Kim Alter

Founded Virtue Ventures LLC, the first management consulting firm dedicated to social enterprise and entrepreneurship. Virtue Ventures’ mission is to “empower social sector organizations to solve the world’s most pressing problems through entrepreneurship, business tools, and sound management practices.” It does this through consulting, education, and training programs, resource development, and action research. The firm has received awards and recognition for its pioneering work in, and contributions to, the field of social entrepreneurship. Responsible for all aspects of business strategy, business development and fundraising, hiring teams, project, program and portfolio management, education programs, and learning initiatives. Rendered “soup to nuts” consulting in social entrepreneurships’, capacity building, nonprofit leadership, and management focused on: income generation, innovation, strategic fundraising, financial management and sustainability, program design, operations management, marketing, operations management, and systems. Worked with literally hundreds of social entrepreneurs as well as small businesses, nonprofits, and community-based organizations, universities, and donor agencies across industries and social sectors in 47 countries. Clients include some of the most prestigious and renown social enterprises and organizations in the world. Examples include APOPO, Ashoka, Bamboo Finance, Benetech, Cardno, Carnegie Foundation, World Bank, Eurasia Foundation, FHI360, Global Giving, Grassroots Business Fund, ILO, IADB, Inter-American Development Bank, Plan International, REDF, Save the Children, Skoll Center for Social Entrepreneurship, Skoll Foundation, SEEP Network, UNDP, USAID, Villgro, Vision Spring, White House Office of Social Innovation, Goldman Sachs Foundation, and more.

OnSight, is an award-winning innovative education and communications platform that uses virtual reality/360 images to connect project stakeholders and bring them virtually “on site” to share information and work together for faster decision-making, better technical assistance, and improved project outcomes. OnSight democratizes participation and enables project stakeholders to communicate clearly through visual information, multi-language translation, drawing, and audio messages. The multi-directional platform facilitates lateral as well as bottom-up participation fostering inclusion and collaboration throughout projects. Mapping features, time, and GPS stamped images increase transparency of project documentation for monitoring and reporting. OnSight’s interactive storytelling feature, virtual reality training videos, and project tours engage stakeholders more broadly in visceral and meaningful ways.

Grassroots U is a professional and personal development program in real-life social entrepreneurship. Unlike tours, journeys, study abroad or a service learning programs that focus mainly on the logistics of going from place to place, Grassroots U focuses on program content and an experiential learning process that uses our signature Practice Pedagogy. Through its content-based approach Grassroots U provides participants with a deep, unvarnished experience in social entrepreneurship and international development at the level of the grassroots. Grassroots U emphasizes personal growth, imparts real experience, and builds career readiness by imbuing participants with knowledge, skills, networks, and diverse perspectives. Grassroots U is a game-changer for those interested in making a difference.

Jump for Joy Farm was created to provide recreational and educational opportunities to young people and adults that teach 21st Century skills, STEM education, and wellbeing by connecting them to the natural environment. Jump for Joy Farm delivers its programs through farm and horse camps, after-school activities, leadership programs, equine activities, workshops on homesteading, animal husbandry, and sustainable farming and events. Our comprehensive equestrian program includes horse boarding, shows, lessons, clinics, 4-H, pony club, and camps. The farm runs specialized programs through partnerships with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and the community. As well, J4J Farm offers programs to low-income families, and disadvantaged and disabled young people and adults. Was responsible for all aspects of organizational leadership, strategy, marketing, and business development. Worked with Education Director and Equine Director on programs and service development, as well as COO and CFO on infrastructure design and improvement, financial decision-making, logistics, and operations.

Developed curriculum and taught “Social Enterprise Design,” “Social Finance,” “Social Innovation,” and “Social Movement and Policy.” Designed and taught sessions in social enterprise Health Accelerator for UK health professionals starting social enterprises in response to the privatization of the health sector as well as for government health professionals. Conducted research and writing on social enterprises in global context.

Founding Board Member founded organization with other leaders

management and technical consulting for microfinance and business development services social enterprise development worked in Francophone and Muslim countries.

Technical assistance and consulting in all aspects of microfinance in West and Southern Africa, and Eastern Europe