Posted on October 5, 2004

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Ashoka: Innovators for the Public

Founded: 1980

Contact: Lyn Chamness, Chief Marketing Officer

Address:
Ashoka: Innovators for the Public
1700 North Moore Street
Suite 2000, 20th Floor
Arlington, VA 22209

Phone: (703) 527-8300
Fax: (703) 527-8383
E-mail: lchamness@ashoka.org
URL: http://www.ashoka.org/

Mission:
To develop the profession of social entrepreneurship around the world.

About the Organization:
Ashoka is a global organization that searches the world for social entrepreneurs — individuals with innovative ideas for change in their communities — and invests in them. Ashoka fellows receive stipends and professional services for up to three years that allow them to focus full time on their visions for leading social change in one of six broad areas: education and youth development, health care, environment, human rights, access to technology, or economic development. As the Web site points out, social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish or teach how to fish: They are driven to revolutionize the fishing industry. Ashoka was founded by Bill Drayton, a former McKinsey & Company consultant and assistant administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency. Drayton recognized the power of individual innovation in addressing pressing social problems, and piloted Ashoka in India with a budget of less than $50,000. Today the organization spends more than $7 million a year financing its fellows around the world. It selects approximately 150 new fellows each year, and since 1982, has elected more than 1,500 fellows in fifty-three countries. The organization takes its name from a third-century B.C. emperor of India who is noted as one of the world's earliest and most successful social innovators.

Current Programs:
Ashoka has programs — and fellows — throughout Africa, Asia, Central Europe, Latin America, and the United States and Canada that support six initiatives: Innovative Learning, Environmental Innovations, Global Health, Law for All, Economic Development, and Civic Participation. In addition, the Global Fellowship program enables fellows to share ideas and work together through national meetings, global collaborations that Ashoka funds, and programs that focus on field-specific issues across countries. Ashoka offers a wide variety of programs that support and mentor fellows. In January 2004, the organization launched a global variation of its selection process to elect social entrepreneurs with transnational or global ideas, whom it designates global fellows. Changemakers.net is Ashoka's online journal.

Web Site:
The Ashoka Web site gives a detailed definition of the social entrepreneur and supplies historical and present-day examples; it introduces Ashoka fellows, with profiles and video clips, and describes the search and selection process. The site also details each of the six initiatives Ashoka supports (see "Current Programs") and provides information about the organization's presence around the world.

Funding:
Ashoka is not a foundation or a government agency. It does not accept government funds, only funds from individuals, foundations, and business entrepreneurs.