SISGI Beyond Good Ideas Foundation is the nonprofit division of the SISGI Group. All programs such as our internship programs, Institute for Social Change educational resources and Alliance for Positive Youth Development collaborative work, sit within the nonprofit division. The foundation also awards low cost consulting services to organizations and individuals interested in creating lasting social change. The foundation serves as a donation clearinghouse for corporations and small businesses looking to support sustainable efforts towards social problems.
Organization Goal: Increase the capacity of the social sector to solve pressing social problems
Launched in May 2011 to address 3 areas of concern in the nonprofit//social sector:
- Lack of Preparation for those entering the sector
- Lack of Education and professional development available to those working in the sector
- Lack of Collaboration and collective effort occurring to solve social issues
Outcomes to Date
- 26 undergraduate and graduate students have gained valuable skills in the 2011 pilot of our internship program. They participated in a collaborative learning environment with students from across the country from universities such as New York University, Duke University, Columbia University, Nova Southeastern University, University of California, Berkely and University of Michigan. The students gained new skills included online writing and research, social media for social good, training development and leadership, sustainable impact analysis and critical thinking skills. Due to the SISGI Group’s virtual culture interns also learned technology skills such as WordPress, Google Apps, Social Media Platforms, Youtube, video conferencing, online meeting management, online project management and virtual collaboration.
- Over 250 people attended 15 trainings offered in 2011 on topics ranging from the Engaging Non College Youth, Aid to Southern Sudan and Human Slavery.
- The Alliance for Positive Youth Development was launched after a needs assessment conducted in the summer of 2011 focused on increasing the sharing of resources and collective impact on youth under the age of 25. Over the last year the APYD has created a strong social media presence, highlighted great programs, offered free trainings on current research, and began the development of National Advisory Council. The initiative will be hosting its first conference in August of 2012 to share best practices in youth development from across the country.
Plans for 2012
- The internship program will incorporate a semester long training certification from the Institute for Social Change. In addition to the skills and experiences that are core to the SISGI internship experience, ISC Fellows (formerly the Program and Research Internship) will participate in mentoring, a leadership training curriculum and research leading to a Certificate in Social Change Leadership.
- The Institute For Social Change will increase its professional development opportunities offering a Financial Management Institute and Start-up Network and Learning Series to support social entrepreneurs and smaller organizations.
- The foundation will launch the Social Change Fund, a crowd funding initiative to provide small grants to new and struggling local organizations.
