Philanthropreneurship: Applying sustainable, entrepreneurial ideas to meet public health care needs around the world

1. Philanthropreneurship:Applying sustainable, entrepreneurial ideas to meet public health care needs around the world Suzanne S Gilbert, PhD, MPH Director, Center for Innovation in Eye Care Seva Foundation Berkeley, CA www.seva.org

2. Philanthropy • Love of Humankind • “Giving of time, money, and know-how to advance common good” • Scholarly definition: “Giving outside one’s family” • Non-Profit Foundations in US • 1982 23,770 • 2002 64,843 $240 billion (US Govt: 1 month) • 2020 100,000 $316 billion • Struggle to improve effectiveness From Looking Out for the FUTURE: An Orientation for Twenty-first Century Philanthropists. Katherine Fulton, Andrew Blau 2005

3. Social Entrepreneurship • Innovative, resourceful, practical, opportunistic • Go for the “ideal” not the deal • Blended value: multiple dimensions • Motivation: Social returns on investment • Generate paradigm shift • Transformative From Unreasonable People: Ten Characteristics of Successful Social Entrepreneurs. John Elkington, Pamela Hartigan. www.socialedge.org/blogs/unreasonable-people

4. Case Study in Philanthropreneurship: Aravind Eye Care System Seva Foundation and the Intraocular Lens

5. Problem Statement: • Around 4 Billion People Make < $2/day • Most people unable to access technology required to prevent or remedy disability • Disabilities are both a cause and effect of poverty • New paradigm needed to end this cycle

6. How a Tiny Piece of Plastic Revolutionized Blindness Prevention • 37 Million Bilaterally Blind Worldwide • 90% in low-income countries • Two out of Three Blind People are Women • The Majority of Preventable Blindness is due to Cataract • Cataract Surgery Unpopular

7. What is an IOL?

8. Close Up of IOL

9. Dilemma • No reliable source for affordable lens • Unconventional for non-profits to go into production • Significant skepticism re manufacturing • Risks seen as too great (we must be crazy) • Distrust of “investing” in medical manufacturing, even for the public good

10. Solution: Make them Ourselves! • Identified technology partner • Established infrastructure in India • Raised funds from individual and institutional donors • Made IOLs available at a cost poor people could afford: approx $5 each

12. Top Quality Standards (CE and ISO Approvals)

13. Huge Volume, Huge Impact • Five million+ IOLs sold • Export to 120 Countries • Expand Production Capacity Every Year • Teach safe use of IOLs • Drive down cost for everyone

14. Critical Impact Award 2007 US Council on Foundations recognized: • Seva’s grant catalyzed creation of Aurolab • Partnership with grantee & enabling network • Significant factor in poor people obtaining sight • Attracts people to surgery before they go blind • ROI: Affordable lenses and good vision • Creates economic engine for sustainability

15. Ultra High Annual Volume Within Aravind Eye Care System annually: • 250,000 Surgeries • Strong community based programs • Training • Scale Up

16. Centers for Community Ophthalmology Network: Seva and Partners

17. Aurolab Today • Wide product line • Fill gaps in market • Easy access • Sales in low and high income countries www.aurolab.com