Adaptive Strategies & Approaches for Organisational Mission

Focus on designing and implementing strategies and approaches to achieve an organisation’s vision and mission based on institutional design principles.

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Fellowship 2025 Final Showcase (Digital Open Solutions (DOS) for Social Impact)Blog

1 April 2025

Fellowship 2025 Final Showcase (Digital Open Solutions (DOS) for Social Impact)

The CDSSI Fellowship Brochure 2025 details the fellowship program at the Centre for Digital Social Sector Initiatives (CDSSI), highlighting its objective to support professionals in developing innovative Digital Open Solutions (DOS) that address critical challenges in the social sector. The brochure outlines the fellowship structure, including mentorship, capacity building, and collaboration opportunities. It emphasizes the final outputs of the fellowship—scalable and replicable DOS developed by the fellows—aimed at driving digital transformation and social impact in diverse thematic areas.

U&I: Nurturing Empathy for EffectivenessCase Study

2 March 2022

U&I: Nurturing Empathy for Effectiveness

U&I is a volunteer-driven charitable organization based in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. It provides non-formal education to underprivileged children in 25 cities around India, through a network of over 2,300 volunteers. The casestudy engages with the ways in which conscious design can nurture structures, spaces and processes that enable the integration of an organization’s mission and volunteer model with the leadership’s core principles of empathetic care and authentic relationships. It provides an opportunity for learners to reflect on how designing for empathy can produce tangible programmatic impact, develop in-house leadership and build a self-sustaining organizational culture and volunteer ecosystem.

A Typology of Organisations in the Indian Social SectorPaper / Report

2 August 2022

A Typology of Organisations in the Indian Social Sector

The Indian social sector is vast and growing, but existing typologies fail to capture its diversity. Most research focuses on Western economies, where social enterprises differ in structure and demands. To address this gap, we first review existing typologies of social sector enterprises. Then, we propose a hierarchical typology tailored to India, considering multiple characteristics. Finally, we identify key factors for applying this framework. This approach aims to enhance understanding of India’s unique social sector landscape.

All Content

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Framework / Toolkit / App
  • 1 January 2025

Assistive Funder Toolkit

The Assistive Funder Toolkit designed by Bridgespan under the Pay-What-It-Takes (PWIT) initiative and hosted in collaboration with ISDM. The objective of the toolkit is to provide a simple way for funders to assess for themselves and explore how they can become “assistive funders” that embody the Pay-What-It-Takes principles and promote strong, resilient nonprofit partners and amplify their impact. The target audience of the toolkit will primarily be institutional funders (Domestic Foundation, CSRs, Global Foundations) and intermediary organizations that work with them.
Blog
  • 1 July 2025

What Does Being An Authentic Development Professional Mean To Me?

Student’s perspective on what development is and who is an Authentic Development Professional.
Book

The New Education Philanthropy: Politics, Policy and Reform

This book explores the evolving landscape of education philanthropy, focusing on the interplay of politics, policy, and reform efforts. It examines how new philanthropic initiatives are influencing educational systems, curriculum development, and school reform strategies. The authors analyze the motivations, approaches, and impacts of these philanthropic interventions, often highlighting tensions between private funding and public education goals. The book provides a critical perspective on the opportunities and challenges presented by the increasing role of private philanthropy in shaping educational policy and outcomes.
Academic / Journal Article
  • 3 January 2019

Determinants of Attractiveness in Social Stock Exchange

This article investigates the factors that determine the attractiveness of Social Stock Exchanges (SSEs) for both investors and social enterprises. It analyses various financial resources, social entrepreneurship models, and social innovation initiatives that contribute to the SSE’s appeal. The authors examine existing frameworks like BVS, BVSA, and SASIX to identify what makes an SSE a viable platform for channeling capital towards social value creation.
Book
  • 1 January 2015

Conditions for Social Entrepreneurship

This book chapter investigates the essential conditions that foster the growth of social entrepreneurship, particularly focusing on emerging economies and the Base of the Pyramid segment. It delves into the dynamics of social enterprises within the broader social sector, identifying key factors such as supportive ecosystems, access to resources, and conducive policy environments. The text aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the contextual elements necessary for social entrepreneurs to thrive and create sustainable impact.
Case Study
  • 1 January 2019

Blended Financing, Canadian Foreign Aid Policy, and Alternatives

This case study examines blended financing within the context of Canadian foreign aid policy, exploring its implications and alternative approaches. It delves into the dynamics of public-private finance and privatization in development, raising questions about effectiveness and broader policy goals. The study contributes to understanding the evolving landscape of development finance and the role of different actors in achieving international assistance objectives.
Case Study
  • 8 February 2020

From Impact Investing to Investing for Impact

This report by The Carlyle Group outlines a strategic shift from merely “impact investing” to actively “investing for impact,” emphasizing a more intentional approach to generating positive social and environmental outcomes alongside financial returns. It explores how integrating social goals and sustainability considerations throughout the investment process can lead to more meaningful and measurable results. The paper provides insights for investors looking to move beyond traditional ESG considerations towards a proactive stance in driving systemic change.
Case Study
  • 2 January 2015

Great Expectations: Mission Preservation and Financial Performance in Impact Investing

This report from the Wharton Social Impact Initiative examines the relationship between mission preservation and financial performance in impact investing. It investigates whether investors and enterprises can achieve competitive financial returns while staying true to their social or environmental missions. The study analyses various strategies and motivations of impact investors, providing insights into how organizations can navigate the potential trade-offs and synergies between financial viability and impact fidelity, offering practical guidance for the sector.
Case Study
  • 2 January 2012

Social Finance Investment Instruments, Markets and Cultures in the Eu

This report examines the landscape of social finance investment instruments, markets, and cultures within the European Union. It delves into various funding instruments, investor motives, and return expectations, providing a comprehensive overview of the nascent social finance sector in Europe. The study outlines both the advantages and disadvantages of different financial tools and explores the cultural nuances influencing social investments across EU member states.
Case Study
  • 1 January 2016

Negative Returns: the Impact of Impact Investing on Empowerment and Advocacy

This article critically examines the impact of impact investing on empowerment and advocacy efforts. It suggests that while impact investing aims to create positive change, it can inadvertently lead to “negative returns” by shifting focus away from core advocacy and capacity-building activities within organizations. The author questions whether the pursuit of financial returns might compromise the broader social mission and the ability of organizations to empower communities and champion their interests.
Case Study
  • 1 January 2019

Social Stock Exchange for Social Enterprises and Social Incubators: an Exploratory Study for India

This exploratory study examines the concept of a Social Stock Exchange (SSE) for social enterprises and incubators in India. It analyses the framework proposed by SEBI and explores the working models of SSEs in other countries like the UK, Canada, South Africa, and Singapore. The paper aims to understand how an SSE can address financial constraints faced by social enterprises and promote socio-economic upliftment, providing insights into its core components, structure, regulations, eligible entities, investors, and financial instruments.
Case Study
  • 1 December 2020

Blended Finance in the Least Developed Countries 2020

This report analyses how blended finance was deployed in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to support a resilient recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. It highlights case studies that leveraged concessional capital, public guarantees, and technical assistance to boost critical sectors like health, SMEs, and digital infrastructure. The paper provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, development partners, and investors on how to better structure blended instruments for crisis response and long-term sustainable development, emphasizing the need for faster deployment and greater risk tolerance in these vulnerable economies.
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