This is the sixth in a series of articles that highlight postings from the npEnterprise Forum, the official listserv of the Social Enterprise Alliance. In the npEnterprise Forum, almost 4000 subscribers discuss practical ways that nonprofits can enhance their organizational capacity, mission impact and financial sustainability by developing business activities that generate earned income.

This article draws upon a recent discussion on the 'best' MBA schools for budding social enterprisers. We've divided this discussion between (1) how to go about your search and (2) specific MBA schools, organized geographically. Please note that comments have been edited for clarity and space.

How to Go about Your Search

A good place to start is www.beyondgreypinstripes.org. Aspen Institute does a periodic study of MBA programs that address 'social and environmental stewardship'. Results are on this site. Take what the schools say about themselves with a grain or two of salt. Talk to alumni and current students to find out whether the school is really committed to social enterprise/entrepreneurship. (Lyla Hamilton)

Olszak Management Consulting completed a study of graduate programs across the country. This report is available on our website: www.olszak.com/nonprofitconsulting. (Robert L. Goldbach) [Moderator's note: click on 'Additional Resources', then "A Study on Social Enterprise Training and Support Models". Finally, scroll to the bottom for the "Academic program research surveys".]

I would caution you that, despite the historical prestige of the MBA degree, it might not be the door opener for specific jobs in social enterprise or entrepreneurship. I know recent grads of some of the listed programs who are struggling to find work for the mere fact that there are so few MBA-level positions available--at least in the for-profit, corporate arena--for candidates with these specific qualifications. You may have better luck with a nonprofit pursuing earned income strategies, or certainly with an entrepreneurial start-up. It is a good generalist foundation however that will probably serve you well; just be clear of the type of environment in which you ultimately want to work and then work backwards to see if the degree will help get you there. (Grant Hunter)

Think about what you want to do in the social entrepreneurship field and look for programs that are good in that area. Social enterprises need strong marketing, finance, and generalist folks just like regular businesses. I chose Babson's MBA in this vein--figuring that nonprofits need entrepreneurship skills at least as much as for-profit businesses--and have been *very* happy with my decision. Babson's specifically social entrepreneurship element is admittedly weak, but it's there. There are also other nearby schools you can connect to. This isn't so much a plug for Babson as a suggestion to think about future roles and areas of focus--not just the field. (Bruce Curtis)

There are several MBA programs with a strong program in Social Entrepreneurship. Visit www.UniversityNetwork.org to see a full list of schools and links to their programs. Go to the teaching section, then Universities. Duke, Stanford, NYU and Oxford have some of the best programs. Many universities are also in the process of developing their own programs and have several classes. (Shyno Chacko)

Eastern US MBA Schools

Look into Harvard's MBA program. They have a Social Enterprise component and three CEU programs specializing in social enterprise. I have taken their social enterprise program entitled, "Excellence in Nonprofit Governance", and it was excellent. They encourage women to apply. They have an extensive website, www.hbs.edu/socialenterprise, that provides information on social enterprise. (Kim Praitano)

I attended the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, which has a very active club and curriculum in social entrepreneurship. There is even a course called the social enterprise lab, in which students workshop their business plans. The Kennedy School and Harvard Business School have social entrepreneurship clubs that cooperate, as well. Together they organize the Harvard Social Enterprise Conference every year, which is very high-level. (I attended as a professional last year, as well.) One professor to contact at the K school is Herman 'Dutch' Leonard. (Anne Lord)

I can highly recommend the Boston University MBA program with a concentration in Public and Nonprofit Management--not only did I receive a significant scholarship to attend, and then get to take a broad range of classes related to or directly on the topic of social entrepreneurship, I now have a great job working in social enterprise! (Missy Longshore)

My girlfriend just graduated with a joint-degree, MBA/Environmental Science, from the Yale School of Management. SOM produces an incredible amount of people that work in non-profits and non-traditional MBA type workplaces. That being said, many of the top business schools, SOM included, offer a wide variety of fellowships, scholarships, grants, and internships for people working in non-profits and nonprofit related organizations. (Mike Paulsmeyer)

I would look at Columbia Business School. Ray Horton runs a strong non-profit division. I know that the Department produces thoughtful written materials and holds an annual conference so it would be worth checking out. (Tonia Papke)

I'm a 1999 graduate of the Stern School of Business at New York University. Since I graduated, the school has developed a well-supported social entrepreneurship track. Stuart Satter, an alumnus, has funded a social entrepreneurship business plan competition for the past two years, awarding $100k to each year's winner. Even more interestingly, one year ago, the school received a $10 million donation from the Catherine Reynolds Foundation to establish a cross-disciplinary program in social entrepreneurship. This program is run out of NYU's Wagner School of Public Service, but the fellowships under the program are available to applicants from all schools. I participated as a judge in reviewing applicants this spring and was very impressed with the breadth and quality of applicants and overall energy at the place. I strongly encourage you to look into NYU. You can't beat NYC as a laboratory for social enterprise & entrepreneurship. (Mark Reed)

Western US MBA Schools

Presidio School of Management in San Francisco--it's the only MBA program in the U.S. with a 100% focus on Sustainable Management--which is very closely associated with Social Enterprise work. I plan to obtain my MBA there myself. (Adeeba)

I've had two Benetech staffers head to MBA school in the last few years, and they both have had great experiences (and a social entrepreneurial focus). One was a Skoll scholar at Oxford's Said Business School, and we just hired one of his classmates at Benetech (who is terrific). The other is in his second year at UC Berkeley's Haas Business School. (Jim Fruchterman)

I'm not an MBA student, but... I AM the Dean of the MBA Program at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute (BGI). We offer a 'hybrid' program (monthly weekends coupled with distance learning) with a focus on sustainability in every single course. You can learn more about our program at www.bgiedu.org OR by accessing the recent Net Impact study of environmentally and socially conscious MBA program www.netimpact.org. Our program came out on top in that survey, but it's also a great resource for looking at the full range of schools that offer programs in this area. Good luck in your search! The world definitely needs more sustainability-minded MBAs! (Jill Bamburg)

More MBA Schools

Lots of them--newly added are programs at University of Tampa (contact Dianne Welsh) and Indiana University. Both just added certificate programs. NYU (Jeff Robinson), IESE in Barcelona (Johanna Mair), the Said B-School at Oxford (Alex Nicholls), London B-School (John Mullins), Stanford. If interested in sustainability, contact Tom Dean at Colorado--terrific stuff there! However, if you are really passionate about SE, then go to the right school for you. The MBA degree is very much a mature industry, so you should be able to find the right school/location for you THEN focus all your efforts on SE-related class projects, etc. Doesn't have to be a high-powered (and spendy) school like those I mentioned. You might also surf over to Ashoka (and Skoll's) www.universitynetwork.org and see who has posted stuff there. (Norris Krueger)



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