Call for Letters of Intent for 2010 Social Enterprise Business Case Competition

News Release: February 1, 2010

JDQ Systems Inc., Vancity Community Foundation and Enterprising Non-Profits are proud to announce the 2nd annual Call for Letters of Intent (LOI) to participate in the Social Enterprise’s answer to the Dragon’s Den; the 'Social Enterprise Dragons™' coming to Vancouver, BC in April 22, 2010.

Ever wonder what might happen if the dragons left their den and entered the realm of social enterprise?

Welcome to 'Social Enterprise Dragons'. The business case contest will highlight the unique challenges of non-profit business ventures trying to balance a blended return on goods, services and/or investments, both financial and social; rather than simply trying to maximize profits to shareholders. And at the same time, each non-profit will have the chance to win a series of prizes.

Prizes include the opportunity to work with a JDQ 3Spheres™ team of business performance improvement experts to solve their enterprise challenge, a technical assistance grant of $2,500 from enp; and a $15,000 funding award from Vancity Community Foundation to implement solutions.

Please download the LOI for information on the event, eligibility requirements, deadlines and instructions on how to apply. (http://www.jdq.com/files/WTDA2_LOI_final.pdf)

Deadline for applications is February 12, 2010. Three finalists will be selected and notified in late February 2010. The finalists will be provided with coaching by BC Social Venture Partners to fully develop their business case and presentation. The event will be held on Thursday, April 22, 2010. Mark the date in your calendars.

This event is for the social enterprise community. With Executive Directors of several prominent social enterprises amongst the 150+ people expected to attend, this event is for those senior leaders and others interested in Business Process Improvement for Social Enterprises.

Jon Morris, JDQ President commented: “The goal of this unique competition is to provide support to the successful social enterprise finalist, while creating enormous learning value for the social enterprise sector that is working to develop socially and environmentally progressive enterprises.”

For more information, please contact Jon Morris: jdqinfo@jdq.com.

About Vancity
Vancity (Vancouver City Savings Credit Union) is Canada’s largest credit union, with $14.1 billion in assets, more than 400,000 members, and 58 branches throughout Greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Victoria. Vancity and its subsidiary companies are guided by a commitment to corporate social responsibility, and to improve the quality of life in the communities where we live and work.

About Enterprising Non-Profits (enp)
Enterprising Non-Profits is a unique partnership of foundations, credit unions and government that promotes and supports social enterprise development and growth as a means to build strong non-profit organizations and healthier communities.  Enp is a funding program that provides matching grants to non-profit organizations in BC that are interested in starting or expanding a business. The enp funders include: Coast Capital Savings Credit Union, Columbia Basin Trust, Northern Trust, United Way of the Lower Mainland, Vancity Credit Union, Vancity Community Foundation, Vancouver Foundation, and Western Economic Diversification Canada.

About Vancity Community Foundation (VCF)
Vancity Community Foundation is a public charitable foundation associated with Vancity Credit Union. Building on the cooperative tradition and values at Vancity, we have been providing a community based vehicle for philanthropic giving for 20 years. Our Foundation now includes more than 100 different donor advised funds as well as a core endowment, modeling a progressive approach to investment and grant making activities with our focus on longer term development rather than aid.

About BC Social Venture Partners
BCSVP is a network of business people pioneering a new model of giving – Venture Philanthropy. They connect the power of business with the passion of giving, to drive community solutions with a unique combination of time and money.