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

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

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

Case Study inCase Study in

Philanthropreneurship:Philanthropreneurship:Aravind Eye Care SystemAravind Eye Care System

Seva Foundation Seva Foundation

and the Intraocular Lensand the Intraocular Lens

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

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

What is an IOL?

Close Up of IOL

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

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

Top Quality Standards (CE and ISO Approvals)

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

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

Ultra High Annual Volume

Within Aravind Eye Care System annually:

• 250,000 Surgeries• Strong community

based programs• Training• Scale Up

Centers for Community Ophthalmology Network: Seva and Partners

Aurolab Today

• Wide product line• Fill gaps in market• Easy access • Sales in low and

high income countries

www.aurolab.com