What it Takes to Solve Complex Community Problems

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Guest blog post by Dennis Cavner, Greenlights’ Board Chair 2015.There is an increasing amount of dialogue around “solving complex community problems,” and a growing realization that our traditional philanthropic approaches are often not working as well as needed.Austin is the fastest growing city in America, with huge economic opportunity. And yet, in the middle of all our prosperity, almost 20% of our citizens live in poverty. Close to 50% of African American and Hispanic children live in poverty. Changing this reality is not a simple matter. Many of our philanthropic efforts and government programs are aimed at providing needed services for those in need. While that is important, it is even more critical to address the root causes of complex problems.With so many moving parts, and with so many efforts operating in silos, there is a critical need to harness our political will and bring together all of the key players.The role of “collective action” or “systems impact” is to unite government, business, and the social sector around a common set of goals with an agreed upon set of metrics to measure our progress in solving these complex problems in our community.  Innovative financing techniques like “Pay for Success”, “Program Related Investments”, and “Impact Investing” bring new financial capital to the cause of solving these complex problems. But it’s not all about the funds; we need the right people in the right roles. Our Accelerator is a perfect example of how we can match successful entrepreneurs with innovative nonprofits to design and implement innovative enterprise models that are both scalable and sustainable.I’ve lived in Austin all of my adult life. Like many, I have been the beneficiary of our booming economy. As a “first generation” college graduate, education has transformed my life. Fifteen years ago I began the journey of a community volunteer, seeking to “pay it forward” in ways that would provide others with the same opportunities I have enjoyed. I’ve had many roles, including stints as Chair of LIVESTRONG, College Forward, and now Greenlights. I also serve on the Board of Social Venture Partners International, so I have the benefit of witnessing cutting edge philanthropy in our 39 affiliate cities around the world (including Greenlights as the Austin affiliate).We are on the front edge of a tectonic shift in the nonprofit and social innovation landscape. At Greenlights, we believe that mission-driven organizations can help lead the way to solving complex community problems and we are working hard to connect human, financial, political and intellectual capital with those most capable of bringing real change to people in our community. We do this through our consulting services, educational efforts, local research, and Social Venture Partner activities. We will continue to expand our work with innovative nonprofits, social entrepreneurs, philanthropic funders, government agencies, and individuals in the community who share our belief that we can, indeed, solve complex problems in Central Texas. I hope you join us in this work.

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