Organization |
What It Does |
Results |
Grade |
ACCION InternationalCEO: María Oterowww.accion.org Winner's Statement |
Trains banks around the world to be microfinance partners, making small loans (averaging $674) to help poor people start businesses. Eventually, these microlenders become self-sustaining. ACCION has recently developed new services--home-improvement loans, insurance, and savings vehicles. | In the past 10 years, ACCION's partners have made 14.3 million loans totaling nearly $10 billion to 4 million borrowers, 65% of them women. | A+ |
A Fighting ChanceDirector: Melanie Carrwww.a-fighting-chance.org Winner's Statement |
Provides staff investigators to indigent defendants in high-profile cases that most likely will result in death sentences. Operating in four Southern states, it also trains investigators and litigates for increased funding to fully research such cases. | Since 2002, AFC has helped represent 74 people facing the death penalty. Eight have been released outright and 32 have avoided death; the other cases are still pending. | B+ |
Aspire Public SchoolsCEO: Don Shalveywww.aspirepublicschools.org Winner's Statement |
Builds and operates small public charter schools in underserved neighborhoods with a curriculum that constantly reinforces the possibility of college for all students. The indirect effect: pressure on public-school systems to reevaluate ineffective practices. | In 2004 and 2005, every Aspire school exceeded California's testing targets--a 100% achievement rate compared with the state average of 65%. No wonder they have wait lists. | B+ |
BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life)CEO: Earl Martin Phalenwww.bellnational.org Winner's Statement |
Provides after-school and summer tutoring for underperforming, low-income elementary students. The sessions, led by public school teachers, professional mentors, and BELL's own staff, focus on basics: reading, writing, and arithmetic. Enrichment activities and community service get parents involved. | BELL educated more than 7,500 children at 44 school sites in four cities last year. Of these students, 81% improved literacy scores to "proficient." | A |
Calvert Social Investment FoundationExecutive Director: Shari Berenbachwww.calvertfoundation.org Winner's Statement |
Connects financial markets to social markets by raising capital from private and institutional investors, then lending it to more than 200 socially oriented organizations. Borrowers repay at a 99.8% rate, and investors get their capital back with interest, less a slice to fund Calvert's operations. | Since 1995, Calvert's investments have created 146,000 jobs, built or rehabilitated more than 8,000 homes, and financed 8,400 nonprofit facilities. | A+ |
CeresPresident: Mindy Lubberwww.ceres.org Winner's Statement |
Has forged a network of 70 companies committed to publishing sustainability reports and improving environmental and social performance. Its Global Reporting Initiative, launched in 1997 with the United Nations Environment Program, is now the de facto standard used by 850 companies. | After joining Ceres's network, Nike disclosed names and locations of its 700-plus contract factories. Dell agreed to support legislation to require electronics recycling. | B+ |
|
From Issue 111 | December 2006
|
Email
Digg
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Buzz Up!
LinkedIn
Recent Comments | 8 Total
August 20, 2009 at 6:30am by Jesica Semon
I tend to see things going this way as well. I'm certain this won't stop at drug use and party behavior (which is actually a ridiculous qualifier as some of the best employees I've seen partied hard on the weekends). What happens when you're denied a job because of some political or religious views you espouse on blog that the HR person doesn't agree with? You know, the kind of information they aren't allowed to ask you in an interview setting. If it can't be asked in an interview they shouldn't be allowed to go looking for that info online. But, I guess you can always make your profiles private so only people you want to see them can.