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Peter Frumkin

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Social Impact Strategy: Tools for Entrepreneurs and Innovators

University of Pennsylvania

About this Course

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This course offers an introduction to social impact strategy and social entrepreneurship, including key concepts, an overview of the field, and tools to get started as a changemaker. Students will learn how to innovate and design new ideas and new organizational forms to implement those ideas. Students who take this course will be better prepared to launch social impact
organizations of their own invention. 

By moving through four stages, Define, Design, Pilot, and Scale, students will turn their passion for changing the world into concrete plans for launching a nonprofit or for-profit venture designed to achieve a social goal. This course will allow students to systematically think through problems; develop and test an innovative solution; assess risk, competition, and performance; and spread impact in a way that is financially sustainable.

Students who complete the course become eligible to apply for an in-person educational experience, called the Global Social Impact House. GSIH is a seven-day residential program that provides fellows with the tools, community and training they need to advance their ventures. Workshops are customized to the needs of fellows and explore advanced concepts in business models, design thinking and leadership. The program is also designed to help fellows build meaningful, global connections while living together in an inspirational host location. For more information on the Global Social Impact House, please visit: https://csis.upenn.edu/residential-program/gsih/

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 7 hours to complete

English

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Skills you will gain

Market Analysis
Business Model
Business Modeling
Social Entrepreneurship

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 7 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.76/5 (299 Ratings)

Peter Frumkin

Professor

Nonprofit Leadership Program, School of Social Policy & Practice

62,518 Learners

2 Courses

Offered by

University of Pennsylvania

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(3,425 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

2 hours to complete

Introduction

Learn about the key qualities of social innovation, social enterprise, and social entrepreneurs. How do social entrepreneurs approach problem solving? How might we identify social initiatives that are truly innovative in their approach to delivering on their mission, sustaining their venture, or scaling their impact? This module introduces the topic and offers examples of initiatives you might study as cases organizations throughout the course.

2 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 39 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

9 videos

0.1. What to Expect in this Course1m1.1 Introduction to Social Innovation6m1.2 Traditional approaches to public problem solving4m1.3 A social entrepreneur's approach to problem solving6m1.4 Introduction to the social enterprise and the social enterprise spectrum6m1.5 The Importance of the business model1m1.6 Traits of social enterprise across the spectrum6m1.7. Meet Carlos and Coco2m1.8. Anatomy of a Social Entrepreneur2m

1 reading

Recommended Readings for Week 1. Introduction10m

1 practice exercise

Week 1 Quiz: Introduction to Social Innovation, Enterprise, and Entrepreneurship30m

Week2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Define and Design

Learn the inputs and basic blueprints of a well-articulated vision. Develop an understanding of the design process, and learn to use an empathy map and a mind map for client-oriented innovation. Learn to build a logic model, which will help you articulate your innovation's theory of change from resources (inputs) to activities to impact. We encourage students to apply these tools immediately, to an active or idea-stage social initiative, that you are working directly on or that you admire.

2 hours to complete

13 videos (Total 70 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

13 videos

2.1 How Do We Find Innovations? Introduction to the Design Process6m2.2 Why is Design Thinking Important for Social Innovation?4m2.3 How to Design Part 1: Spark Useful Insights by Listening with Empathy5m2.4 How to Design Part 2: Identify the Most Powerful Insights and Potential Solutions by Building a Mind Map6m2.5 How to Design Part 3: Prototyping3m2.6 Embracing Creativity and Innovation3m2.7 Articulating your Roadmap to Impact: The Logic Model3m2.8 The Logic Model: Critical Elements6m2.9 The Logic Model: How to Use It7m2.10 Three Examples of Logic Models10m2.11 Tips for Building a Strong Logic Model2m2.12. Carlos and Coco Define and Design (Part 1: Listening with Empathy, Empathy Maps, and Mind Maps)7m2.13. Carlos and Coco Define and Design (Part 2. Prototyping and Logic Models)4m

1 reading

Recommended Readings for Week 2: Define and Design10m

1 practice exercise

Week 2 Quiz: Finding Innovations and the Road to Impact30m

Week3

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Pilot and Scale

We must test our ideas in the real world, early and often, to determine if they can truly deliver on either their social or financial mission. Learn to build and use the balanced scorecard, a key tool to assess the real-world performance of a social innovation. The scorecard will allow you to measure and articulate both the initiative's current reach and health, as well as the work that is left to be done. An innovation achieves the intended social impact in a way that is financially supportable may be a candidate for scale. Learn to assess whether and how to approach scale for your social innovation.

2 hours to complete

11 videos (Total 52 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

11 videos

3.1 Two Approaches to Measuring Performance: Social Return on Investment (SROI) and Ratings6m3.2 A Third Approach to Measuring Performance: The Balanced Scorecard4m3.3 Examples of Balanced Scorecards7m3.4 How to Develop a Balanced Scorecard - Overview2m3.5 How to Develop a Balanced Scorecard - Detail7m3.6 What is Scale?3m3.7 The Importance of Scale in the Social Sector2m3.8 Five Approaches to Scale - Overview3m3.9 Five Approaches to Scale - Details and Implications5m3.10 Approaching Scale Critically4m3.11. Carlos and Coco Pilot and Scale (Scorecard, Marketing Matrix, and Customer Segmentation)5m

1 reading

Recommended Readings for Week 3. Pilot and Scale10m

1 practice exercise

Week 3 Quiz: Performance Measurement and Scale30m

Week4

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Sector Selection and Business Models

2 hours to complete

15 videos (Total 73 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

15 videos

4.1 Why you Need a Business Model8m4.2 Features of the Business Model3m4.3 Business Models along the Business Model Spectrum4m4.4 Choosing a Model - Introduction5m4.5 Choosing a Model - How to Choose5m4.6 Drilling Down on Assessment 2: Competitive Positioning6m4.7 Competitive Positioning: Market Characteristics and Differentiation4m4.8 An Example of Competitive Positioning: Blue Avocado5m4.9 An Example of Competitive Positioning: Jolkona4m4.10 Key Criteria of Competitive Positioning Assessment2m4.11 Choosing a Model - Pathways Lead to Many Organizational Forms that Can Result5m4.12 Balancing Mission and Profit1m4.13.Carlos and Coco Choose a Business Model8m4.14 The bottom line54s4.15. Key Questions all Social Innovators Must Ask5m

1 reading

Recommended Readings for Week 4. Sector Selection and Business Models10m

1 practice exercise

Week 4 Quiz: Sector Selection and Business Models30m

Reviews

4.8

340 reviews

5 stars
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3 stars
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TOP REVIEWS FROM SOCIAL IMPACT STRATEGY: TOOLS FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND INNOVATORS

by SGJul 13, 2020

Nice course for all budding entrepreneurs in the social sector. Good case studies, logic models and business models presented in the course. Thoroughly enjoyed the learning,

by SSDec 29, 2016

In-depth knowledge of social impact with relevant examples and handy tools and frameworks. The course provided structure to my approach towards social impact. Highly recommended.

by TWNov 11, 2019

Excellent course for anyone planning to start a nonprofit or wanting to think more strategically about an existing nonprofit. Lessons are well-organized, concise, and informative.

by DJul 7, 2021

Well presented! The lecturers spoke in a language that can be understood by anyone regardless of their professional background. Definitely enjoyed taking this course!

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
How is this course unique?
This is the only Coursera class that invites students who complete the course to apply for an in-person educational experience, called the Global Social Impact House: http://socialimpactstrategy.org/residential/gsih.
How often will this course be offered?
The course is available on the following dates:
Oct 3 - Nov 7
Oct 31 - Dec 5
Nov 28 - Jan 2
Dec 26 - Jan 30
Jan 23 - Feb 27
Feb 20 - Mar 27
Do I have to pay for a certificate to apply for the Global Social Impact House?
No, you do not have to pay for the certificate. You simply have to complete the course and apply for consideration. For more information on the Global Social Impact House, please visit: socialimpactstrategy.org/residential/gsih

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Social Impact Strategy: Tools for Entrepreneurs and Innovators

Social Impact Strategy: Tools for Entrepreneurs and Innovators

About this Course

Skills you will gain