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Contest for Socially Responsible Entrepreneurs

Posted by Gayle Kesten Tuesday, Jun 3, 2008, 11:34 AM ET

The Social Venture Network (SVN), a 21-year-old nonprofit whose mission is "to inspire a community of business and social leaders to build a just economy and sustainable planet," is accepting applications for its second annual Innovation Awards.

"The Innovation Awards program supports the next generation of socially responsible business and nonprofit leaders by providing them access to the people and resources to help develop their ideas into successful enterprises," according to the SVN, whose near-500 members include Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry's, Gary Hirshberg of Stonyfield Farm and Amy Domini of Domini Social Investments.

Bottom line, SVN is all about socially responsible investing, sustainable economies, fair trade and organic/eco-living. To wit, last year's contest winners included Ron Gonen, CEO of RecycleBank, which offers people incentives to recycle; Brenda Palms Barber, CEO of Sweet Beginnings, which produces honey-based products and employs people re-entering the workforce from prison; and Aaron Hurst, president/founder of Taproot, which teams professionals to work pro bono for local nonprofits.

Now for a few details regarding this year's race:

Who can enter: Applicants must currently hold positions as C-level executives of businesses or nonprofit organizations implementing an idea that is having a positive social or environmental impact on the business sector. Eligible applicants will have started implementing their new idea fewer than five years ago.

Application deadline: The nomination process goes through July 15; for your convenience, you can download the .doc form here). Twelve finalists will be notified mid-August and go through another round of judging. Winners will be notified mid-September, followed by an awards ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 25, in La Jolla.

How you're judged: Each submission will be judged on a 100-point scale that rates innovation; impact (current and future); potential for the idea/enterprise to scale/expand; and the extent to which the idea addresses economic justice/community impact, environmentally sustainable business practices, employee impact and influence on the socially responsible behavior of others.

What you'll win: This includes a one-year complimentary 2008 SVN membership, prominent recognition on SVN's Web site for one year, and advice and assistance from an accomplished SVN member/mentor and introductions to other successful socially responsible business and nonprofit leaders and investors.

The contest's official rules are posted here. I'd love to hear about your submission.

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