Social Venture Circle promoted left-of-center views on the economy and business. It focused on providing peer networks to work with business leaders and impact investing to promote social entrepreneurship ventures. ¹

The organization helped create the American Sustainable Business Council, a left-of-center multi-issue advocacy group that claimed to speak on behalf of business. The organization supported increased regulation of businesses on environmental grounds and left-leaning policy on labor, race, taxes, and employment law. ²

In January 2022, the American Sustainable Business Council and Social Venture Circle formally merged into a new organization, the American Sustainable Business Network. ³ The American Sustainable Business Network sees itself as a left-leaning alternative to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. ⁴

Overview

The Social Venture Circle was a Durham, North Carolina-based organization that promoted left-of-center views on the economy and business to business leaders. It focused on providing peer networks to work with business leaders and impact investing to promote social entrepreneurship ventures. ⁵

The organization sought to change the way business was done. It claimed that it wanted to demonstrate a “triple bottom line” of valuing people, planet, and profit. It helped promote social entrepreneurship and other social ventures. ⁶

History

The organization that would eventually become Social Venture Circle was founded in 1987 as the Social Venture Network. It was one of the first social venture peer organizations founded in the United States. The organization worked through yearly gatherings, peer circles, and structured mentoring. ⁷

In 1992, SVN incubated the Investors Circle and was the nation’s first and most active early-stage impact investing network. Over 30 years, it facilitated more than $265 million for more than 300 social ventures addressing the environment, health, education, economic development, and other social challenges. The IC attracted angel investors, family offices, funds, and foundations and guided their investments into vetted early-stage impact entrepreneurs. ⁸

In 2009, an outgrowth of SVN established the American Sustainable Business Council. The ASBC saw itself as a left-leaning alternative to traditional business advocacy groups, supporting left-leaning policies on the environment, regulation, taxation, labor, and employment laws. ⁹

In 2018, SVN and the Investors Circle merged to create Social Venture Circle. The new organization sought to leverage the networks and knowledge of the two founding organizations to create a more left-leaning economy and business climate. ¹⁰

In January 2022, the Social Venture Circle and the American Sustainable Business Council formally merged into the American Sustainable Business Network. The ASBN would advocate for left-leaning policies on the economy, business, regulation, environment, labor, and employment laws. In addition, Investors Circle would relaunch as a core program within ASBN. ¹¹

Leadership

The final executive director of Social Venture Circle was Isaac Graves. Graves joined what became SVC in 2014. After the merger of SVC and American Sustainable Business Council, he became the chief operating officer of American Sustainable Business Network. ¹²

Finances

According to its most recent tax return in 2019, Social Venture Circle had revenue of $981,743 and expenses of $833,399. It had assets of $325,742. ¹³

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8.  [1] “The Legacy Of The American Sustainable Business Network.” American Sustainable Business Network. Accessed October 10, 2022. https://www.asbnetwork.org/legacy.
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11. “The Legacy Of The American Sustainable Business Network.” American Sustainable Business Network. Accessed October 10, 2022. https://www.asbnetwork.org/legacy.
12. “Isaac Graves.” American Sustainable Business Network. Accessed October 10, 2022. https://www.asbnetwork.org/profile/isaac-graves.
13. Social Venture Circle. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/363836645/download990pdf_03_2022_prefixes_31-36%2F363836645_201912_990O_2022030219688052.