Do Good Well: Your Guide to Leadership, Action, and Social Innovation

"This book is the primer for social innovation." — Muhammad Yunus , Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and founder of Grameen Bank Practical, wise, and witty, Do Good Well is a groundbreaking book that offers a comprehensive and readily adaptable guide to social innovation that not only captures the entrepreneurial and creative spirit of our time, but also harnesses the insights, wisdom, and down–to–earth experience of today′s most accomplished young leaders. Written with a fresh voice and a dash of humor, Do Good Well avoids the typical generalized takeaways and overly simplistic "how–to" advice which lacks grounding in a larger context. It delivers instead a winning combination of theory, anecdote, and application that walks you through the process of identifying a problem, developing an action plan, and then executing the plan in a way that will get results. Praise for Do Good Well "The book we′ve all been waiting for—brilliant and full of energy, this manual provides the tools and step–by–step instructions to transform anyone into a leader of social change. So hands–on and high–yield that it will never gather dust!" — Nancy Lublin , CEO, DoSomething.org "An outstanding leadership guide that empowers young entrepreneurs to be the change and take action today. An essential companion for the classroom, boardroom, and chatroom." — Alan Khazei , cofounder of City Year and founder of Be The Change, Inc. "As a college professor, I see energetic students every day who aspire to ′change the world.′ Do Good Well fills a critical void by giving these passionate individuals the know–how to lead meaningful action and maximize their impact. A book that is most impressive in both the breadth and depth of topics it covers and the sageness of the advice it provides." — Christopher Winship , Diker–Tishman Professor of Sociology, Harvard University " Do Good Well serves as a catalyst to help those who want to accelerate social change. It is the ′go–to′ reference on how citizens can make a big impact in their communities and around the world!" — Sonal Shah , first director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation

Preface: The Spirit of Community vii Thank–Yous xiii About the Authors xv Introduction 1 PART 1 The Vision 11 1 Know Yourself 13 2 Know Your World 28 3 Identify a Problem 46 4 Understand the Problem 57 5 Brainstorm Solutions 67 PART 2 TheMethod 81 Step 1: DO WHAT WORKS 83 6 Design a Systemic Solution 85 7 Build on What Works 94 8 Measure, Evaluate, Improve, Repeat 101 9 Challenge What Works, Innovate, Keep What Works 110 Step 2: WORK TOGETHER 119 10 Balance Strengthening and Starting 121 11 Cultivate Community Ownership 128 12 Foster Team Unity 135 13 Forge Partnerships 140 Step 3: MAKE IT LAST 147 14 Start Small, Then Scale What Works 149 15 Engineer Self–Sustainable Solutions 156 16 Integrate Social Entrepreneurship 165 17 Share What Works 173 18 The Method in Action 179 PART 3 The Tools 197 Step 1: DO WHAT WORKS: Proven Strategies to Increase Your Impact 199 19 What Works in Choosing a Name 200 20 What Works in Writing a Mission Statement 208 21 What Works in Goals and Planning 219 22 What Works in Fundraising 231 23 What Works in Media and Marketing 261 24 What Works in Activism 280 25 What Works in Educational Curricula 299 26 What Works When Running for Office 317 27 Do What’s Right 326 Step 2: WORK TOGETHER: Start and Strengthen Meaningful Relationships 335 28 Find Mentors 336 29 Build a Team 350 30 Optimize Communication 373 31 Create Partnerships 386 32 Organize a Conference 406 33 Serve on a Board 418 34 Develop Community Ownership 429 Step 3: MAKE IT LAST: Add Value and Sustain Success 442 35 Apply Social Entrepreneurship 443 36 Revitalize Your Efforts 456 37 Transition Leadership 469 38 Incorporate as a Business 479 39 Incorporate as a Nonprofit 488 40 Incorporate Reflection 497 41 Make Social Responsibility a Career 506 42 Make Social Responsibility a Lifestyle 520 Notes 531 Index 541

Nina Vasan is a social entrepreneur. She has been honored as one of America′s Top 10 Youth Volunteers, a Young Adult Winner of the National Caring Award, a Girl Scouts National Young Woman of Distinction, and one of Glamour magazine′s Top 10 College Women. Jennifer Przybylo has dedicated her life to service. Her leadership has been recognized by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, the United States Senate Youth Program, and the Toyota Community Scholars Program.