While new solutions are continuously being introduced, tested, and expanded upon, this volume provides a firm foundation for anyone looking to understand what ’social innovation’ is, how it has evolved, and where it’s headed. A collection of 10 of the most time-tested articles in SSIR’s history—from addressing universal social sector challenges like leadership and funding to defining crucial concepts and frameworks like collective impact, system leadership, and social innovation itself. Essentials of Social Innovation will be indispensable for leaders of social change at any stage in your journey.
(70 pages)

Scaling is essential to social innovation. Innovative solutions, alone, are not enough: Only by thinking about and at scale can the social sector make good on its commitment to match the level of need. Over the years, SSIR has addressed the question in many ways: What does it mean to scale a solution, to scale a theory or model of change, or to scale impact? How do we scale, and through what different modes: through replication, social franchise models, growing an organization, or simply spreading ideas or principles? Finally, when it comes to the effect of scaling, how can we understand success?

The 11 articles in Essentials of Social Innovation: Scaling are divided between early foundational articles on the theory of scaling, analytical and conceptual advances as the thinking has matured, and a variety of field insights from the frontline. Essentials of Social Innovation: Scaling will be indispensable for leaders of social change imagining how to scale their innovations to meet the need.
(142 pages)