Social Ventures and Clear Sky

(click the link above to open a definition of social ventures in a new window)

Clear Sky's mission is dedicated to transformative change in all facets of life. And for most of us, one of the biggest facets of our life is our profession -- the time and energy we put into making a living.

In a time of major social and economic changes, many non-profits around the world anticipate a trend away from donations as the sole or principal source of funding. Traditional revenue streams have become ever less reliable. At the same time, harsh economic realities demand non-profits acquire and adhere to the same standards of fiscal accountability and acumen that for-profit corporations are founded upon.

In light of these two trends, Clear Sky has embarked upon a plan to encourage and foster (within the parameters of its charitable status) a spirit of social entrepreneurship among its membership.

Our goal is to inspire our community to create new socially responsible businesses amongst our members and friends that can become shining examples of meditation in action, provide entrepreneurial and employment opportunities to help people celebrate abundance by enhancing their personal financial independence, and provide a new financial foundation for our organization through successful triple bottom line (fiscal, social, environmental) businesses that are informally allied to and financially supportive of Clear Sky.

To give our group an infusion of social entrepreneurship DNA, six Clear Sky members will be attending SVI 2010, an annual gathering of 100+ triple bottom line business owners held on Cortes Island each year at Hollyhock, held from Sept. 15-19, 2010.

These six members are each attending in their own professional or personal capacity, rather than as an official delegation of Clear Sky. However, the fact that we are loosely affiliated through our mutual love of -- and leadership roles in -- Clear Sky and our community makes this a powerful statement about where Clear Sky is headed as an organization.

We stand to learn a great deal from this event, and in our own quiet way, to show by example the benefits of helping build and contribute to such a fine organization and community as Clear Sky.

Several participants are already representing their own social ventures, but in addition to this, we see SVI as an opportunity to learn from some of North America's leading social entrepreneurs as we prepare to leap into this new and promising field.

The development of social enterprise within our community is a practical and powerful way of bringing our livelihood in line with our spiritual unfoldment, and it supports our spiritual practice through the enhanced functionality and integrity that are at the basis of social entrepreneurship.

Dharma is about transformative change through spiritual awakening. In the past, this might have meant renouncing the world and entering the seclusion of a monastery. It is now time for the monastery to renounce its seclusion and embrace its wider purpose of integrating the teachings of awakening with creative and wholesome approaches to living that our planet so richly deserves.

Our vision says it best. Clear Sky: A vehicle for integrating and manifesting spiritual realization.

Although Clear Sky the organization focuses on its core spiritual mandate, our community as a group of individuals is learning that social ventures offer one highly effective path for making this vision a reality.