Have you ever wondered what it would be like to create real change? You don't have to start your own organization to make a difference in the world. Everyone can learn the social entrepreneurship mindset and skillset to build social impact. In this course, you will immerse yourself in a social or environmental challenge you want to tackle. You'll start by researching your topic of choice, talking to people, and ideating a potential solution that you can contribute. Then, you'll build a business model around that solution, understanding concepts like measuring social change, ensuring financial viability, funding and pitching. This course is a safe space to experiment and explore. You'll be guided by a ten stage framework to help structure your journey. Along the way, you'll hear from social entrepreneurs around the world through case studies and campus conversations. These include Yale alumni, members of the New Haven community, and global changemakers. Everyone is welcome to join this course! You can apply your lived, learned, or professional experience to discover how you're going to make a difference.
Breeze through these short introductory videos to get a flavor of the course and determine if this course is right for you.
What's included
6 videos3 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 19 minutes
What makes this course different?•2 minutes
Who are you?•2 minutes
Who is Teresa Chahine?•2 minutes
Why study social entrepreneurship?•7 minutes
What will you do in Module 2?•1 minute
How to pick your topic?•5 minutes
3 readings•Total 26 minutes
WELCOME NOTE•1 minute
Optional Readings•15 minutes
Your Learning, Your Way•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
Test Your Knowledge•15 minutes
STAGE 1: RESEARCHING YOUR TOPIC
Module 2•1 hour to complete
Module details
Your journey really starts here! This is the first stage in becoming a changemaker - understanding and researching your challenge.
What's included
6 videos3 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 40 minutes
How to characterize your challenge?•3 minutes
How to find data?•8 minutes
How to analyze your research?•7 minutes
Module 2 Do's & Don'ts•3 minutes
Module 2 Case Study: Health Leads•6 minutes
Campus Conversation with Erik Clemons•13 minutes
3 readings•Total 21 minutes
Finding Your Focus•10 minutes
Welcome to Campus Conversations!•1 minute
Optional Readings•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 20 minutes
Module 2 Quiz•20 minutes
STAGE 2: LISTENING TO PEOPLE
Module 3•2 hours to complete
Module details
The most important part of your entrepreneurial journey is to understand (and engage with) the people who are most affected by your challenge. This module will equip you with the knowledge and skills to create meaningful community connections.
What's included
7 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 52 minutes
What does community mean?•3 minutes
What is knowledge equity?•6 minutes
How to request an informational interview?•5 minutes
How to process information with mapping tools?•9 minutes
Module 3 Do's & Don'ts•7 minutes
Module 3 Case Study: Ciudad Saludable•8 minutes
Campus Conversation with Adrienne Abbate•15 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Optional Readings•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 3 Quiz•30 minutes
STAGE 3: DESIGNING A SOLUTION
Module 4•2 hours to complete
Module details
This module focuses on creating innovative solutions to social challenges through the process of user-driven design. This approach facilitates the development of your solution by mobilizing existing resources in a new way.
What's included
7 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 55 minutes
What is the design process?•4 minutes
How to generate ideas?•8 minutes
How to test ideas?•3 minutes
How to evaluate ideas?•10 minutes
Module 4 Do's & Don'ts•6 minutes
Module 4 Case Study: Hippocampus Learning Centers•8 minutes
Campus Conversation with Ruchit Nagar•15 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Optional Readings•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 4 Quiz•30 minutes
STAGE 4: DEVELOPING YOUR IDEA FURTHER
Module 5•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you’ll figure out how people will interact with your offering. To do so, you need to talk to as many people as possible! First, you'll work on articulating your mission, vision, and values. Then, you’ll ask for informational interviews and talk to customers, others who have tried similar ideas, and anyone else who will talk to you and help connect you to others. The goal is to understand how your customers will interact with your solution.
What's included
8 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 55 minutes
How to bring your idea to your customer?•2 minutes
What is your organizational compass?•5 minutes
How to create a customer profile?•4 minutes
What is a customer flowchart?•3 minutes
How to differentiate your solution?•10 minutes
Module 5 Do's [SWOT & PESTEL]•6 minutes
Module 5 Case Study: Daily Table•11 minutes
Campus Conversation with Doug Rauch•14 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Optional Readings•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 5 Quiz•30 minutes
STAGE 5: MEASURING OUTCOMES
Module 6•1 hour to complete
Module details
This week, you will specify what success looks like, and how you will measure it.
What's included
7 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 50 minutes
Congratulations•0 minutes
What does it mean to measure outcomes?•5 minutes
How to think beyond reach?•6 minutes
What is a logic model?•8 minutes
Module 6 Do's & Don'ts•7 minutes
Module 6 Case Study: Soufra•9 minutes
Campus Conversation with Camila Güiza-Chavez•15 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Optional Readings•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 6 Quiz•30 minutes
STAGE 6: ENSURING FINANCIAL VIABILITY
Module 7•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will address the financial viability of your solution, based on revenue and distribution models that are commonly adopted by social enterprises.
Module 7 Case Study: Aravind Eye Systems•11 minutes
Campus Conversation with Trishan Panch•15 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Optional Readings & Financial Template•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 7 Quiz•30 minutes
STAGE 7: FUNDING YOUR ENDEAVOR
Module 8•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will review the financing approaches associated with social entrepreneurship. Hopefully, you will determine which one(s) could be right for you!
What's included
8 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 70 minutes
What is social financing?•3 minutes
What are common funding sources?•11 minutes
What are common funding vehicles?•8 minutes
How has funding evolved over time?•13 minutes
What are non-financial forms of support?•9 minutes
Module 8 Do's [The Resource Organizer]•5 minutes
Module 8 Case Study: DBL Fund•8 minutes
Campus Conversation with Onyeka Obiocha•14 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Optional Readings•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 8 Quiz•30 minutes
STAGE 8: STRUCTURING AS AN ORGANIZATION
Module 9•2 hours to complete
Module details
This week, you will learn how to organize and structure the resources required for institutionalizing your endeavor.
What's included
8 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 61 minutes
How to build infrastructure around your idea?•2 minutes
How to recruit the right people?•8 minutes
How to standardize your processes?•6 minutes
What are different governance structures?•8 minutes
What legal structures are available in your country?•12 minutes
Module 9 Do's & Don'ts•2 minutes
Module 9 Case Study: B Labs•7 minutes
Campus Conversation with Kendall Barbery•15 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Optional Readings•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 9 Quiz•30 minutes
STAGE 9: PITCHING & COMMUNICATIONS PLANNING
Module 10•2 hours to complete
Module details
This module is about effectively communicating with stakeholders. Pitches and Business Plans are essential communication tools, but they’re not the only ones. You are encouraged to draft and comprehensive communications plan that specifies what to convey to whom and why, when, and how.
What's included
7 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 72 minutes
How to communicate your ideas?•2 minutes
How to pitch?•10 minutes
What goes into a business plan?•3 minutes
Why do you need a communications plan?•16 minutes
Module 10 Do's & Don'ts•10 minutes
Module 10 Case Study: Student Pitch [Act to Change]•17 minutes
Campus Conversation with Caroline Tanbee Smith•14 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Optional Readings•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 10 Quiz•30 minutes
STAGE 10: EXPANDING YOUR IMPACT
Module 11•1 hour to complete
Module details
In this module, you will learn different ways to reach beyond your solution. While you are contributing to the improvement of your social challenge, there’s a limit to what you can achieve on your own. To broaden the impact of your solution, you need to build partnerships with other entities that share your goal. This is the last module of the course, but your journey is just beginning!
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 44 minutes
What comes next?•1 minute
What are different ways to expand impact?•14 minutes
Module 11 Do's & Don'ts•4 minutes
Module 11 Case Study: Catalyst 2030•8 minutes
Thank YOU!•4 minutes
Campus Conversation with Sally Abi Khalil•12 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Optional Readings•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 11 Quiz•30 minutes
Instructor
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For more than 300 years, Yale University has inspired the minds that inspire the world. Based in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale brings people and ideas together for positive impact around the globe. A research university that focuses on students and encourages learning as an essential way of life, Yale is a place for connection, creativity, and innovation among cultures and across disciplines.
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To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. 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.
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.