ASHOKA: SUPPORTING CHANGE MAKERS
Ashoka works on three levels. The first is to support individual social entrepreneurs financially and professionally; throughout their life cycle. The second way is by bringing communities of social entrepreneurs together to help leverage their impact, scale their ideas, and capture and disseminate their best practices. Finally, they help build the infrastructure and financial systems needed to support the growth of the citizen sector and facilitate the spread of social innovation globally.
All of the programs in these three areas contribute to Ashoka's vision and mission; all understand the historical transformation of the citizen sector taking place and are building upon that understanding. None of the programs exist to provide services exclusively.
Ashoka's three levels are mutually reinforcing; together they are bringing the vision of 'Everyone a Changemaker' closer to reality.
Ashoka envisions a world where everyone is a change maker: a world that responds quickly and effectively to social challenges, and where each individual has the freedom, confidence and societal support to address any social problem and drive change.
Ashoka strives to shape a global, entrepreneurial, competitive citizen sector: one that allows social entrepreneurs to thrive and enables the world's citizens to think and act as change makers.
To ensure that the leading ideas for social change are fully developed and sustained, they have designed an approach that offers critical interventions on three levels- the individual, the group, and the sector.
- Supporting Social Entrepreneurs Social entrepreneurs are the engines of social change and role models for the citizen sector. Ashoka identifies and invests in leading social entrepreneurs and helps them achieve maximum social impact.
- Promoting Group Entrepreneurship Groups and networks of social entrepreneurs working together accelerate and spread social impact. Ashoka engages communities of entrepreneurs and develops patterns of effective collaborations that change entire fields.
- Building Infrastructure for the Sector A global network of change makers requires tools and support systems to deliver sustainable social solutions. Ashoka creates needed infrastructure, such as access to social financing, bridges to business and academic sectors, and frameworks for partnerships that deliver social and financial value.
Over 25 years, Ashoka has helped change the lives of millions all around the world through its Fellows, programs, and staff. And while the numbers of those helped are extraordinary, they are most proud of the impact that their fellows have had in terms of systemic change-shifting societal perceptions, encouraging new behavior patterns, and revolutionizing entire fields.
Fabio Rosa has helped cut rural electrification costs by 70-80% in Brazil and brought electricity to the homes of over 1 million people. Fabio's innovation has spread to 23 countries worldwide.
Jeroo Billimoria, through Childline, has provided direct assistance to more than 26,000 street children in Mumbai. Childline has answered over 2 million calls and spread to 38 cities nationally.
JB Schramm, through College Summit has enabled over 10,000 low-income high school students gain access to college through strategic assistance with the admissions process. College Summit produces college-going rates of 79%, almost double the 46% baseline among low-income youth.
Paul Rice, through TransFair USA, has generated $54 million in income for family farmers through its equitable model of international trade. TransFair USA audits the entire global supply chain for coffee, tea and cocoa and licenses 300 companies to display its trademarked label on products in more than 25,000 locations in the U.S.
Get Involved
Ashoka strives to fulfill their vision of everyone a change maker by encouraging people from all over the world to be involved in furthering our work. There are a number of ways you can get involved:- Invest in Ashoka. Ashoka provides a variety of ways you can contribute financially to support our work.
- Join Our Team. Learn about career, internship, and volunteer opportunities.
- Newsletter Sign-up. Sign up for our quarterly newsletter to get the latest updates on Ashoka's innovations.
- Nominate a FellowHelp us identify social entrepreneurs. If you know someone you think fits the profile of an Ashoka Fellow, please tell us about them!
- Join the Ashoka Support Network Engage with Ashoka, committing time and resources to support the work of social entrepreneurs.