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Magnify your impact

NI NET IMPACT

The network Net Impact is a global network of new leaders committed to using the power of business to improve the world. It is one of the most innovative and influential networks of MBAs, graduate students and young professionals in existence today. Our members believe that business can both earn a profit and create positive social change. Our Mission is to improve the world by growing and strengthening a network of leaders who use the power of business to make a positive net social, environmental, and economic impact. This network is comprised of: • CSR Leaders • Social Entrepreneurs • Environmental & Renewable Energy Experts • Nonprofit Directors • International Development Agents • Socially-Responsible Investor • Thought-Leaders for the Future of Business Networking Opportunities are provided through local chapter events, the annual conference, and online networking tools. Net Impact members consistently rate our network as the most important reason they join and stay involved. The following pages provide an overview of Net Impact. Visit www.netimpact.org and discover the ways members can magnify their impact.

the change Makers Net Impact members are committed, talented, and inspirational. Whether graduate students or professionals, our members are actively improving the world through businesses and nonprofits, start-up endeavors and Fortune 500s. When we polled our members last spring, two-thirds told us they were currently using business to change the world in their graduate school or community. 97 percent said they will use the power of business to improve the world at some point in their career. Meet two who are below:

Kirsten Olsen

ABHishek Gupta

In the past year, Net Impact allowed me to take two giant

The past year has been full of good things. The launching of

steps forward to advance my career. First, I was able to tap

a Net Impact chapter at the University of Cincinnati College

into Net Impact’s vast and influential network and find my

of Business was a big personal achievement. This enabled a

ideal summer internship working at Hewlett-Packard in their

significant contribution towards regional community service.

CSR group.

If I hadn’t been involved with Net Impact, I

University of Cincinnati Net Impact members committed

wouldn’t have had the credibility and personal connections

themselves to helping three regional nonprofits improve

necessary to secure such a position.

their business operations, as part of the Service Corps program. UC faculty and administration introduced a new

Second, I was able to be part of the leadership team for the

course into the MBA curriculum, to allow Service Corps

2005 Net Impact Conference at the Stanford Graduate School

participants to earn course credits for their fieldwork.

of Business. As the Curriculum Chair for the conference, I led a team of 40 classmates whose hard work resulted in four

Net Impact has touched lives at the University of Cincinnati

prominent keynote speakers, 76 panels, and 260 speakers

in more ways than one, and its members strive to make a

from all over the world.

difference each day.

I’m thankful and honored to be

associated with such an esteemed organization and look forward to staying involved after graduation.

the goods Through a central office in San Francisco and more than 120 chapters on four continents, Net Impact offers a

portfolio

of

programs

that

enable

members

to

transform

ideals

into

measurable

results.

Net Impact Conference Net Impact’s annual conference is designed to help members expand their vision of what’s possible through the world of business. It mobilizes students and professionals through an exciting array of keynotes, panels, case studies, simulations, and special events. Participants leave with a fresh perspective on the role of business in society, a new appreciation for their individual role as an emerging business leader, and a strong connection with a network of like-minded colleagues.

Campus Greening Initiative Net Impact’s Campus Greening Initiative (CGI) is a new program designed to help Net Impact student members put their beliefs into action through campus environmental sustainability efforts. The goals of CGI are for students to use business skills to improve their universities’ impact on the environment, as well as to raise awareness of environmental problems and solutions among emerging business leaders.

Career Center The Net Impact Career Center is a comprehensive resource for graduate business students and professionals committed to using business skills for social good. The Career Center contains listings for full-time jobs, part-time jobs and internships; student projects; and nonprofit Board postings. In addition, the Career Center contains invaluable resources for individuals interested in learning more about how to apply their ideals to their career.

Community Impact Net Impact Community Impact Programs encompass a range of activities for members to use their business skills to make a difference in the communities where they live. The principal aspect of the Community Impact Program is Service Corps, a program connecting MBAs to local nonprofits where they offer their strengths in finance, accounting, strategy and marketing in order to improve the nonprofit’s effectiveness. A key component of Service Corps is the exposure of our members to nonprofit management issues. We believe this exposure builds their experience and their knowledge of the problems facing nonprofit management and thus increases our members’ willingness to continue building nonprofit capacity throughout their career.

Curriculum Change The Net Impact Curriculum Change Initiative supports students at MBA programs who are working to enhance their curriculum with the addition of social and environmental related classes and discussions. Through online resources, conference calls, and in-person events, the Curriculum Change Initiative inspires and equips student changemakers.

Impact at Work For members not working in CSR roles, but still wanting to make a difference in their company, Net Impact has launched Impact at Work. This unique program empowers individuals to make a difference—sometimes small, sometimes huge—in the way their company does business. Whether it is implementing an office recycling or paper reduction program, providing fair trade coffee in the canteen or presenting a case on the effects of their company’s operations in the developing world, we provide our members the tools they need to make their voices heard.

Learning Center The Net Impact Learning Center supports our members during the early stages of their professional growth. With online resources focused on helping individuals hone their skills in areas such as nonprofit management, international and community development, corporate social responsibility and strategic philanthropy, the Net Impact Learning Center is a onestop shop for continuing education. Additionally, the Learning Center is enhanced by our Issues in Depth call series, featuring leaders in the field who share their experience working with a social or environmental impact issue.

“I see an

Net Impact as opportunity

for professionals and students to work together, building the capacity

needed

to

use

business as a positive force for change.” - 2006 Member Survey Respondent

The Conference

learn

energize network

The Net Impact Conference mobilizes students and professionals through an exciting array of keynotes, panels, case studies, simulations, and special events. Participants leave with a fresh perspective on the role of business in society, a new appreciation for their individual role as an emerging business leader, and a strong connection with a network of like-minded colleagues. The highlights of the conference are keynote speeches from leaders of prominent nonprofits or Fortune 500 companies. Past keynote include: Honorable Al Gore Generation Investment Company Vyomesh Joshi Executive Vice President, HP Gary Erickson CEO, Clif Bar Orin Smith CEO, Starbucks Coffee Company Marian Wright Edelman President and Founder, Children’s Defense Fund

The conference is designed to inspire new leaders by expanding their vision of the possible as they set their course through the world of business. To achieve this goal Net Impact has developed more than two days of dynamic curriculum including:

•

Leading thinkers and success stories in the nonprofit, private, and public sectors

•

Cutting-edge panels and interactive sessions on topics like corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, nonprofit business, and more

•

Networking opportunities with over 1,500 like-minded professionals and graduate students

•

A Career Fair & Expo with progressive companies and nonprofits

•

Action-oriented take-aways to engage in your company, school, or community

The 2006 Net Impact Conference: Navigating Global Change will take place October 27 - 29, 2006 at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL and in downtown Chicago. For more information visit www.netimpact.org/conference.

the backstory A group of business school students began a dialogue

1993

Where could MBAs who wanted to utilize their business skills to both make money and achieve positive social good find others who shared these values? How could they network with socially-minded leaders and learn about the latest trends on issues important to them? Where could they find jobs and volunteer opportunities that would enable them to transform their ideals into action? Unable to find the answers externally, a group of students decided to form a network to foster these goals. They called the network “Students for Responsible Business,” and held their first Socially Responsible Business conference in 1993 in Washington, D.C.

1994

The dialogue Gains Momentum From six chapters made up of just over 100 students in 1993, the network grew to 16 chapters of more than 500 students in 1994, and reached 40 chapters and several thousand students by 1999.

The Momentum becomes net impact

1999

By 1999, the group faced a new opportunity as recent graduates wanted to stay connected to the movement. Without the collegiality of a Net Impact club and peers, and in jobs that often lack outlets for building values into daily work, they feared losing their commitment and ideas for how to use business to improve the world. In 1999, Students for Responsible Business changed its name to Net Impact. The “Net” implies both a powerful network, and the bottom line (as in net income or net profit). The “Impact” refers to the impact members have on their schools, companies, social sector organizations, and communities. Together, the words denote the positive change that all can create through the power of the Net Impact network.

Net Impact goes international

2001

Net Impact welcomed our first chapter outside of North America into the network with a chapter launch in Europe. Within the next year chapters started popping up in cities such as Sydney, Buenos Aires, and Melbourne and in universities such as McGill in Canada and the London Business School to truly make Net Impact an international organization.

Net Impact continues to grow

2006

Today, Net Impact is proud to support more than 120 student and professional chapters on 4 continents in 75 cities and 80 graduate schools. Our network of more than 10,000 new-generation leaders consists of MBAs, graduate students, and young professionals who together are shaping the future of business.

The Facts Below is a sampling of recent trends, facts, and statistics related to themes our members care about and how they make a difference.

Environment

Socially Responsible Investing

Social Entrepreneurship

Between 1970 and 2000, terrestrial species declined by 30%, and freshwater species have declined by 50%

Nearly 1 out of every 10 dollars under professional management in the U.S. today is involved in socially responsible investing

Of the approximately 2 million citizen sector organizations working in the United States, 70 percent of them were established in the last 30 years. Eastern Europe has seen more than 100,000 such organizations established in the seven years following the fall of the Berlin Wall

- World Wildlife Fund The U.S., with less than 5 percent of the global population, uses about a quarter of the world’s fossil fuel resources, burning up nearly 25% of the coal, 26% of the oil, and 27% of the world’s natural gas

Socially Responsible Investing grew 260% since 1995 - Social Investment Forum: 2005 Report

- Ashoka

- Worldwatch Institute Study, January 2004

Morningstar listed 224 socially conscious funds in November 2005, with total assets of over $40 billion, up from $36 billion in January 2005

Two out of three people in the world will face water shortages by the year 2025 - BBC News, 2001

- Business Ethics Magazine, Winter 2005

65% of Net Impact members have expressed the likelihood that entrepreneurship lies in their future. Conversely, only 3% said they would never launch their own venture - Net Impact Membership Survey, May 2006

MBA Education

Philanthropy

Corporate Social Responsibility

Net Impact has a 24% chapter penetration rate in U.S. Business Schools with full-time programs (87 schools out of 363 MBA programs)

Donor advised funds are the fastest growing charitable giving vehicle: with more than 90,165 account holders to date - National Philanthropic Trust

78% of employees would rather work for an ethical and reputable company than receive a higher salary

Charitable giving reached an estimated $260.28 billion in 2005, an increase of 6.1% from 2004

More than 80% of 4,238 executives across 116 countries believe that, beyond earning returns for investors, corporations should contribute to the public good by going above and beyond what is legally required to minimize pollution and other negative effects of their operations

- Beyond Grey Pinstripes Net Impact has 100% of the U.S. Top 30 MBA programs as ranked by Business Week in 2004, as well as 100% of the Top 20 MBA programs as ranked by U.S. News and World Report in 2006 and Wall Street Journal in 2005

- Giving USA 2006, AAFRC Trust for Philanthropy The nonprofit sector employs 10.2 million people, accounting for 6.9% of the total U.S workforce

- Career Journal Online - National Center for Charitable Statistics

- The Cherenson Group, 2001

- The McKinsey Quarterly

The Answers What does it cost to be a member? Lifetime membership is $350 Professional membership is $50 a year Student membership is $25 a year

How does Net Impact get its funding? Net Impact receives support from a variety of sources including: national and local foundation grants; corporate sponsorships; membership dues; fee-for-service arrangements; and individual donations.

What is the difference between Net Impact Chapters and Net Impact the organization? Net Impact is a 501c3 nonprofit with an office in San Francisco. Our chapters, in graduate schools and cities, are separate groups that affiliate with Net Impact. We support local chapters through providing tools, best practices, events, a chapter leader network, and programs for members to participate in. Chapters are asked to follow basic requirements and adhere to the Net Impact mission; however, they are run by volunteer leaders who set goals and activities with a high level of autonomy.

How can individuals make a donation to Net Impact? Individuals can make a donation online through our website. Visit www.netimpact.org/donate.

How can someone start a Net Impact chapter in their school or community? Starting a chapter is a great opportunity to unite, inspire and mobilize new-generation leaders in a school or community and to join the movement to shape the future of business and society. Net Impact can provide a comprehensive toolkit to help plan events, recruit members, win faculty support, influence curriculum and gain visibility. For details on starting a chapter, email [email protected].

How can companies get involved with Net Impact? Net Impact offers companies the opportunity to partner with us through Annual Sponsorship. Whether interested in recruiting outstanding MBA talent, achieving powerful brand recognition among thousands of future business leaders, participating in the annual conference, or promoting CSR in a company, Annual Sponsorship of Net Impact is a forward-thinking investment promising strong returns. Please email [email protected] for more information.

How can nonprofits get involved with Net Impact? Net Impact members can bring a unique value to nonprofit organizations: business skills coupled with an enthusiasm to improve the world. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Why does Net Impact charge annual dues? Grants and fundraising cover only a fraction of the costs to support our 10,000 person network. We depend on modest annual membership dues to continue to expand and strengthen the network that our members value.

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The Lingo Some sample definitions of words related to Net Impact themes to help you talk the talk.

Business Ethics: A form of applied ethics that examines ethical rules and principles within a commercial context; the various moral or ethical problems that can arise in a business setting; and any special duties or obligations that apply to persons who are engaged in commerce. Generally speaking, business ethics is a normative discipline, whereby particular ethical standards are assumed and then applied. It makes specific judgments about what is right or wrong, which is to say, it makes claims about what ought to be done or what ought not to be done. While there are some exceptions, business ethicists are usually less concerned with the foundations of ethics, or with justifying the most basic ethical principles, and are more concerned with practical problems and applications, and any specific duties that might apply to business relationships. Community Development: A broad term applied to the practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities. It seeks to empower individuals and groups of people by providing them with the skills they need to effect change in their own communities. These skills are often concentrated around building political power through the formation of large social groups working for a common agenda. Community developers must understand both how to work with individuals and how to affect communities’ positions within the context of larger social institutions. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): A company’s obligation to be accountable to all of its stakeholders in all of its operations and activities with the aim of achieving sustainable development not only in the economical dimension but also in the social and environmental dimensions. Environment: The natural environment as comprised of all living and non-living things that occur naturally on Earth. In its purest sense, it is thus an environment that is not the result of human activity or intervention. The natural environment may be contrasted to the “built environment.”

Renewable Energy: Energy obtained from sources that are essentially inexhaustible, unlike, for example, the fossil fuels, of which there is a finite supply. Renewable sources of energy include wood, waste, geothermal, wind, photovoltaic, and solar thermal energy. Social Economy: A third sector in economies between the private sector, and the public sector, or government. It includes organizations such as cooperatives, non-governmental organizations and charities. Social Enterprise: An earned-income business or strategy undertaken by a nonprofit for the purpose of generating revenue in support of their social mission. It could be that the profit (or surplus) from the business is used to support related or unrelated social aims (as in a charity shop), or that the business accomplishes a social aim through its operation, say through the employment of people from disadvantaged communities including individuals and existing business. Social Entrepreneurship: The act of a social entrepreneur. A social entrepreneur is someone who recognizes a social problem and uses traditional entrepreneurial principles to organize, create, and manage a venture to make social change. Whereas business entrepreneurs typically measure performance in profit and return, social entrepreneurs often start nonprofits and citizen groups. Socially Responsible Investing (SRI): SRI is an investment process that considers the social and environmental consequences of investments, both positive and negative, within the context of rigorous financial analysis. Social investors intentionally put their money to work in ways designed to achieve financial goals, while pursuing a future based on sustainability and the needs of multiple stakeholders, including employees, their families, and communities.

Fair Trade: Fair trade labeling is a brand designed to allow consumers to identify goods (especially agricultural products such as coffee) which meet agreed standards. The system involves independent auditing of producers to ensure standards are met. Companies offering products that meet the Fair Trade standards are licensed to use the fair trade label.

Sustainability: Sustainability is a systemic concept, relating to the continuity of economic, social, institutional and environmental aspects of human society. It is intended to be a means of configuring civilization and human activity so that society, its members and its economies are able to meet their needs and express their greatest potential in the present, while preserving biodiversity and natural ecosystems, and planning and acting for the ability to maintain these ideals in the very long term. Sustainability affects every level of organization, from the local neighborhood to the entire planet.

International Development: The goal of international development is to alleviate poverty among citizens of developing countries. International development is a multidisciplinary field that may impact poverty reduction, governance, healthcare, education, crisis prevention, and economic restructuring. It is intended as a longterm solution to a set of problems or situations.

Sustainable Lifestyles: A lifestyle that could, hypothetically, be sustained unmodified for many generations without exhausting any natural resources. The term can be applied to individuals or societies. Its adherents most often hold true sustainability as a goal or guide, and make lifestyle tradeoffs favoring sustainability where practical. Most often these tradeoffs involve transport, housing, energy, and diet.

Microfinance: Refers to the activity or provision of financial services to clients who are excluded from the traditional financial system on account of their lower economic status. These financial services will most commonly take the form of loans and savings, though some microfinance institutions will offer other services such as insurance and payment services.

Triple Bottom Line: The term is used as a framework for measuring and reporting corporate performance against economic, social and environmental parameters, thus widening the scope of traditional corporate reporting. * All definitions from http://wikipedia.org/

The stats

Member Gender

Member Employment Type Student 43% Corporation 23%

Male 49%

For-profit start-up 4%

Female 51%

Government 3% Nonprofit 14% Self-employed 7%

Member Age

40+ 13%

36-40 15%

Member Ethnicity other 2%

20-25 5%

Multi-racial 3% Hispanic/Latino 5%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0% >0%

Asian American 16% 16% Black/African American 4%

26-30 33%

Caucasian 69% 31-35 35%

Not working other 2% 4%

The BUZZ

“““The Net Impact group is an

“Net Impact is a wonderful organization that provides networking opportunities and resources for business people who want to make a long-term social impact. I’ve met so many interesting people through Net Impact. In addition, as a Service Corps volunteer, I have been able to leverage my consulting background as well as develop valuable new skills.” Monisha Merchant, International Relief and Development, Inc.

incredible and inspiring lot of people. Your mission and the enthusiasm of the participants will change the world.” Medard Gabel, Executive Director, World Game Institute, Inc.

“You’re an amazingly powerful organization…don’t underestimate the power you have!” Jeffrey Swartz, President and CEO, The Timberland Company “To me, Net impact is about ethical business with all stakeholders – financiers, employees, suppliers, customers, the environment, etc – whether you are working in the corporate, nonprofit or government sectors. But it’s also about new models that apply business tools to societal problems.”

“In many MBA programs, Net Impact is the only voice for social responsibility in business. As business faces increasingly complex leadership issues, it is critical that the voice of Net Impact students gets stronger and louder.” Sarah Shanley, Chapter Leader, Carlson School of Management

Alison Lingane, GreatSchools.net

“Net Impact has given me greater perspective of the issues to consider for where I choose to invest my energy, time, and career. I’ve learned a tremendous amount from my peers in the organization. Net Impact keeps my eyes open and my focus clear.” Calista Fredericksen, 2006 MBA candidate, University of Michigan, Ross School of Business

“Net Impact has provided a fantastic network of support - from day one of business school through to this day. I often call on my Net Impact connections for advice, partnerships, or even sales opportunities! To a social entrepreneur Net Impact membership is like having a degree from Wharton for the aspiring Wall Street exec.” Jennifer Boulden, Founder, Ideal Bite

the Team Liz Maw Executive Director

Board Of Directors Teresa Whalen LeFevre Supplier Diversity Development Manager, Federal-Mogul Corporation

Abbey Banks Membership Director

Jonathan Carson

Karin Cooke

Marcus Chung

Program Director

William Critzman Development Director

Chairman and CEO, cMarket

Manager, Social Responsibility Strategic Planning and Communications, Gap, Inc.

Michael Fields Sr. Community Relations Manager, Booz Allen Hamilton

Bethany Heath

Andrea Davids Marketing and Communications Manager

Senior Manager Corporate Responsibility, Chiquita Brands

Kellee James

Sean O’Driscoll

Cleveland Justis

Will Rosenzweig

Executive Director, Headlands Institute

Managing Director, Great Spirit Ventures

Bob Langert

Jim Schorr

Senior Director Corporate Responsibility, McDonald’s Corporation

Executive Director, Juma Ventures

Anita Sharpe Jo Mackness CSR Integration Leader, Corporate Social Responsibility, Ernst & Young, LLP

Co-Founding Editor and Chairman, Worthwhile Magazine

Valerie Cook Smith Kellie McElhaney Executive Director, Center For Responsible Business, Hass School of Business, UC Berkeley

Vice President of Environmental Affairs, Citigroup

Gene Takagi

Lynelle Preston

Attorney, Law Office of Gene Takagi

Director of CSER Marketing and Strategy, Hewlett-Packard Company

John Wood Founder and CEO, Room to Read

Economist, Chicago Climate Exchange

Bookkeeper

aDVISORY cOUNCIL Lars Olson Membership Manager, Chapters

Lindsay Schedeler Membership Manager, Conference

Emily Schroeder Membership Manager, Career and Education

Anne Marie Burgoyne

Seth Goldman

Director, Draper Richards Foundation

Co-Founder and Tea-EO, Honest Tea

Chip Conley

R. Paul Herman

Founder, Chairman, CEO, Joie de Vivre Hospitality

Director - Strategy, Omidyar Network

Jed Emerson

Lloyd Kurtz

Senior Fellow, Generation Foundation

Maisie Ganzler Director of Communications & Strategic Initiatives, Bon Appetite Management Co.

Senior Portfolio Manager, Nelson Capital Management

Steven Lydenberg Chief Investment Officer, Domini Social Investments LLC

Judy Samuelson Executive Director, Business and Society Program, The Aspen Institute

Dave Stangis Director Corporate Responsibility, Intel Corporation

Contact us

Liz Maw

Executive Director [email protected] (415) 984-3300 x 306

Andrea Davids

Marketing and Communications Manager [email protected] (415) 984-3300 x 313

Net Impact

660 Market St, Suite 210 San Francisco, CA 94104 www.netimpact.org