Online course

Foundations in Social Entrepreneurship

This course was created in partnership with
Course Information

Course information

Next start date
Enrollment closes
Saturdays
Course frequency
Every week
Duration
Time committment
- hours
Format
Online
Optional extra
GVI Program Abroad
Price*

Book before the end of November 2024 and receive a cad 170 scholarship

*Flexible payment options available
This course was created in partnership with
Course introduction

Are you motivated by a desire to see a change in the way business is done? If you’ve always wanted to learn more about social entrepreneurship, then this is the course for you. In this course, you’ll learn how to assess if an organisation is making a measurable impact and if they are meeting their social objectives.

You’ll learn the skills needed to become a social entrepreneur with understanding all the elements that make up a microenterprise, as well as the fundamentals of impact investing and how to start a social enterprise. Gain first-hand insight into initiatives such as improving business opportunities in underserved communities. Increase your understanding of key performance indicators (KPIs) and the differences between metrics and benchmarking in impact management.

Is this program for me?

Are you dedicated to making a positive impact? Do you want to be an entrepreneur that creates a business that helps address social and environmental issues? If you have a strong interest in socio-economic empowerment or are wanting to switch from your current profession to start up a social enterprise, this program is designed to help you do just that. If you are a college student, graduate or still in highschool, this program will give you the knowledge you need to begin your career journey in the complex and diverse field of social entrepreneurship.

Skills you’ll acquire

After completing this course you’ll be able to:

Earn your certification
Certification signature

Want to show colleges, universities and employers that you’ve got the knowledge and skills covered in this course? Once you’ve successfully completed any of our courses, we’ll send you a digital certificate of completion at no additional cost. The certificate will feature the official name of the course and your name. Add the certificate to your college application, your graduate school application, your job application or your LinkedIn page.

This program includes our Impact Measurement course. In this course, you’ll learn about the fundamental differences between impact measurement and monitoring and evaluation. You’ll cover the tools and technology that can be used to track the impact being made by an organisation. You’ll also learn how to analyse metrics, and capture qualitative and quantitative data. Lastly, you’ll learn about the Theory of Change (ToC) framework and how this can be used to track the inputs and outputs of an impact project.

You’ll also complete our Fundraising and Communications course. In this course, you’ll learn how to successfully market impact initiatives and how to target your communications to a specific audience. You’ll learn how to meet the needs of different stakeholders and donors, and you’ll explore the different ways to fundraise for a project and the pro’s and cons of these fundraising methods.

The program also includes our Careers in Sustainable Development and Leading Teams for Impact courses. In the careers course, you’ll learn about different careers in sustainable development and learn how to network, write a resume, submit an application and impress during an interview. In the leadership course, you’ll find out how to set goals, give feedback, manage conflict and identify different roles of team members.

Course curriculum
Course 1:Impact Measurement
Orientation to our online learning platform
Module 1: Introduction to Impact Measurement
Module 2: Planning for Measurement
Module 3: Implementing Your Measurement Plan
Module 4: Managing and Using Data for Impact
Module 5: Current and Future Approaches to Impact Measurement
Course 2:Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing
Orientation to our online learning platform
Module 1: Social Entrepreneurship
Module 2: Human-Centred Design
Module 3: Behavioural Science
Module 4: Systems Innovation
Module 5: Impact Investing
Course 3:Careers in Sustainable Development
Orientation to our online learning platform
Module 1: Career Paths and Opportunities
Module 2: Your Values and Ways to Make an Impact
Module 3: Career Mapping and Choices
Module 4: Building Your Profile and Personal Brand
Module 5: Securing Your Dream Job
Course 4:Leading Teams for Impact
Orientation to our online learning platform
Module 1: Introduction to Team Leading
Module 2: Planning and Setting Team Goals
Module 3: Preparing by Creating a Safe, Supportive Environment
Module 4: Presenting and Communicating With Your Team
Module 5: Performing and Developing a Leadership Style
SDG Logo
1
No poverty
11
Sustainable cities and communities
4
Quality education
8
Decent work and economic growth
9
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Courses crafted by experts
Elisabeth Richardson
Elisabeth Richardson
Sustainable Business and Social Enterprise Leader

Elisabeth Richardson holds an MBA and has worked in leadership roles at businesses and non-profits that focus on solving social and environmental problems for nearly 20 years. She developed the standards behind the B Impact Assessment, a platform designed to measure and manage a company’s positive impact, is a regular speaker at conferences such as TedX and has been published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review.

Debbie DiVirgilio
Debbie DiVirgilio
Nonprofit Consultant

Debbie DiVirgilio has 25 years of experience in leadership roles across the non-profit sector, and is currently a non-profit department chair and an adjunct faculty member. Debbie teaches nonprofit administration and grant writing classes at a graduate level and public speaking, ethics and sociology classes at an undergraduate level. Debbie is also a certified grant professional and governance trainer.

Candice Clark
Candice Clark
HR Practitioner and Career Coach

Candice Clark, a certified life coach, has spent over a decade as a human resource (HR) practitioner and has led hundreds of individuals in making crucial career decisions. Her background is in psychology and she’s a specialist wellness counsellor registered with the Association for Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners (ASCHP). She’s currently completing a Master’s of Public Health (MPH).

Cheryl Martin
Cheryl Martin
GVI Regional Director of Asia

Over the course of nearly a decade working with GVI, Cheryl Martin has led hundreds of leadership training courses around the world. Originally starting her career as an early childhood development teacher, Cheryl has over 25 years of experience as a classroom teacher and spent five as an assistant principal. As GVI’s regional director of Asia, Cheryl oversees the development of GVI staff across the Asian subcontinent.

Jill Walker
Jill Walker
GVI Director of Operations

Jill Walker has spent more than a decade in leadership positions across GVI’s many sustainable development projects around the world. As GVI’s director of operations, she oversees the development and training of dozens of GVI’s mid-level managers. Jill holds a MSc in environmental education, and she’s currently completing an integrative coaching certificate.

Includes courses in partnership with
Richmond School of Professional & Continuing Studies

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