Economic Empowerment and Job Creation: Microfinance and Enterprise Solutions
Poverty, Justice and Jobs Think Tank, Harvard UniversityHere’s the problem, as I see it: Our attention – our focus – is not where it should be. Continue >
Sharpening Strategy and Customizing Finance for High-Performing Small Businesses
A conversation with Ron Walker, Next Street President and Founding Partner, and Jon Aram, Founding PartnerOld conflicts: new opportunities
by Robert Weissbourd, President, RW Ventures, LLCPublic debate on economic development policy often seems trapped in old conflicts. Continue >
Re-casting the supporting roles to bring mission investing to scale
By Tim Ferguson, Founder, Chair and Managing PartnerAs I discussed in my Perspectives piece on mission investing, a growing number of philanthropies are starting to direct their investments to the missions that are supported by their program dollars. Continue >
Microfinance and the domestic “missing middle”
By Tim Ferguson, Founder, Chair and Managing PartnerI'm often asked if the Next Street model is a microfinance model. Continue >
The merchant bank: a classic business model for a contemporary market
By Tim Ferguson, Founder, Chair and Managing PartnerLots of entrepreneurs need exposure to critical thinking…The merchant banker who used to say, “I understand your business and what you want to succeed, but I see the vulnerability of your business. Continue >
The business of social change – a challenge to philanthropy
By Tim Ferguson, Founder, Chair and Managing PartnerFor hundreds of years, people and institutions have been trying to cure the world’s social ills with money. Continue >
Unleashing the potential of metropolitan America
by Bruce Katz, The Brookings InstitutionWith a little more than a year to go before the 2008 election, the presidential campaign has disappointedly conformed to convention: candidates down on the farm, adopting “aw, shucks” personas, or out at the fair eating deep fried anything and everything on a stick. Continue >
Wall Street-quality advice: a missing piece in the inner city small business puzzle
By Tim Ferguson, Founder, Chair and Managing PartnerEvery effective business leader needs a sounding board: a trusted advisor who provides frank, constructive input and guidance on day-to-day operations and long-term strategy. Continue >
The truth about inner city small businesses
By Tim Ferguson, Founder, Chair and Managing PartnerAmerica’s small businesses are being transformed as demographics shift and the financial landscape continues to evolve. Continue >
