Scaling Global Change: A Social Entrepreneurs Guide to Surviving the Start–up Phase and Driving Impact

THE SECRETS BEHIND ONE OF TODAY′S FASTEST GROWING SOCIAL ENTERPRISES, ROOM TO READ

Scaling Global Change pulls back the curtain on the entrepreneurial social enterprise Room to Read to reveal the wisdom, tools, and lessons driving its unprecedented growth and success.

This practical handbook gives social entrepreneurs an authoritative playbook to scaling operations with purpose in today′s complex global working environment. It brings together the potent team of Room to Read cofounder and former CEO, Erin Ganju, a leader in the design and implementation of the scalable, replicable model for improving the quality of education, and Chief Innovation Officer, Cory Heyman, who leads the nonprofit′s long–term programmatic growth and strategic positioning.

Together, they lay out an organizational blueprint that enables you to:

Master a hybrid skillset of the most powerful for–profit and nonprofit business practices aimed at solving social and environmental problems Lead a three–pronged, holistic approach to setting up an organization for scalable, replicable, and sustainable growth Turn to high–level guidance and valuable tips along every step of your journey from start–up to scale up

Ensure your hard work results in the impact you aspire to achieve with Scaling Global Change.

Proceeds from this book go to Room to Read.

"The business of social entrepreneurship is one of the most game–changing investments of our time as we aim to solve the myriad challenges facing society. Many have the passion and drive to make the world a more prosperous, safer and healthier place but those truly positioned for success need a roadmap to maintain momentum and a clear vision for scalable solutions. This book provides just that."
PETER GRAUER, Chairman, Bloomberg L.P.

"Erin Ganju and Cory Heyman have written a must–read step–by–step guide for those wishing to take their vision for societal change through to scalable, sustainable execution. Information is the most empowering path to success, and this book is filled with insights from one of the fastest scaling and most impactful social enterprises we have invested in."
ROBIN RICHARDS DONOHOE, Co–Chair, Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation

"In Scaling Global Change, Erin Ganju and Cory Heyman draw on their deep knowledge as insiders of one of the most ambitious organizations ever created to transform the culture of literacy in schools in low income countries, to distill the essential lessons to creating, launching and scaling a successful non–profit. In their insightful reflections on the successful record of 18 years of achievements by Room to Read, they clearly explain the key steps social entrepreneurs must follow to go from idea generation to successful delivery at scale. Any ambitious entrepreneur should read this book."
FERNANDO M. REIMERS, Ford Foundation Professor of the Practice of International Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education

About the Authors ix

I FRAMING THE ISSUES 1

1 Introduction: Go Big or Go Home 3

2 Vision and Execution: Framing the Issues 23

3 Communications: Telling the Story 45

II WHAT WE DO 69

4 Programs: A Theory (of Change) Is Just a Theory Until It Is Turned into Action 71

5 Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation: What Gets Measured, Gets Done 105

III HOW WE DO IT 133

6 Administration, Finance, and International Operations: Strengthening Operations and the Implementation Chain 135

7 People Management: Changing the World Is a Team Sport 165

8 Fundraising: Defining and Selling the Value Proposition 194

IV SCALING FOR GLOBAL CHANGE 229

9 Strategic Influence: Growing Our Impact 231

10 Government Funding: Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don t 262

11 Strategic Planning: Wrapping It All Up 288

Index 307

ERIN GANJU, cofounder, Emeritus Board Member and former CEO of Room to Read, has been instrumental in the design and implementation of the organization′s scalable, replicable model for improving children′s education in low–income countries through its literacy and gender equality in education programs.

CORY HEYMAN, PhD, is Chief Innovation Officer, Executive Director of Room to Read Accelerator (Room to Read′s external technical assistance unit), former Chief Program Officer, and franchisee of the healthy fast casual restaurant concept CoreLife Eatery.