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What does it take to keep a large foundation focused on evaluation for self-improvement? As part of the Stanford Social Innovation Review's conference on evaluation, Carol Larson, CEO of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, shares tools, lessons, and strategies for assessing performance to create a "culture of inquiry." Organizational qualities such as innovation, collaboration among stakeholders, and freedom to make "mistakes" are critical elements to foster an effective learning enterprise.

Why are social entrepreneurs sometimes considered "unreasonable," and how are they different from business entrepreneurs? Author Pamela Hartigan discusses with Design for Change host Sheela Sethuraman how these pesky pioneers are creating markets that are changing the world. She also talks about Volans Ventures, her new enterprise dedicated to integrating the worlds of social and environmental innovation with business-driven wealth creation.

Are you making a difference? Do you add value to your constituents' lives? Are you as effective as possible per dollar output? These are all likely, and potentially useful questions to answer if you're a social entrepreneur or a funding organization. In this interactive 2008 Skoll World Forum session, a talented, experienced panel discusses the challenges of social enterprises and how metrics can impact organizational learning, innovation, and lead to greater resource utilization.

Evaluation is one of the most powerful mechanisms a nonprofit organization can use to unlock its potential, become more effective, and achieve success. But traditional evaluation methods are expensive, require thorough knowledge of the social sciences, and take a good deal of time to perform. In this part of the Stanford Social Innovation Review's conference on evaluation, Mark Kramer details how nonprofits can better incorporate evaluation to achieve their mission and bring about social change.

As you listen to this podcast, you may suddenly feel self-conscious and start to wonder, why have I taken for granted the simple freedoms and rights I enjoy in this digital age? In this challenging panel discussion from the Aspen Ideas Festival, moderator R. James Woolsey, past director of the Central Intelligence Agency, leads a fascinating discussion on "Human Rights in the Information Age" with discussants Samantha Power and Michael Posner.

The abuse of the synthetic drug known as methamphetamine has become a top crime problem in the United States, and now a global epidemic. In this talk, part of the Stanford Social Innovation Review's conference on evaluation, IT leader and philanthropist Thomas Siebel discusses the nature of meth addiction as well as the efforts of the Meth Project, a large-scale prevention program aimed at reducing first-time meth use through public service messaging, public policy, and community outreach.

Jeroo Billimoria is the founder of six successful enterprises. Her most recent effort is Aflatoun, a nonprofit organization that provides social and financial education to children. Billimoria shares the wisdom she's acquired over the years with Design for Change host Sheela Sethuraman. She talks about her successes with Aflatoun, including securing pro-bono support from various corporations, developing a scalable training model, and creating a global network of organizations.

Teach For America places thousands of energetic and committed college graduates as teachers in under-resourced schools for their first jobs. In this talk at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Wendy Kopp shares why and how she started Teach for America in 1980, and its progress in raising the bar for under-achieving children. She also discusses how the organization rode out its "dark years," when enthusiasm and corporate support for the effort began to wane.

Social entrepreneurs discuss how they use for-profit activities to fund their organizations' missions in this session of the Skoll World Forum. These are done in combination with, and in addition to, nonprofit activities. From profitably of providing water to poor villagers to training street children to run business, and from franchising medical care to creating a transparent market place for handmade goods, these entrepreneurs show that business and nonprofit can mix well.

Scientists predict that we have less than 10 years to sufficiently reduce carbon emissions to avert a total environmental disaster. Gary Hirshberg, Stonyfield Farm "CE-Yo", tells of his company's efforts over the past 25 years to reduce its environmental footprint while increasing profits. Hirshberg shares lessons from his book Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World, in this Stanford Center for Social Innovation talk.

Do you think we can change the world by involving enterprise one hour a week? Al Jisr, and it's founder Mohammed Abbad Andaloussi, are convinced that we can. In this episode of Design for Change, host Sheela Sethuraman interviews Abbad Analoussi about his efforts to improve education in Moroccan schools by involving businesses. So far, over 100 corporations have adopted over 200 schools. They provide volunteers, support, and a real world perspective to students.

When President Bush set limits on stem cell research in 2001, millions of families who were hopeful that such research could help alleviate the diseases of their loved ones were devastated. In this Stanford Center for Social Innovation talk, attorney Robert Klein discusses his efforts to author and push through legislation in California which, so far, has succeeded in advancing such research. Sharing personal and political struggles, Klein movingly underscores the urgency behind his quest.

What does Wall Street make of the trends in cleantech, corporate environmental strategy, and emerging carbon markets? In this talk, sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, two Goldman Sachs managers discuss how their investment firm is making the financing of corporate deals contingent upon the incorporation of increasingly stringent environmental criteria.

When most people think of condoms, they get a little embarrassed and uncomfortable, not Mechai Viravaidya. Known in Thailand as the "Condom King" Viravaidya began nearly 40 years ago trying to demystify condoms and focus public attention on the public health aspects of contraceptives. Since then he has become a leader in critical public health issues like poverty elevation, family planning, and HIV/AIDS. In this interview with host Sheela Sethuraman, Viravaidya offers pragmatic answers to these vital issues.

There is a growing consciousness of environmental responsibility in the fashion industry. This new trend, known as "green design", has inspired some top designers to rebrand their products for the environment savvy consumer, and reform their processes to foster a sustainable environment. Panelists Marci Zaroff, Helen Job, Scott Hahn and Julie Gilhart discuss some of the challenges faced, and the new initiatives introduced by the fashion industry in measuring up to this trend.

Most Americans are unaware of the enormous progress Mexico has enjoyed since the peso's devastating collapse in 1994. Former Mexican President Vicente Fox highlights his country's opportunities to foster democracy, develop entrepreneurism, and promote alternative energy sources as it emerges as a world economic power. He addresses challenges, including a poor educational system, rapid population growth, and dwindling oil reserves. Sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation.