After nine years of service, Project SOAR is ceasing operations at the end of October 2012.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is proud to have hosted this project since its launch in October 2003. SOAR has helped hundreds of refugee ethnic community-based organizations (ECBOs) grow stronger and more sustainable through a wide variety of innovative technical assistance and capacity-building support.

Project SOAR is especially grateful for the collaboration of our implementing partners over the years: Nationalities Service Center (NSC), Pan-African Association (PAA), Ethiopian Community Development Council Consortium (ECDC), and Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC).  We are also grateful to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) for providing financial support to project activities.

For specific questions regarding the ORR Ethnic Community Self-Help program, please contact Tabassum Siraj at Tabassum.Siraj@ACF.hhs.gov.  Please be advised that the SOAR listserv will shut down at the end of October 2012.

IRC will continue to make the SOAR website, www.ethniccommunities.org, and research library accessible for a period of one year, until the end of 2013.

The website has over 650 resources developed by SOAR in eight easy-to-search categories: ECBO Formation and Development and Capacity Building, External Relations and Partnerships, Governance, Organizational Management and Planning, Program Design, Monitoring and Evaluation, Refugee Programming, Resource Development and Grants Management, Staff and Volunteer Management.

There are currently 211 ethnic community based organizations registered on the site with respective contact information, website addresses and information regarding locations and populations served.

Numerous materials should continue to be helpful to ECBOs and other stakeholders including:

• Two online learning modules:
  1. Refugee 101, developed by IRC to introduce the refugee resettlement process
  2. Starting an Organization to Serve Your Community, developed by SOAR outlining five different options for starting an organization;
• A Local Resource/Community Mapping Guide that can help ECBOs identify assets and partnerships to further organizational goals and support clients;
• 73 issue-related tip sheets;
• A bibliography of 249 books, films and music about refugees and US resettlement;
• Spotlight articles featuring the work of specific ECBOs and ORR grantees;
• All materials and presentations from Project SOAR Annual Workshops, Webinars and Learning Circles; and,
• Other resources related to refugee resettlement and nonprofit development.

Finally, Project SOAR applauds the accomplishments and dedication of our ECBO colleagues who have helped countless refugees build successful lives in the United States over the past nine years.  We have been enriched by your achievements and your strength.  We know that you will continue to make a difference to newly-resettled refugees in their journey ahead.

Project SOAR

Q: What is social enterprise?

A: Social enterprise, also known as social entrepreneurship, broadly encompasses ventures of nonprofits, civic-minded individuals, and for-profit businesses that can yield both financial and social returns.

While social enterprise may be a newer addition to our vocabulary, it is not a new concept or endeavor. The Social Enterprise Alliance provides more background on the concept of social enterprise.

One example of social enterprise is an earned income venture. By selling goods or services, a traditional 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization can diversify its funding base while providing positive impact in the community.

Fieldstone Alliance’s worksheet can help you assess whether you have the capacity and readiness to launch such a venture. Also, our full-day course Building a Sustainable Nonprofit Organization, walks you through the key points of nonprofit sustainability, helping you improve the way your organization uses resources and strengthen the financial health of your organization.

The concept of social enterprise also applies to for-profit ventures with a strong social bottom line. One emerging type of organization that puts mission first and profits second is the low-profit limited liability company (L3C). As for-profit organizations, L3Cs pay taxes on profits and can’t receive traditional grants or tax-deductible charitable contributions, like 501(c)(3) public charities can.

However, private foundations can make program-related investments (PRIs) to L3Cs through an expedited review process by the IRS. Legislation is still pending in many states on this new legal structure, but L3Cs formed in states that have approved it can do business in other states. To learn more about L3Cs, please see the Americans for Community Development.

Another developing type of organization, a benefit corporation, is a for-profit entity created with the purpose of providing a general public benefit. Benefit corporations are required to submit an annual benefit report outlining the impact of their activities, and, in contrast to traditional corporations, their directors are permitted to place community and environmental considerations above financial gain in their decision making.

The legal structures for benefit corporations have been formalized in Maryland and Vermont, and legislation is pending in several additional states. For more information, see the B Lab web site. Benefit corporations should not be confused with “Certified B Corporations”, which are recognized independently by B Lab.

Click here to read the article and to find other sites on social enterprise.

We will feature one-on-one coaching with field experts on different subjects, including coaching with your ORR Program Officer, Board development, case management and documentation, working with LGBT refugees, volunteer management, partnerships, and resource development.

Please bring your organization’s brochures, posters, or other printed materials for display and distribution.

Click here to learn more about the conference, view the agenda, participants, or sign up for coaching.

Please contact project SOAR at soar@theirc.org if you have any questions.