Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Jeff Bingaman has put forward many ideas for providing tax incentives to corporations that act responsibly and help their communities. Conversely, he favors disincentives to those that close faciities and eliminate and export jobs. He also is a supporter of small business and entrepreneurship. As Michael Shuman has pointed out providing huge tax incentives to big companies to relocate is a zero-sum game. Those billions in tax monies if used as incentives for new small businesses could have a much greater multiplier effect.
Mark Pomerantz
The City of Seattle sponsored a Social Enterprise Initiative 1998-2001 under the leadership of Mark Pomerantz, Strategic Advisor in the Seattle Strategic Planning Office.
The City and Pioneer Human Services sponsored the Seattle Social Enterprise Expo in November 1999 which featured the products and services of 19 social enterprises in Seattle. This event inspired the formation of the Seattle Social Enterprise Consortium consisting of the City and seven nonprofit agencies.
Members of these agencies planned and developed the First Seattle Social Investor's Forum in May 2000 one of the first two social venture fairs in the U.S. Initial funding came from the United Way, City of Seattle, and the Seattle Social Venture Partners. Event coordination was provided by Mark Pomerantz .
This event and seven additional investors forums (2000-2004) provided invaluable entrepreneurial training for nonprofit organizations and raised over $800,000 in cash, loans, and in-kind donations. The Gates Foundation of Seattle provided funding for two Forums.
The Consortium also sponsored along with the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the Seattle New Philanthropies Conference in September 2000 attended by 300 persons who heard about Venture Philanthropy, Internet-based fundraising, and partnerships between forprofits and nonprofits.