Social Enterprise Academy, Facilitating Local Nonprofit Ventures, Receives $100,000 Gift

Alumni Career Programs and Partnership UCLA are pl eased to announce the 5th Annual UCLA Social Enterprise Academy.

The UCLA Social Enterprise Academy is a six month program that runs from January through June each year. The Academy connects undergraduate students with nonprofit participants to produce a plan for developing a successful service or product which generates income (a social enterprise). The program combines teamwork, expert training and individualized coaching in a comprehensive approach to build a successful new businesses. Training is led by UCLA faculty, alumni and outside industry professionals. Throughout the course of the program, students and their nonprofit partners gain insight into idea generation, market research and financial planning in an effort to pitch their venture to potential investors and to receive support in implementing the plan. In early June the participating nonprofit organizations, along with their student consultants, compete for $30,000 in seed funding to support their ventures.

Last year’s first place prize went to the Cancer Resource Center of the Desert (http://www.crcdinc.org/), who pitched a business plan for SurvivorWear benefiting survivors of cancer. Second place went to Fleet Street for gang reduction programs and the third place prize was awarded to Gigniks for their plan to get students into jobs. The audience favorite prize of $4,000 went to InsideOut Writers for their plan to reduce juvenile incarceration recidivism.

The Social Enterprise Academy is made possible by a $75,000 gift from the Nicholas Endowment and a $25,000 gift from the William E. Simon Foundation. This exciting program is only made possible through philanthropic support by the UCLA community.

Since 2011, the UCLA Social Enterprise Academy has helped over 40 nonprofit organizations develop social enterprises. Thanks to the support provided by the Nicholas Endowment and the Simon Foundation, we’re looking forward to supporting 48 students and 12 not-for-profit organizations in 2016.

Interested in taking part in the social enterprise academy? Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply at http://www.academies-se.org/ucla-academy-2015-2016.html (applications are due Nov. 9, 2015). Volunteer opportunities for business coaching are also available, please send a short bio and letter of interest to partnership@partnership.ucla.edu.