Philanthropy and social entrepreneurship are reshaping how nonprofits, foundations, and businesses create impact. In this episode of the Nonprofit Counsel Podcast, host May Harris speaks with Dr. Paula Cordeiro, global leader in education, philanthropy, and social innovation.

From her decades of experience in education and nonprofit leadership to her work with foundations and microfinance, Paula shares how impact investing, benefit corporations, and social enterprises are shifting the global ecosystem. She explains how collaboration across sectors nonprofit, government, and for-profit creates sustainable solutions, and why philanthropy has the power to be catalytic in addressing today’s biggest challenges.

This conversation is a masterclass for nonprofit leaders, foundation boards, and social entrepreneurs who want to harness business practices, philanthropy, and innovation to drive lasting social change.

What You Will Learn in This Episode

✅ What social entrepreneurship really means and how nonprofits and for-profits are blurring sector lines
✅ Why impact investing is reshaping philanthropy and endowments worldwide
✅ How benefit corporations, B Corps, and ESOPs empower employees and communities ✅ Why collaboration and coalitions are the future of philanthropy and nonprofit sustainability

👉 Want templates and step-by-step nonprofit leadership training
→ https://nonprofitcounsel.com/leadership-accelerator

Key Takeaways

🔹 Social entrepreneurship is a global movement—from Ashoka Fellows to Newman's Own and King Arthur Flour
🔹 Philanthropy is catalytic—foundations can lead change by aligning grantmaking with impact investing
🔹 Legal frameworks are evolving—benefit corporations and B Corps open new doors for mission-driven business
🔹 The next generation demands purpose—young professionals choose employers with strong ESG and community values

Episode Timestamps 

• 0:00   Why philanthropy is catalytic for social change

• 1:02   Introducing Dr. Paula Cordeiro

• 1:32   Paula’s journey from education to philanthropy and microfinance

• 3:23   What social entrepreneurship really means (Girl Scouts example)

• 5:01   The paradigm shift in nonprofit and business collaboration

• 6:19   Global social entrepreneurship: Ashoka, Skoll Foundation, and beyond

• 7:49   Newman's Own, King Arthur Flour, and examples of social enterprise

• 9:13   Legal frameworks for benefit corporations and the Ben & Jerry’s story

• 10:28   Why the ecosystem needs lawyers, accountants, and advisors trained in new business models

• 12:00   How philanthropy has changed over the last 20 years

• 13:25   Impact investing conferences and global networks

• 15:03   Why foundations and universities are adopting ESG-aligned portfolios

• 16:59   Collaboration across nonprofits, corporations, and foundations

• 18:35   Younger generations driving change with conscious consumerism and values-based career

• 21:21 Global examples: employee-owned cooperatives in Rwanda

• 22:40   Paula’s 2025 global seminar in San Diego, Spain, and Rwanda

• 25:03   Who should attend: nonprofit leaders, board members, and impact investors

• 26:12 Final thoughts: why social innovation is growing exponentially

Guest Bio: Dr. Paula Cordeiro

Dr. Paula Cordeiro is a globally recognized leader in education, philanthropy, and social innovation. Former Dean at the University of San Diego, she has worked in K–12 education, microfinance, nonprofit leadership, and international philanthropy. She serves on multiple foundation and nonprofit boards and has been deeply involved in impact investing, social entrepreneurship, and benefit corporation development. Today, she mentors the next generation of leaders in USD’s Master’s in Social Innovation program while continuing to advance global initiatives in philanthropy and sustainability.

Resources and Links

• For Profit Law Group - Website - https://www.fplglaw.com 

• Nonprofit Counsel - Website - https://www.nonprofitcounsel.com/ 

• Paula A. Cordeiro - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-a-cordeiro-9297b96/

• Ashoka: ashoka.org https://www.ashoka.org/en-us

• Skoll Foundation: skoll.org 

• SOCAP Conference: socialcapitalmarkets.net 

• Global Impact Investing Network: thegiin.org
  
  

#SocialEntrepreneurship #ImpactInvesting #Philanthropy #BenefitCorporations #BCorps #NonprofitLeadership #NonprofitCouncilPodcast #Sustainability