Point of View
The broader social change environment is rife with dogma about how change will happen in the world. Whether it is religious leaders, the social entrepreneur enthusiasts or the legions of professional staff in social service agencies, each has a theory of change for creating a better world. In the social change space, alignments are formed as much by the lens on how to leverage social good as by the sector (education, health care).
Criterion Ventures' lens in this marketplace embraces the paradoxes embedded in the work of social change. We work to keep it all in balance:
Nimble local delivery and powerful
national systems
We believe in the
scale and impact created through consolidation
and alignments but also recognize that
community is essentially local. We help nimble
social entrepreneurs respect and engage the
current infrastructure of large systems to make
the most significant and sustained impact,
while simultaneously cheering new models and
driving upstart companies.
Strategic philanthropy and
investment with a return
We believe
market forces alone will not save the world
from poverty. Strategic philanthropy demands
and catalyzes strong civic leadership.
Investing is not a euphemism; better financial
mechanisms can create social good as investors
get a fair financial return. Our commitment and
expertise in this field is demonstrated through
our leadership role in Good Capital.
Business acumen, nonprofit
expertise and humility
Many people
have transitioned from the for-profit world to
the non profit world, with transformative
ideas, needed skills and particular knowledge,
but less experience on boards or in other
nonprofit settings. They learn quickly that
there is a particular expertise necessary for
social change. Criterion Ventures steps in with
teams of hybrid talent, and experience in both
business and social change space. Our talent to
foster and maintain dynamic sets of
relationships provides secure footing in the
midst of complexity and fast-moving development
of new ventures.
Bold experimentation and careful
infrastructure
Failure in the
nonprofit world often comes at the expense of
the most vulnerable. This encourages risk
avoidance strategies at the cost of the
innovation needed to end the cycles of poverty
and injustice. Criterion Ventures celebrates
bold, humble moves that move adventures forward
while at the same time further conversations
about what creates good. Our respect for both
stability and risk makes us thoughtful
strategists and sound partners for bold new
ventures.