Marquette University is extending its focus on innovation to social enterprises and nonprofit organizations as it launches the Boost Program this fall.
Made possible by collaborative efforts between Marquette and Santa Clara University’s Global Social Benefit Institute, the Boost Program will support social enterprises in their impact potential, growth and financial sustainability.
Enterprises enrolled in Marquette’s program will take part in an all-expenses paid Boost workshop Sept. 23-25 on the university campus. During the workshop, enterprises will undergo training, mentoring and networking as they learn best practices in applying for grants, investments and capacity development programs.
The Boost Program is primarily geared toward early-stage social entrepreneurs and “socially innovative nonprofits” in the region, according to Marquette. The university belongs to the Global Social Benefit Institute Network, which created the GSBI Boost Program and aims to positively impact one billion people by 2020.
GSBI, born at Santa Clara University in 2003, helps social entrepreneurs committed to developing innovative solutions addressing issues of poverty. The institute’s services, which are free, guide organizations through every stage of the lifecycle with mentoring, lessons in business practices and introductions to investors.
GSBI programming has assisted more than 300 social enterprises worldwide, according to information released by Marquette, whose Boost Program is the second of its kind to be hosted in the United States. Other programs have taken place in Silicon Valley, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, China, Bangladesh and Nicaragua.
Local enterprises interested in applying for Marquette’s Boost Program must complete an online application by Wednesday, Aug. 26. For more information, click here.
