Reader Mail: Social Entrepreneur Creates Her Dream Business as a Non-Profit

The topic of last night's newsletter was "What's Your Dream Business?", including a link to our ongoing "What's Your Dream Business?" Poll and an article on Choosing a Business to Start.

One reader wrote back that she had created her own dream business in the form of a non-profit organization, a trend that is becoming increasingly popular among so-called "social entrepreneurs":

My dream job is an extension of what I am currently doing as the Co-Creator/Founder/Director of Everyday Joy, Inc. and Picture Us.

In 2003, my young son and I co-created Picture Us, an international youth photo exchange. In the past three years, Picture Us has become an award winning program, a recipient of a Gold Star Award by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Shortly after we began the program, we created Everyday Joy, Inc., a non-profit organization whose goal is to support Picture Us and serve as the foundation for other creative programs all focusing on sharing kindness and respect, and creating understanding between people of different backgrounds. We achieve this by building confidence and self-esteem in our participants and engaging them in artistic and creative activities including photography, art, and storytelling. Their is nothing more rewarding than to see our participants, volunteers, and directors all beaming with pride, feeling valued and appreciated for who they are.

We are beginning to work with museums implementing Picture Us as an outreach program that will serve to reach across cultures in their communities. We are also building an on-line Picture Us Network where directors of youth groups will be able to register and search for others around the world who would like to participate in a Picture Us photo exchange.

With all the trouble and violence in the world, Picture Us serves as a counter balance, and an exciting and fun way to introduce children and youth to their peers around the world. Our goal is to help young people grow up appreciating diversity, and valuing the unique qualities and talents they each bring to the world.

For more information on Picture Us or Everyday Joy, Inc., please contact me and/or visit our website at www.everydayjoy.org.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my dream job with you!

Warmest regards,
Kathleen Geraghty

With my interest in virtual relationships and cross-cultural communications, this is right up my alley - thanks for sharing, Kathleen!

A lot of potential entrepreneurs may not realize that a non-profit structure is a viable option for their business. Running a non-profit doesn't mean that you yourself can't make a decent living at it -- it just means that there are some constraints on how you operate, and you probably won't ever become a multi-millionaire from it. But since most entrepreneurs are motivated by a desire to change the world more than by just money, it's a viable option for many entrepreneurs whose business vision involves facilitating some kind of social change.