Capacity Building for Social Innovation: A Collective Impact Approach

Abstract

Business, nonprofit, and government institutions generally agree that a vibrant economy is critical to addressing the multi-faceted, complex issues faced by urban communities. Yet, despite significant targeted efforts aimed at revitalizing economic activity over the past few decades, the state of many communities remains unchanged. A collective social entrepreneurship model, focused on building social entrepreneurial capital networks, is proposed as a complement to more traditional models focused on building individual capacity for social entrepreneurship. This article contends that one way universities can play a role in building social entrepreneurial networks is by serving as conveners. The lessons learned from a university-community initiative suggests that a collective impact framework and university leadership in a convening role, can support and inform the use of the social entrepreneurship approach to more effectively address issues of economic vitality.