A for-profit non profit? Google.org blurs the lines...

Google's choice to make it's foundation www.google.org a for-profit entity is the latest example of a new trend: mission driven business.

I'll let you read all about it by simply "googling" news on "google.org" and also go to www.google.org

While the idea that making money while doing good is not novel, the idea of creating a charity designed to engage in business ventures to achieve a non-monetary end is novel.

This is not in conflict with the model of business, but it is a very new approach toward actually engaging in game where everyone else is playing to MAKE MONEY, and google.org is playing to DO GOOD.

This points toward the underlying issue, yet again, their message appears to be "IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY PEOPLE!"

I would tend to agree, more money or profits doesn't necessarily end up with more wealth (true wealth) and quality of life for the participants in the business game.

Kudos to Google for breaking new ground.

Mr Formenski has some interesting points in discussing the google model as a "not for loss" moniker model as opposed to "for profit" vs "non-profit" (he also discusses one of my favorite business models in mentioning Grameen bank)

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Foremski/?p=120


For more on Mission Driven Business:

I recommend Mal Warwick's and Ben Cohen's book "Values Driven Business"
http://www.amazon.com/Values-Driven-Business-Social-Venture-Network/dp/1576753581


and Jeff Hollander's "What Matter's Most"
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/about_us/company/what_matters_most.html