RC Social Venture Captial-A Rose by Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet: Social Enterprise Insights and NPOst.

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A Rose by Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet: Social Enterprise Insights and NPOst.

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In the realm of civil-led philanthropic endeavors, both long-standing Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) as well as the emerging trend of social enterprises are two distinct models. In the current context, each model has its own role and significance. The question of which one to prioritize can be likened to the saying: "Only children will make choices, adults pick both of them (小孩子才做選擇，成熟人當然是全都要).”

Continuing our focus on new media, as a philanthropic foundation, we have no doubt caring about the development and dissemination of public welfare. While Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Social Enterprise, and Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) are well-known, they have not gained much mainstream attention and are not particularly eye-catching. Therefore, supporting knowledge platforms that provide reporting, documentation, and research has always been a goal of our foundation. "Social Enterprise Insights" and "NPOst" therefore become our collaborative partners.

"Social Enterprise Insights" is dedicated to building the most comprehensive and complete knowledge center for social innovation and social enterprises in the Chinese community. By promoting the concept of social enterprise, it gathers knowledge and wisdom on "using the power of business to address social issues" to create a social enterprise ecosystem. "NPOst" is a combination of NPO (Non-Profit Organization), Post (online publishing), and Station, forming a new media platform for philanthropic knowledge. It brings a new face to philanthropy, allowing the professional value of NPOs to be recognized and providing NPO practitioners with valuable knowledge and new perspectives from other fields.

“ The idea of social enterprise is to promote social progress while considering consumption and transactions. It is undoubtedly a valuable concept to incorporate social advancement into these processes. However, the act of donating itself, regardless of consumer behavior, also holds irreplaceable value. If there comes a day when everyone deems that only philanthropy generated through buying and selling is good, then, to put it in an exaggerated manner, taxation could be seen as a necessary form of state coercion.”

Supporting both platforms highlights our belief in the diversity of innovative models. While we actively promote the concept of social enterprise, we are also concerned that it may become a mere trend and overshadow the importance of NPOs. Nevertheless, the construction and sustainability of knowledge platforms remain crucial. In line with this philosophy, as both platforms continue to showcase successful cases and positive visions, it also prompts us to reflect and seek support for initiatives like "Fuckup Nights," which gather and share stories of failure.

From the era of the Dutch East India Company during the Age of Exploration to the multinational corporations thriving in today's era of globalization, the forms of companies and their roles in the world have constantly evolved. These transformations range from possessing military and imperial charters to the modern concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Therefore, when it comes to selecting supported initiatives, RC Philanthropic Ventures is not fixated on the form of the organization but rather on identifying the most suitable entity to achieve the intended goals. Whether it's a corporation, social enterprise, NPO, or even a social movement, the key considerations are whether the chosen model is viable and whether you truly believe in its design and potential.

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