Ashoka Support Network
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| Ashoka Support Network | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ashoka Support Network |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Founded | 1990s |
| Headquarters | International |
| Mission | Support social entrepreneurs |
Ashoka Support Network is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying, supporting, and scaling social entrepreneurs and changemakers worldwide. Combining peer networks, fellowship models, and partnership frameworks, the organization engages with global institutions, philanthropic foundations, university programs, and corporate social responsibility initiatives to accelerate systemic impact. Its activities intersect with prominent actors in civil society, development agencies, and innovation ecosystems.
History
Founded in the late 20th century amid the rise of social entrepreneurship, the group emerged alongside movements associated with Bill Drayton, Skoll Foundation, Acumen Fund, Ashoka Fellows, and networks linked to Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. Early collaborations involved actors such as Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, and programs connected to United Nations Development Programme and World Bank initiatives. Regional expansion mirrored trends seen in Microfinance Summit, Grameen Bank, and Echoing Green fellowships, while conferences intersected with events like the Clinton Global Initiative and forums hosted by World Economic Forum. Over time, the organization built alliances with universities including Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Oxford, and London School of Economics.
Mission and Objectives
The core mission aligns with promoting system-changing innovation by supporting social entrepreneurs who address issues frequently highlighted by UNICEF, UNESCO, UN Women, International Monetary Fund, and World Health Organization. Objectives include scouting and accrediting leaders comparable to laureates of the Right Livelihood Award, connecting practitioners with resources similar to those offered by TED, fostering replication strategies used by BRAC and Habitat for Humanity, and influencing policy dialogues involving European Commission, African Union, and national ministries. The organization emphasizes cross-sector collaboration with entities like Cisco Systems, Google.org, Microsoft Philanthropies, and multinational partners active in corporate philanthropy.
Organizational Structure
Governance models reflect boards and advisory councils similar to those at Nonprofit Quarterly organizations, incorporating trustees, regional directors, and peer networks akin to Fellowship Programs found at MacArthur Foundation and Knight Foundation. Operational teams coordinate with country offices in regions where institutions such as Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, African Development Bank, and national development agencies operate. Volunteer chapters and alumni networks mirror structures used by Teach For America, Peace Corps, Junior Chamber International, and professional associations like Ashoka Fellows-adjacent groups. Strategic partnerships with incubators and accelerators resemble linkages to Y Combinator, Seedcamp, and Techstars.
Programs and Initiatives
Programmatic efforts include fellowship offerings, capacity-building workshops, and scaling laboratories analogous to models from Echoing Green, Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, and Schwab Foundation programs. Initiatives span seed funding rounds, mentoring circles with practitioners from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, knowledge-sharing platforms comparable to Ashoka Innovators for the Public, and policy labs similar to Stanford Social Innovation Review collaborations. Regional initiatives coordinate with entities like Africa Leadership Academy, Asia Development Bank Institute, Latin American Social Innovation Forum, and networks such as Global Social Venture Competition and Impact Hub.
Partnerships and Funding
Funding streams combine philanthropic grants from foundations including Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Carnegie Corporation of New York with corporate sponsorships from firms like Google, Microsoft, and Cisco. Institutional partnerships extend to intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations system, bilateral agencies like United States Agency for International Development, United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and multilateral lenders. Collaborative research and evaluation projects have involved academic partners at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, Yale University, and University College London, as well as impact investors tied to BlueOrchard, Triodos Bank, and Root Capital.
Impact and Evaluation
Impact assessment leverages methodologies employed by Social Return on Investment practitioners, randomized evaluations similar to those conducted by Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, and metrics aligned with Sustainable Development Goals. Case studies cite influence on scaling models used by organizations like BRAC, Grameen Bank, and education reforms in contexts where Save the Children and UNICEF operate. External evaluations have been conducted in partnership with think tanks such as Brookings Institution, RAND Corporation, Overseas Development Institute, and Center for Global Development.
Criticism and Challenges
Critiques echo debates faced by peer institutions such as Echoing Green and Skoll Foundation regarding selection bias, sustainability of scaling strategies, and accountability to local stakeholders. Challenges include measuring long-term systemic change recognized by OECD, negotiating power dynamics highlighted in analyses by Oxfam, Amnesty International, and balancing donor priorities similar to issues faced by Transparency International and Human Rights Watch. Operational constraints mirror those encountered by international NGOs engaging with complex policy environments involving European Union regulations and national legal frameworks.