Dining for Women Discussion Guide for The Blue Sweater
Why Dining For Women? Contents As a Dining for Women chapter leader and member of the Program Selection Why Dining for Women Matters 1
Committee, I believe that the DFW format provides a unique opportunity for women to A Letter from Jacqueline 2 1) learn about the needs and injustices that our sisters face around the world and 2) give Links to interviews with Jacqueline 3 to the organizations that are making great change. Recipes 4-7 This summer, I had the privilege of joining Acumen Fund as a summer associate. .PbZR[V`N[\[]_\ºadU\`RV[`]V_V[Td\_XV`]R_ZN[R[aYfNÞRPaV[TaURYVcR`\S Questions for Discussion 8 millions by investing in businesses that provide access to basic services like clean water Timeline of events/Map of Africa 9
and healthcare. Acumen's model of investing "patient capital" complements the work How you can help 10 of Dining for Women's grantees. DFW's grantees work closely with the populations Map and Timeline 11 they serve and run sustainable programs that pass on intangibles like knowledge and P\[ºQR[PR.PbZR[3b[Q`VZVYN_YfS\Pb`R`\[NZRN[`\SQRcRY\]ZR[aaUNa\ÞR_` Good News from Kenya 12 dignity and choice, rather than dependence. Recommended readings 12
When I read The Blue Sweater by Acumen’s founder Jacqueline Novogratz, I was About Acumen Fund 13 inspired to tell friends and colleagues about this exciting approach that I think parallels DFW’s ambitions. I was pleased to learn that grassroots groups like DFW are an important part of Acumen’s outreach through The Blue Sweater. For these reasons, we’ve created this Blue Sweater Discussion Guide especially for 1V[V[TS\_D\ZR[6[Vaf\b³YYº[Q^bR`aV\[`a\TbVQRf\b_T_\b]³`QV`Pb``V\[_RPV]R` for your dinner gathering, photos, maps, and much more. Enjoy reading and discussing!
Lindsay Siegel, Acumen Fund Summer Associate & Dining For Women Program Selection Committee Member/Chapter Leader
September 2010· Copyright © 2010 Acumen Fund & Dining for Women Dining for Women Discussion Guide for The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz
A Letter from Jacqueline
Dear Readers, Thank you for choosing to read The Blue Sweater. In many ways, this book is a love letter written in starts and spurts over ten years. I º_`a]ba]R[a\]N]R_\[N_NV[f@b[QNfNSaR_[\\[V[7N[bN_f &&#`VaaV[TV[ZfP\gf one-bedroom apartment in New York City thinking about what I’d just experienced in ?dN[QNAR[fRN_`ORS\_RV[ &%#6³Qa_NcRYRQa\aUNaP\b[a_fa\URY]N`ZNYYT_\b]\S d\ZR[R`aNOYV`U?dN[QN³`º_`aZVP_\º[N[PRON[X6adN`NaVZR\SNß_ZV[T:N_TN_Ra Jacqueline in Rwanda with women she :RNQ³`ORYVRSaUNaOVTT\cR_[ZR[aQ\R`[³aP_RNaRPUN[TR'`ZNYYT_\b]`\S]N``V\[NaR interviewed after the genocide P\ZZVaaRQ]R\]YRQ\.`NadR[afºcRfRN_\YQ6dN`N]N_a\SObVYQV[TNYN`aV[T institution that would change society’s perceptions of what women were capable of accomplishing. @\f\bPN[VZNTV[RdUNaVaSRYaYVXRV[ &&!dUR[aUR?dN[QN[TR[\PVQRdV]RQ\ba [RN_Yf% ]R\]YRV[PYbQV[T]R\]YR6³QP\ZRa\X[\dN[QY\cRN[Q_R`]RPa Among those murdered were friends of mine, people who believed in social justice and dR_RdVYYV[Ta\d\_Xa\dN_QObVYQV[TVa:\_R`U\PXV[TdN`aURQV`P\cR_faUNaNZ\[T the perpetrators were also people I knew and admired. 6dN[aRQa\PN]ab_RaUR`a\_VR`\SaURd\ZR[dVaUdU\Z6³QObVYaaURZVP_\º[N[PR bank, and the people I’d known best in Rwanda. I was haunted by the phrase “Never Again” and felt an obligation to share the stories I held inside of me. And so I wrote. In the meantime, I was overseeing two programs within the Rockefeller Foundation and feeling growing unease with a world that turned to traditional charity or philanthropy to solve its problems. I’d seen too many instances of where traditional PUN_VafUNQQ\[RYVaaYR\_[\aUV[Ta\RÞRPaPUN[TR\SaR[P_RNaV[TQR]R[QR[PfdVaU little accountability for results. At the same time, I’d seen markets ignore low-income people altogether. And I began to feel that telling stories, at least for me, was not Jacqueline Novogratz in Rwanda enough. I needed to put my ideas – and values – into action. In 2001, with the help of great friends and supporters, I started Acumen Fund, a [\[]_\ºacR[ab_RSb[QaUNad\bYQa_fa\ab_[QRcRY\]ZR[a\[Va`URNQaU_\bTUN concept we now call Patient Capital. Patient Capital works between the markets and traditional charity. Patient capital investments are high risk, with a long time horizon N[QRe]RPaNaV\[`S\_\ba`VgRQ`\PVNYVZ]NPaN[Q[RN_ZN_XRaº[N[PVNY_Rab_[` 6[cR`aZR[a`N_RP\ZOV[RQdVaUN`VT[VºPN[aNZ\b[a\SZN[NTRZR[a`b]]\_aN[QN P\ZZVaZR[aa\ZRN`b_V[TO\aU`\PVNYN[Qº[N[PVNY_Rab_[`A\QNaR.PbZR[3b[Q UN`V[cR`aRQZ\_RaUN[! ZVYYV\[V[R[a_R]_R[Rb_`V[2N`a.S_VPNN[Q@\baU.`VN O_V[TV[TNÞ\_QNOYR^bNYVafURNYaUPN_RdNaR_R[R_TfU\b`V[TN[QNT_VPbYab_NYV[]ba` Today I feel more convinced than ever of the power of the idea of Patient Capital – and
September 2010 · Copyright © 2010 Acumen Fund & Dining for Women 2 Dining for Women Discussion Guide for The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz
in so many ways, we are just getting started. Links to Interviews with Jacqueline The Blue Sweater chronicles my own journey from being a starry-eyed young woman + Join The Blue Sweater fan page with an adventurous soul who wanted to change the world to a more experienced (http://www.facebook.com/ thebluesweater) on Facebook for seeker who still wants to change the world, but now has much keener sense of what updates on speaking engagements works and what doesn’t. I write often in the book that dignity is more important to the and interviews. human spirit than wealth, and I continue to learn at a deeper level what this means. As + Jacqueline speaking at TED: Nd\_YQdR[RRQa\º[QdNf`a\TVcRaURad\OVYYV\[]R\]YRdU\`aVYYYVcRV[]\cR_afN + 2009: http://www.youtube.com/ ºTUaV[TPUN[PRa\S\YY\daURV_\d[Q_RNZ` watch?v=oD06XPtmLZY :fU\]RV`aUNaf\bdVYY`RRf\b_`RYSV[aUV`O\\XN[QaUNaf\bdVYYb`RaUR`a\_VR` + TED@State 2009: http://www. ted.com/talks/jacqueline_ as a springboard into your own stories and experiences. I hope you will dig into the novogratz_a_third_way_to_think_ questions around what it means to be human, how we can do such evil – and wonderful about_aid.html – things, and what kinds of systems must we put in place to bring out our better angels + Jacqueline’s interview with Charlie and suppress our monsters. I’d love to hear your thoughts of the questions that most Rose: http://www.charlierose.com/ provoked you or intrigued you or inspired you. I will read your letters and email and, view/interview/10176 though I can’t respond to all of them, I will cherish them and know that I will learn + Jacqueline talking about and S_\ZaURZ:\`aYf6U\]RaUV`O\\XdVYY_RZV[Qf\ba\YVcR\baY\bQa\aNXR_\NQ` reading from The Blue Sweater on Minneapolis Public Radio: http:// less traveled and to follow your own dreams, remembering that none of us achieves minnesota.publicradio.org/display/ anything of real value without the help of many others along the way. web/2009/06/17/midday3/ Now is the time for big ideas, for innovation and for building companies, organizations + Jacqueline’s interview on the McKinsey Quarterly, “The State and systems that help the world extend that fundamental principle that all men were of Philanthropy”: http://www. created equal to every human being on the planet. mckinseyquarterly.com/Nonprofit/ The_state_of_philanthropy_A_ conversation_with_Acumen_ Very warmly yours, Funds_CEO_2329
Book club in Nairobi, Kenya, discussing The Blue Sweater, Jacqueline (third from left) at Duterimbere microfinance bank, August 2009 Rwanda, 1987 (Chapter 4)
September 2010 · Copyright © 2010 Acumen Fund & Dining for Women 3 Dining2<,><<287G>2-.G/8;G for Women Discussion Guide forG+BG *,:>.527.G!8?80;*=CGG The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz
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K K?0,>;::9K2=:@9/K.499,8:9 K K?0,>;::9K2=:@9/K.7:A0> K K?0,>;::9K2=:@9/K.,=/,8:8 K K?0,>;::9K2=:@9/K24920= K K?0,>;::9K2=:@9/K-7,.6K;0;;0=.:=9> KK?0,>;::9K>,7? $:>4?4:9K=,.6K49K?30K.09?0=K:1K?30K:A09K;=030,?K?:K /02=00>K :,?K,9K49.3K><@,=0K-,6492K/4>3KB4?3K.::6492K>;=,D':>>K-=0,/K.@-0>K,9/K8,92:0>K?:20?30=K49K?30K-,6492K/4>3 )34>6K8476K022>K=@8K41K@>492K-=:B9K>@2,=KA,9477,K.499,8:9K.7:A0>K.,=/,8:8K24920=K;0;;0=K,9/K>,7?K49K,K 80/4@8K-:B7K$:@=K:A0=K?30K-=0,/K,9/K8,92:0>K,77:BK?30K84C?@=0K?:K>:,6K1:=K,-:@?K K849@?0> ,60K?30K;@//492K@9?47K4?K4>K>0?K,9/K,K69410K49>0=?0/K49K?30K.09?0=K.:80>K:@?K.70,9K,-:@?KK K3:@=>K&0=A0KB,=8K 1:=K-0>?KI,A:= %0.4;0K1=:8K,?492K)077K3??;BBB0,?492B077.:8=0.4;0>8,92:+-=0,/+;@//492+B4?3+.3,4+>;4.0>3?87 KK9:?30=K/0>>0=?K4/0,K K&74.0K-:?3K09/>K:11K?30K8,92:K KK 9/4,9K,9,9,K,60 =0A0,7492K?30K7:92K>709/0=K>00/K49>4/0K &0?K?30K1=@4?K@;=423?K:9K,KB:=6K>@=1,.0K KKK3??;>48;7049/4,9=0.4;0>.:8 ,9/K=08:A0K?30K>649KB4?3K,K>3,=;K69410 KKKK-,9,9,.,60,>;C K)4?3K?30K>00/K;0=;09/4.@7,=K?:KD:@K >74.0K?30K1=@4?K1=:8K-:?3K>4/0>K:1K?30K>00/K D407/492K?B:K7,=20K;40.0> K'@=9K?30K>00/K;,=,7707K?:KD:@K,9/K>74.0K?30K?B:K>8,770=K;40.0>K:1K1=@4?K1=:8K 0,.3K>4/0 K@?K?30K1=@4?K49?:K?30K/0>4=0/K>3,;0 September 2010 · Copyright © 2010 Acumen Fund & Dining for Women 7 Dining for Women Discussion Guide for The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz Questions for Discussion These questions are meant to serve as guides to discuss The Blue Sweater through the lens of Dining for Women’s work. They are organized by theme to provide launching pads for thoughtful conversation. # Acumen Fund's approach sees entrepreneurs and businesses Leadership & Women in Leadership as primary agents of change in the effort to end poverty, 1. Jacqueline encounters failure many times throughout her while Dining for Women is focused on women as change- life. Think about how her failures shaped future decisions. agents. Do think these two approaches are complementary? What is the relationship between failure and success both How are they similar and how are they different? in this story and more generally? What is the relationship between failure and leadership? Discuss a few instances of 7. Think about Acumen Fund's investment in Water Health your own failures and how they affected your life. International (WHI) in Chapter 15. Should poor people have to pay for basic services like water and housing? Why or why 2. <[R\S7NP^bRYV[R`SNc\_VaR^b\aR`S_\Z:N_aV[9baUR_ not? King Jr. is "Power without love is reckless and abusive; love without power is sentimental and anemic". How does Jacqueline balance power and love in her work and as a leader? In your own home or work life, how do you negotiate this tension? Does gender determine how a leader strikes this balance? 3. .]\aR[aVNYQ\[\_aRYY`7NP^bRYV[R9RNQR_`N_RO\_[[\a made.” Do you think some people are born leaders? Can leadership be developed over time and through experience? Does Jacqueline seem like a "born leader" or someone who became a leader? Jacqueline hidden behind the women (third from right) at the Empowering Women and Individuals to Lift Themselves Blue Bakery, Rwanda, 1987 (Chapter 5) Out of Poverty ! In Chapter 5, The Blue Bakery, why is it important for the Rwandan women who work at the blue bakery to feel that the bakery is their own? What else could Jacqueline have done to instill a sense of ownership among the women? Approaches to Alleviating Poverty 5. Describe “patient capital” and Acumen’s approach. How does it differ from microfinance? When do you think Acumen’s approach is most effective? What types of conditions call for more traditional aid and charity? (think about the earthquake in Haiti, for example) Jacqueline and Dr. Venkataswamy of Aravind meeting in India (Chapter 13) September 2010 · Copyright © 2010 Acumen Fund & Dining for Women % Dining for Women Discussion Guide for The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz % Despite her focus on building businesses to solve poverty, Jacqueline gives money directly to the poor at various General Questions points in the book. Why do you think she gives the money 12. One lesson that Jacqueline learns over and over again is away? the importance and power of listening to others. What are some examples from the book of either failure to listen Building Successful Organizations or success in listening? Can you think of some instances & Describe the transformation of the bakery in Nyamirambo from your own life where listening more or less might have from a donor-driven organization to a self-sustaining changed an outcome? small business. Do you agree with how Jacqueline went 13. Why does Jacqueline use her blue sweater story as a starting about changing the bakery and the lives of the women point for her book? Do you have any experiences like the who worked there? What effects did it have? How were blue sweater story that explore the same types of themes in Jacqueline's efforts with the bakery different from the your life? "patient capital" approaches she later espouses? !What caused women’s initial distrust of Jacqueline when 10. How did Jacqueline build the foundations for starting she first arrived in Kenya? How does she build trust? How Acumen Fund? What components are necessary for can trust be rebuilt after great tragedies like the Rwandan starting successful organizations and ensuring their genocide or in countries where corruption might be the growth over time? norm? Collective Giving 15. Discuss the dilemma that Jacqueline faces when buying 11. Collective giving and saving are prevalent in communities all champagne in Rwanda in Chapter 7. Have you ever been in around the world. Reread Jacqueline’s description of tontines a similar situation where you were conscious of your own V[?dN[QN\[]NTR"&V[0UN]aR_!DUfQ\f\baUV[Xd\ZR[ ]_VcVYRTR,ANXRNY\\XNa0UN]aR_&N`dRYYdUR_RNf\b[T gather together to give to one another and to save money? ZN[V[aUR;Rea4R[R_NaV\[9RNQR_`UV]SRYY\d`]_\T_NZ How is Dining for Women’s model similar? confronts Jacqueline about privilege. #Why do you think Jacqueline wanted to return to Rwanda after the genocide? What did she learn from her P\[cR_`NaV\[`dVaU5\[\_NaN9VYVN[R.T[R`N[Q=_bQR[PR during her return trips? How did these stories change Jacqueline’s understanding of human nature or your understanding of human nature? 17. Jacqueline sees moral imagination as the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes and see the world from their perspective. When is moral imagination most necessary? How is it related to the concept of dignity? Is this a skill that can be taught, and if so, how? Jacqueline with Drishtee customers in India (Chapter 13) September 2010 · Copyright © 2010 Acumen Fund & Dining for Women & Dining for Women Discussion Guide for The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz TIMELINE OF EVENTS MAP OF AFRICA 1983 (Interactive worldwide map (http://ow.ly/nYh6) also available on Google maps: Jacqueline starts highlights important locations for Jacqueline and includes excerpts from the book.) working at Chase Manhattan Bank (Ch. 1) 1984 Tunisia Morocco 1985 Moves to job at African Algeria Development Bank Libya Egypt Meets boy in 1986 Western Sahara (Ch. 1) Kigali, Rwanda wearing her blue Mauritania 1987 Jacqueline and sweater (Ch. 1) Mali Sudan others found Niger Senegal Eritrea Duterimbere Chad Starts working Gambia Djibouti with blue bakery 1988 (Ch. 3) Guinea Bissau Burkina Guinea Central African in Nyamirambo Nigeria Republic Somalia in Kigali (Ch. 5) Sierra Leone Ivory Ethiopia Coast 1989 Consults for the Liberia Uganda Cameroon World Bank on Benin Ghana Democratic project in Gambia Equatorial Republic of the Kenya 1990 Guinea (Ch. 8) Togo Gabon Congo Rwanda Graduates Congo Burundi from Stanford 1991 Tanzania Graduate School of Business Malawi (Ch. 8) Angola Mozambique 1992 Zambia Zimbabwe 1993 Namibia Founds Botswana Philanthropy Madagascar Rwandan genocide Workshop at 1994 (Ch. 9) Swaziland Rockefeller Lesotho Foundation South Africa (Chapter 9) 1995 Runs Next Returns to Generation 1996 Rwanda to Leadership understand the program w/ Lisa impact of Sullivan (Ch. 9) 1997 genocide (Ch. 10-12) Starts laying groundwork for 1998 new philanthropic model with Rockefeller 1999 Foundation support (Ch. 13) 2000 Acumen Fund makes first Jacqueline founds investment in 2001 Acumen Fund Aravind Eye (Ch. 13) Hospitals in India (Ch. 13) 2002 Acumen Fund invests in Kashf, its Acumen Fund first investment in 2003 invests in A to Z Pakistan (Ch. 14) bednets in East Africa (Ch. 15) Borrowers from Kashf, a microfinance institution in Pakistan and an Acumen Fund investee (Chapter 14) September 2010 · Copyright © 2010 Acumen Fund & Dining for Women 10 Dining for Women Discussion Guide for The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz How You Can Help Your community’s support can do a lot to change the way the world is addressing poverty. These are some ideas to “just get started,” as Jacqueline’s mentor once told her. Give The Blue Sweater to a friend or recommend it to your book club + Use your existing networks – whether at work, school, or church – to bring people together and host more book discussions using The Blue Sweater, Half the Sky, or similar books. Join Acumen Fund's community + Check out our community site at Uaa]' P\ZZb[VafNPbZR[Sb[Q\_g to meet other Blue Sweater fans and supporters of Acumen Fund from all over the world – who knows, some may even be in your neighborhood. Additional Resources Donate + Give to Dining for Women to help support its operations + Dining for Women website: www.diningforwomen.org and growth. + Acumen Fund Blog: highlights news and offers + Help Acumen support more businesses that serve the poor. commentary on patient capital, entrepreneurship, Base of the Pyramid (BoP) business strategies, and projects Send Acumen Fund a check or give through the website. related to Acumen Fund’s work: www.acumenfundblog. org Be entrepreneurial! + Nextbillion: Industry blog that posts job opportunities and recent events in the enterprise-development sector: www. Come up with your own creative idea to raise money and help. nextbillion.net + Acumen Fund YouTube Channel featuring videos of + Are you up for hosting a blue bakery-themed bake sale? Do investments mentioned in the book: http://www.youtube. you have plans to run a marathon, climb a mountain, or com/user/acumenfund skydive? Have a birthday, anniversary or company party + “Imagine a World” video on Acumen Fund: http://www. coming up? Use the opportunity to raise funds for Acumen youtube.com/watch?v=hGJMIMYIhl4&feature=channe Fund and get more of your friends involved. l_page + Inspire other Acumen Fund supporters by sharing your + Follow Acumen Fund on Twitter: @acumenfund ideas and photos from your activities on our community site at community.acumenfund.org. Suggested additional materials on the Rwandan genocide + The BBC’s coverage and history of the genocide: http:// news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1288230.stm + PBS’s Ghosts of Rwanda webpage contains video interviews, excerpts of news reports, a timeline, and discussion about the genocide:http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ pages/frontline/shows/ghosts/ + Rwanda-Genocide.org has links to a variety of other resources on the web if you’d like to learn more about the genocide. September 2010 · Copyright © 2010 Acumen Fund & Dining for Women 11 Dining for Women Discussion Guide for The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz Good News from Kenya This is an excerpt from Jacqueline's blog post published on Africa.com in May 2010. To see the full post, please visit: http://www.africa.com/blog/blog,good_news_from_ kenyainspired_by_jacqueline_novogratzfounder_and_ceo_ of_acumen_fund,24.html Our white van snaked through the now familiar streets \S8VOR_NN`YbZV[;NV_\OV8R[fNa\:NZN5NZgN³` community center for The Blue Sweater Challenge event. The day’s overcast sky had broken with a pounding, tropical rain and everything around us felt softer, a rosy kiss goodnight from the evening sky. We walked through the Jacqueline with Jawad Aslam, former Fellow and current turquoise metal door to the courtyard and the first thing entrepreneur, near Saiban in Pakistan (Chapter 14) I saw was a table of books written by good friends — Seth Godin, Bill Easterly, Saj-Nicole Joni — behind which stood Chris, Gerry, Dickson, Herbert and Alex – five of the seven original organizers of The Blue Sweater bookclub, all of them from the slums of Nairobi. Kevin, the controller (and the first one to read the book and start a book club) was busy with Suraj Sudakhar, the remarkable Acumen Fellow who was responsible for making all of this happen. Habari gani! What’s news! We all hugged and laughed and caught up quickly. Alex is still working with Acumen and working with Suraj to plan a path to work in media. Herbert is working on his university degree and will graduate in October. “I have a-ha moments RcR_fQNf[\d±URa\YQZR°9N`a[VTUaZfSNZVYfdN` discussing the new constitution and my mother said she was going to vote for the first time in too many years. She Jacqueline with Dr. Sono of Microdrip in Pakistan (Chapter 14) used to feel her vote didn’t count, but now we’re all feeling Z\_RU\]RSbY:fNUNV`aUNadUR[f\b`aN_aURN_V[TaUV[T` like this, there becomes room for real change.” I couldn’t have smiled more broadly. Jacqueline’s recommended readings if you enjoyed The Blue Sweater + David Bornstein, How to Change the World + Paul Collier, The Bottom Billion + Seth Godin, Tribes + CK Prahalad, The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid + John Gardner, Self Renewal, On Leadership + Amartya Sen, Development as Freedom Community water system built by Water Health International, an Acumen Fund investee in India (Chapter 15) September 2010 · Copyright © 2010 Acumen Fund & Dining for Women 12 Dining for Women Discussion Guide for The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz ABOUT ACUMEN FUND ABOUT JACQUELINE NOVOGRATZ Acumen Fund is a non-profit global venture fund that uses Like so many young people today, Jacqueline Novogratz entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global gave up a career on Wall Street for a chance to change poverty. Acumen seeks to prove that small amounts of the world and pursue a life of adventure. Trained as an philanthropic capital, combined with large doses of business international banker and development expert, in 2001, she acumen, can build thriving enterprises that serve vast founded Acumen Fund. Together, she and Acumen Fund numbers of the poor. The organization was incorporated have pioneered a “third way” -- called "patient capital" -- on April 1, 2001, with seed capital from the Rockefeller between venture capitalism and traditional charity, one that Foundation, Cisco Systems Foundation and three individual seeks to effect real change in countries where the average philanthropists. Its investments focus on delivering affordable, citizen lives on less than $4 a day. This new approach regards critical goods and services – like health, water, housing and people living on limited incomes not as passive victims, but energy – through innovative, market-oriented approaches. as potential customers and budding business people in their own right. The key is patient capital. Acumen uses philanthropic capital to make disciplined investments – loans or equity, not grants Prior to Acumen Fund, Jacqueline Novogratz founded – that yield both financial and social returns. Any financial and directed The Philanthropy Workshop and The Next returns it receives are recycled into new investments. Over Generation Leadership program at the Rockefeller time, we have refined the Acumen Fund investment model, Foundation. She also founded Duterimbere, a micro-finance built a world-class global team with offices in four countries, institution in Rwanda. She began her career in international and learned what does and does not work in growing banking with Chase Manhattan Bank. Jacqueline is currently businesses that serve low-income people. on the advisory boards of Stanford Graduate School of Business and Innovations Journal, published by MIT Press. She is an Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow and a Synergos Institute Senior Fellow, as well as a frequent speaker at international conferences, including the World Economic Forum, the Clinton Global Initiative and TED. Jacqueline has ACUMEN FUND'S PHILOSOPHY an MBA from Stanford and a BA in Economics/International Relations from the University of Virginia. Charity alone isn’t the answer... Poor people seek dignity, not dependence. Traditional charity often meets immediate needs but too often fails to enable people to solve their own problems over the long term. Market-based approaches have the potential to grow when charitable dollars run out, and they must be a part of the solution to the big problem of poverty. The marketplace alone isn’t the answer... Very low-income people are too often invisible to businesses and society. Businesses see no significant market opportunity and governments view low-income areas as having insufficient tax revenues to pay for basic services like clean water, healthcare, housing and energy. Building new models that provide these critical services at affordable price – in the face of high costs, poor distribution systems, dispersed customers, limited financing options and, at times, corruption – requires imaginative business solutions and partnerships supported by investors willing to take on a risk/return profile that is Acumen Fund is a 501(c)3 social venture fund that invests unacceptable to traditional financiers. in enterprises that offer access to critical, affordable products Changing the Development Paradigm... Acumen Fund and services to the poor through scalable, market oriented believes that pioneering entrepreneurs will ultimately find approaches. Our investments currently focus on four key areas: the solutions to poverty. The entrepreneurs Acumen Fund supports are focused on offering critical services – water, water, health, housing, and energy. health, housing, and energy – at affordable prices to people earning less than four dollars a day. Contact Us 76 Ninth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10011 For more information on Acumen Fund, please visit www. acumenfund.org. Phone: 212–566–8821 · Fax: 212–566–8817 www.acumenfund.org · blog.acumenfund.org September 2010 · Copyright © 2010 Acumen Fund & Dining for Women 13