個案總覽

This case is about Akhuwat - one of the largest micro-finance organizations in Pakistan. The case presents Akhuwat's phenomenal growth from a small philanthropic experiment into one of most prominent micro-finance organizations in Pakistan. This case also discusses the part played in this growth by Amjad Saqib, co-founder and Executive Director of Akhuwat, his relationship with the government and his charismatic leadership style. Akhuwat's unique operational model of charging zero interest rate on its loans, its ability to leverage faith-based teachings and its spirit of volunteerism are discussed as key drivers of its success. Overall, the case provides a unique insight into how micro-finance, government and faith can operate in harmony to alleviate poverty in South Asia.

The Google.org: For-Profit Philanthropy case introduces a distinct social enterprise structure, a combination of a philanthropic division of a for-profit corporation and a nonprofit foundation. The case provides an up-to-date, in-depth description of Google.org, one such hybrid, and a brief overview of salesforce.org, a comparable hybrid. This case provides an opportunity to explore the tensions between the for-profit and nonprofit entities that inevitably arise in such structures, as well as factors that contribute to these tensions and solutions that have been attempted to address them. The case revolves around the tension caused when a non-entrepreneurial entity, Google.org, is created within the entrepreneurial culture of Google. Unlike most entrepreneurial ventures, Google.org is flush with cash; like many, it lacks cohesion around mission and vision. HKS Case Number 1960.0