal of elevating the citizen sector to a competitive level equal to the business sector. The organization currently operates in over 70 countries and supports the work of over 2,000 social entrepreneurs, elected as Ashoka Fellows . Ashoka also creates what it calls "mosaics" of best practices that map the commonalities and intersections of key principles that guide Fellows’ individual solutions. Ashoka’s initiatives include Changemakers, Youth Venture, and Full Economic Citizenship.

History

Ashoka was founded in 1981 by Bill Drayton, who has been called "the godfather of social entrepreneurship" by David Gergen. Ashoka began with an annual budget of $50,000, and elected its first Fellow in India in 1981. During its first decade, Ashoka focused exclusively on finding and investing in leading social entrepreneurs in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Central Europe. During the 1990s, Ashoka expanded its services beyond directly supporting fellows. Today, Ashoka has an annual revenue of nearly $30 million, and has expanded into North America, Western Europe, East Asia, and the Middle East.

Other Programs

Changemakers

Changemakers sponsors collaborative competitions intended to develop innovative solutions to social problems. The open sourcing social solutions model aims to challenge the traditional focus of issues like human trafficking and conflict resolution with a broader, more complete set of stakeholders. Participants include individuals, nonprofits, nongovernmental organizations, public corporations, private companies, and government agencies.

Social entrepreneurs can post their project information on the Changemakers.com website. Any visitor to the website can view these projects and registered users can communicate with participants to help refine and improve their project up until the competition deadline. The website also serves as a library resource for social entrepreneurs, with information on a variety of topics such as aging, health, and rural development.

Changemakers was founded in 1994 by Sushmita Ghosh, the president emerita of Ashoka, and originally started as a magazine based in Calcutta, India. The project was placed online in 1998.

Changemaker Campus Initiative

Ashoka U is working to develop new models for higher education, envisioning a day when universities everywhere serve as an enabling environment in which every individual has access to the resources, learning opportunities, role models, and peer community needed to actualize their full potential as changemakers. Through the Changemaker Campus partnership, Ashoka U works with teams of entrepreneurial students, faculty, and staff from across campus to transform select universities into hubs for social innovation. Now in its second year, the Changemaker Campus Consortium includes Babson College, College of the Atlantic, Cornell University, George Mason University, Johns Hopkins University, The New School, Tulane University, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the University of Maryland–all chosen specifically on their ability and readiness effect cross-campus change.

Youth Venture

Youth Venture invests in teams of young people to start and lead their own social ventures. The concept for Youth Venture emerged following an Ashoka Fellow collaboration around youth and civic participation. Currently, Youth Venture operates in the US, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, India, South Africa, Thailand, and across Europe. Ashoka Youth Venture works with "iCivics", Sandra Day O'Connor's civics-education initiative, to encourage youth activism through Impact Projects.

Global Academy

The Global Academy is a group of social entrepreneurs. Members of the program attempt to direct and advance the field of social entrepreneurship, and to bridge social and business entrepreneurs. Founding members include Muhammad Yunus, Alice Tepper Marlin, Bill Drayton, Peter Eigen, Oded Grajew, and Fazel Abed. The Global Academy also established the University Network, a network of academics and practitioners focused on strengthening teaching and research in social entrepreneurship so that more action will result.

Full Economic Citizenship (FEC)

In 2003, Ashoka launched the Full Economic Citizenship (FEC) initiative. This program is intended to enable business-social alliances to develop the products and the distribution channels to serve currently marginalized markets better. In particular low income housing, health care, small farmers' and energy sectors. Ashoka's goal is to transform these sectors by encouraging these types of partnerships.

For instance, in 2004, Ashoka worked with Cemex, a global cement and building products company, to identify ways in which Cemex could leverage social distribution networks to deliver housing products and services to the poor.

Social Financial Services

Ashoka started the Social Financial Services (SFS) program to address the lack of quantity and diversity in financial support for social ventures. SFS works with leading financial intermediaries to educate them about the value inherent in the social sector and helps them develop new products and services with the goal of having those institutions invest strategically in the sector. In 2006, SFS partnered with Deutsche Bank to launch Eye Fund I, a fund intended to provide loans and guarantees to support the development of affordable, sustainable and accessible eye care for the world's poor while providing a near-market return for investors. In 2007, this partnership was selected as number 13 on Fast Company magazine’s ‘Fast 50: 50 Profit-Driven Solutions for what Ails the Planet’.

Fellows

Fellows by Country

• 2,145 Fellows in 73 Countries
• Ranked by Total Fellows
• Ranking ties are shown as the same number

As of July 23, 2010:

Rank	Country	Year Founded	Total Fellows	Fellows Per Year	Sub-Regional Office	Region
1	India	1982	283	?	Bangalore, India	Asia
2	Brazil	1986	273	15-20	São Paulo, Brazil	South America
3	Mexico	1987	145	10	Mexico City, Mexico	North America
4	USA	2000	126	~23	Arlington, VA, USA	North America
5	Indonesia	1983	111	?	Bandung, Indonesia	Asia
6	South Africa	1991	90	?	Johannesburg, South Africa	Africa
7	Thailand	1989	82	?	Bangkok, Thailand	Asia
8	Nigeria	1991	70	?	Dakar, Senegal	Africa
9	Poland	?	68	5-6	Warsaw, Poland	Europe
10	Bangladesh	1987	57	?	?	Asia
11	Colombia	1994	49	2-4	Lima, Peru	South America
12	Argentina	1994	48	4	Buenos Aires, Argentina	South America
13	Pakistan	1980s	44	?	Karachi, Pakistan	Europe
14	Nepal	1987	41	?	?	Asia
15	Chile	1994	38	4	Buenos Aires, Argentina	South America
16	Egypt	2003	36	?	Cairo, Egypt	Middle East/North Africa (MENA)
16	Saudi Arabia	?	36	?	Cairo, Egypt	Middle East/North Africa (MENA)
18	Peru	1994	33	2-4	Lima, Peru	South America
19	Ecuador	1994	31	2-4	Lima, Peru	South America
20	Bolivia	1995	26	2-4	Lima, Peru	South America
20	Germany	2005	26	?	Frankfurt, Germany	Europe
20	Hungary	?	26	2	Budapest, Hungary	Europe
23	Canada	2002	24	15-20	Toronto, Canada	North America
23	Turkey	2000	24	?	Warsaw, Poland	Europe
25	Czech Republic	1994	23	?	Warsaw, Poland	Europe
26	Uganda	2001	21	?	Nairobi, Kenya	Africa
27	Uruguay	1994	20	1-2	Buenos Aires, Argentina	South America
27	France	2006	20	?	Paris, France	Europe
27	Burkina Faso	1993	20	?	Bamako, Mali	Africa
30	Senegal	1992	19	?	Bamako, Mali	Africa
31	Spain	2006	17	?	Madrid, Spain	Europe
31	Kenya	2002	17	?	Nairobi, Kenya	Africa
33	Paraguay	1995	16	1-2	São Paulo, Brazil	South America
33	Slovakia	1995	16	?	Warsaw, Poland	Europe
35	Venezuela	1996	15	1-3	Lima, Peru	South America
35	Sri Lanka	2003	15	?	Colombo, Sri Lanka	Asia
37	Mali	1992	13	?	Bamako, Mali	Africa
37	Zimbabwe	1990	13	?	Johannesburg, South Africa	Africa
39	Costa Rica	?	11	?	?	South America
40	United Kingdom	2003	9	?	London, United Kingdom	Europe
41	Lithuania	2000	8	?	Bratislava, Slovakia	Europe
42	Tanzania	2003	6	?	Nairobi, Kenya	Africa
42	El Salvador	?	6	?	?	South America
44	Ireland	2006	5	?	Dublin, Ireland	Europe
44	Gambia	?	5	?	Bamako, Mali	Africa
44	Ghana	1992	5	?	Dakar, Senegal	Africa
44	Guatemala	?	5	?	?	South America
44	Switzerland	?	5	?	Paris, France & Frankfurt, Germany	Europe
49	Lebanon	?	4	?	Cairo, Egypt	Middle East/North Africa (MENA)
49	Côte d'Ivoire	1992	4	?	Bamako, Mali	Africa
49	Cameroon	1993	4	?	Dakar, Senegal	Africa
49	Jordan	?	4	?	?	Middle East/North Africa (MENA)
53	Palestine	?	3	?	Cairo, Egypt	Middle East/North Africa (MENA)
53	Belgium	?	3	?	Paris, France	Europe
53	Afghanistan	2006	3	?	Karachi, Pakistan	Europe
53	Nicaragua	?	3	?	?	South America
57	East Timor	?	2	?	Bandung, Indonesia	Asia
57	Mozambique	2000	2	?	Johannesburg, South Africa	Africa
57	Israel	?	2	?	Tel Aviv, Israel	Middle East/North Africa (MENA)
57	Kuwait	?	2	?	Cairo, Egypt	Middle East/North Africa (MENA)
57	Sweden	?	2	?	Dublin, Ireland	Europe
62	Latvia	2003	1	<1	Bratislava, Slovakia	Europe
62	Morocco	2007	1	<1	Cairo, Egypt	Africa
62	Guinea-Bissau	1994	1	?	Bamako, Mali	Africa
62	Zambia	1991	1	?	Johannesburg, South Africa	Africa
62	Botswana	1999	1	?	Johannesburg, South Africa	Africa
62	Denmark	?	1	?	Dublin, Ireland	Europe
62	Iceland	?	1	?	?	Europe
62	Italy	?	1	?	?	Europe
62	Netherlands	?	1	?	?	Europe
62	Singapore	?	1	?	?	Asia
72	Slovenia	?	?	?	Bratislava, Slovakia	Europe
72	Philippines	?	?	?	Makati City, Phillippines	Asia

Fellows by Continent

As of 2007:

Continent	Total Fellows
Asia	638
South America	571
Africa	293
Europe	192
North America	167
Worldwide	1,861

Fellows by Field of Work

Field of Work	Total Fellows
Human Rights	422
Economic Development	411
Civic Engagement	375
Learning/Education	334
Health	311
Environment	258
Worldwide	2,111

Fellows and programs

• Fazle Hasan Abed - Founder, BRAC in Bangladesh, Abed was also a founding member of Ashoka's Global Academy. BRAC is one of the largest development organizations in the world, with notable successes in their treatment of tuberculosis and diarrhea, providing a market for rural artisans with their social enterprise Aarong, and creating a national network of schools for the children of the poor. Dr. Abed was the recipient of the Clinton Global Initiative's first ever Clinton Global Citizen Award in 2007.

• Rodrigo Baggio - Founder of Center for Digital Inclusion (as Comitê para Democratização da Informática), a network of computer schools in poor Latin American neighborhoods.

• George Abraham - Founder and CEO of Score Foundation, which runs Project Eyeway. He is also the founding Chairman of the World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC) and the Association for Cricket for the Blind in India (ACBI). Elected to the Ashoka Fellowship in 2000.

• Zackie Achmat – Founder, Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), Achmat holds the state accountable to its constitutional obligation of guaranteeing a right to life to all citizens by providing affordable AIDS medications. Achmat was elected to the Ashoka Fellowship in 2003.

• Mohammad Abbad Andaloussi, founder of Al Jisr

• Jeroo Billimoria, founder of Aflatoun Child Saving International, Childline India Foundation and Child Helpline International

• Vera Cordeiro, for reforming the Brazilian health care system

• Derek Ellerman, co-founder of Polaris Project

• Kim Feinberg, founder of Tomorrow Trust

• Darell Hammond, founder of KaBOOM!

• Magda Iskander, founder of Care with Love

• Rachel Lloyd, founder of Girls Educational and Mentoring Services, also known as GEMS

• Feliciano Reyna, founder of Acción Solidaria

• Beulah Thumbadoo, founder of Everyone's Reading in Africa

• Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia.

• Sakena Yacoobi - Founder, Afghan Institute of Learning. Elected to the Ashoka Fellowship in 2006.

• Muhammad Yunus – Founder, Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, Yunus was elected as a founding member of Ashoka’s Global Academy in 2001. In November, 2003 Yunus collaborated with Ashoka to host the Grameen-Ashoka Dialogue to explore the emerging trend of social-business ventures for poverty eradication. In 2006, Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

• Kyle Zimmer, founder of First Book

• Dr. Sudarshan - Founder of VGKK and Karuna Trust (India) was one of the first few Ashoka Fellows in 1982. He is well known for his work on tribal rights and primary health care.

• Arif Hasan - Founder of Urban Resource Centere, and developed successful housing programs including Urban Community program, Hasan Square and the Orangi Upgrading Project.

• Vineet Rai - Founder of AAVISHKAAR social Venture.

• Reza Deghati - Founder of AINA, Afghanistan. Philanthropist, idealist, humanist, architect and professional photographer.

• Satyan Mishra - Founder of Drishtee. Drishtee is a social enterprise that provides services to rural India through village kiosks that are run and managed by local entrepreneurs.

Organizational Leadership

Board of Directors

• Mary Gordon, Ashoka Fellow
• William C. Kelly, President, Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future
• Gloria de Souza, Ashoka Fellow
• Fred Hehuwat, Founder, The Green Indonesia Foundation
• Roger Harrison, Newspaper Executive and Journalist
• C. William Carter, Business and Social Entrepreneur
• Kyle Zimmer, Founder, FirstBook
• William Drayton, Founder & Board Chair

Global Office Locations

29 Offices Around the Globe

Office Name	City	Country	Countries Handled	Region
Ashoka Andean Region	Lima	Peru	Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela	South America
Ashoka Colombia	Bogota	Colombia	Colombia	South America
Ashoka Brazil/Paraguay	São Paulo	Brazil	Brazil/Paraguay	South America
Ashoka-McKinsey Center for Social Entrepreneurship	São Paulo	Brazil	none	South America
Ashoka Southern Cone	Buenos Aires	Argentina	Argentina, Chile, Uruguay	South America
Ashoka Canada	Toronto	Canada	Canada	North America
Ashoka: Emprendedores Sociales	Mexico City	Mexico	Mexico and Central America	North America
Ashoka United States	Arlington, VA	United States	United States	North America
Ashoka Arab World Regional Office	Cairo	Egypt	Egypt, Morocco, Jordon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait	Middle East/North Africa (MENA)
Ashoka France/Belgium/Switzerland (French-speaking)	Paris	France	France/Belgium/Switzerland (French-speaking)	Europe
Ashoka Deutschland gGmbH	Frankfurt	Germany	Germany/Switzerland (German-speaking)	Europe
Ashoka Hungary	Budapest	Hungary	Hungary	Europe
Ashoka Ireland	Dublin	Ireland	Ireland/Denmark/Sweden	Europe
Ashoka Israel	Tel Aviv	Israel	Israel	Europe
Ashoka Innovators for the Public in Poland	Warsaw	Poland	Poland/Czech Republic/Turkey/Slovakia	Europe
Ashoka Slovakia	Bratislava	Slovakia	Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia	Europe
Ashoka Spain	Madrid	Spain	Spain	Europe
Ashoka UK	London	United Kingdom	United Kingdom	Europe
Ashoka India Office	Bangalore	India	India	Asia
Ashoka Indonesia	Bandung	Indonesia	Indonesia	Asia
Ashoka Pakistan	Karachi	Pakistan	Pakistan	Asia
Ashoka Philippines	Makati City	Philippines	Philippines	Asia
Ashoka Sri Lanka	Colombo	Sri Lanka	Sri Lanka	Asia
Ashoka Thailand	Bangkok	Thailand	Thailand	Asia
Ashoka: Innovators for the Public	Johannesburg	South Africa	South Africa	Africa
Ashoka East Africa	Nairobi	Kenya	Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda	Africa
Ashoka Sahel	Bamako	Mali	Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Senegal	Africa
Ashoka Southern Africa	Johannesburg	South Africa	Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe	Africa
Ashoka Senegal	Dakar	Senegal	Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria	Africa

References

Bibliography

• Bornstein, David. How To Change The World: Social Entrepreneurs and The Power of New Ideas. Oxford University Press, NY: 2004, ISBN 0195138058.

External links

• Official website