What is Social Capital? And why should you care?

Because Social Capital is changing the way you shop. It empowers you to change the world for the better through the purchases you already make.

Imagine this: You are taking a class in college. Your professor says you must read a certain book and write a paper about it. The first action you take is to buy that book.

You can buy the book from a number of stores. Book businesses solve that for you.

But what if you also want your book purchase to make a difference? What if you want to buy a pre-loved book because you care for Mother Earth? What if you want to buy a book that helps someone else learn how to read?

Can business fill your desire to make a difference when you buy something? Can we find a way to fill social needs through capitalism?Better World Books and a growing number of other social enterprises are filling the void of conscious consumerism everyday. But for the social enterprise movement to take root and grow will take a willingness to invest capital in companies that do well by doing good.

That’s why we are thrilled to be part of the Social Capital Markets (SOCAP) conference this September in San Fransisco. Better World Books, a certified and founding B Corporation, will be serving as the SOCAP Bookstore.

Now in its fourth year, SOCAP is the premiere global conference celebrating a new form of capitalism that recognizes our ability to direct the power and efficiency of market systems toward social impact.

Better World Books is a fitting example of how capitalism can positively effect our world. In fact, our mission statement is to be “a global bookstore that harnesses the power of capitalism to bring literacy and opportunity to people around the world.”

Our founders were pioneers in this social entrepreneur space and continue to empower, engage and inspire new social venture. And one of our investors, Good Capital, is a pioneer in social capital investing and is deeply involved in organizing SOCAP.

SOCAP 2011 is honored to provide scholarships to over 50 social entrepreneurs powering innovative social solutions across the globe from transportable water wheels in India to biochar farming in Kenya. Many have graduated from top incubator programs - Echoing Green, Unreasonable Institute, Hub Ventures and more – and will be looking for opportunities such as partnership, mentorship, investment and more at the event.

We will also be featuring three book signings at the event:

Antony Bugg-Levine and Jed Emerson, Authors of Impact Investing: Transforming How We Make Money While Making a Difference

Paul Herman, Author of  The Hip Investor: Make Bigger Profits by Building a Better World

Eve Blossom, Author of Material Change: Design Thinking and the Social Entrepreneurship Movement

If you are as fascinated by and interested in Social Enterprise as we are, you may just love reading the books we will be selling at SOCAP. Here is the full list. Look forward to some guest posts from speakers and authors at the event as well.

We would love to hear your thoughts on how business can create a sustainable positive impact to make this a better world together…