Social entrepreneurship is becoming ever more important for achieving social goals. As the government sector hits budgetary reality checks imposed by unsustainable political promises and payoffs, its scope of activities will necessarily contract. When public choices require tradeoffs among important functions, maintaining police, public health, and pollution control are compelling examples, other worthwhile social activities will suffer neglect. Even a nation as rich as ours, and we remain immensely wealthy, hits financial constraints.

Fortunately America, far more than European nations, has a rich tradition and great experience in creating voluntary organization, alternatives to strictly political management. Publicly spirited citizens design and implement non-coercive means to achieve compassionate outcomes. This is social entrepreneurship.

Social entrepreneurship is especially hard to measure, for it doesn’t focus on traditional profit and loss, the stuff economists measure with precision. But, as Thomas Sowell reminds us, what economists measure best is not what matters most.

Successful social entrepreneurship combines the passion of mission with discipline, innovation, and determination. It must balance thinking with feeling to produce socially beneficial outcomes. Successful social entrepreneurs provide avenues down which people can march their good intentions by contributing time, skills, and money.

Despite the similar qualities of both for-profit and nonprofit entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs face different challenges. The revenue from a social program doesn’t indicate its full social value, and thus the financial market is a poor tool for assessing the merit of these ventures. Social entrepreneurs must rely on subsidies, grants, donations, and community support.

Successful social entrepreneurship combines the passion of mission with discipline, innovation, and determination. It must balance thinking and feeling in a socially beneficial and businesslike manner. Those who succeed provide avenues down which people can march their good intentions by contributing time, skills, and money.

For business entrepreneurs, profit quantifies the increased value of moving resources to higher-valued uses. For social entrepreneurs, success is measured by personal fulfillment, achieving environmental and humanitarian progress, and by the ability to mobilize support. However, if its management lacks business skills, it is likely to fail regardless of the value of the ideal promoted or service provided.

The nonprofit arena is highly competitive; folks face many opportunities to invest time, talent, and funds in good causes. It isn’t easy work so what inspires individuals to engage in social entrepreneurship?

America pioneered social entrepreneurship. Motivations were and remain cultural, economic, institutional, and religious; we want to bring about good, we have the means to do so, and our legal structure fosters such actions.

At America’s income level, the value of increased financial wealth diminishes relative to that of pursuing good intentions. That’s why many well-educated and comfortable people work for advocacy and activity groups such as the Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Habitat for Humanity, and Warriors and Quiet Waters. It’s also why successful professionals, upon retiring, establish such world-class community organizations as Eagle Mount.

My wife Ramona and I have worked with and supported each of the above organizations (and more) and expect to do so for many more years. We have recently identified another nonprofit that well deserves our support, Heart of the Valley animal shelter (HOV). While there is no shortage of worthy candidates, here’s why HOV captured our attention and contributions. First, we were attracted to its goal: “The mission of Heart of the Valley is to compassionately shelter the lost and surrendered pets of Gallatin and Madison Valleys, and to enhance the lives of people and companion animals through pet adoption and education.”

There are hundreds of similar organizations throughout America. Who could not support these principles? We have a special interest in doing so, one based on personal history.

For many years we ran over several hundred sheep and lambs, at times over one thousand, on our ranch near the mouth of the Gallatin Canyon. Given our location near the forest, we had serious predator problems. We were always at risk from coyotes and domestic dogs, and occasionally bear and lion. One night we lost 20 sheep to a bear, a grim and sickening experience indeed.

While I believe it’s the responsibility of a stockman to protect his animals, and I recognize the necessity of shooting predators killing one’s stock, we didn’t trap or poison. Too many innocent victims would suffer. Instead, thirty years ago we began using guard dogs, Komodor, Sharplaninac, and Anatolian Shepherds. Our last we named Thor. He was a beautiful 140-pound Shar-Anatolian cross. A few years ago compassion moved us to put him down at age 13.

Although we now have only horses on our place, and they don’t need protection, we longed for Thor’s replacement. We expressed our interest and soon received a call from Heart of the Valley. They had an Anatolian-Pyrenees dog surrendered by someone who couldn’t handle her. She looked like Thor’s sister.

We were smitten and offered her a home. And now we support HOV. I hope you’ll join us in supporting this worthy venture.

This nonprofit had a modest beginning in 1973 as the Humane Society of Gallatin Valley. In 2004 it became Heart of the Valley and began a campaign to raise $5,000,000 for a new shelter and endowment. It succeeded sufficiently to, in 2007, move into a nearly 20,000 square foot building with an adoption center, vet service room, community room for meetings and outreach, and ample acreage for animals to roam.

It’s a remarkable tribute to social entrepreneurs that this wonderful facility was completed on time, on budget, and without debt. As occasional visitors to HOV, Ramona and I see one obviously possibility for improvement—better road access.

HOV clearly needs a proper access road to replace the potted, rough, difficult, muddy trace that leads to their magnificent facility. This should be easy—but it requires the cooperation of the entire community. Montana state officials, and perhaps even the Federal Highway Administration could be helpful.

I suggest that when a nearby state or federal highway is resurfaced, the macadam chips be re-laid there as has been done cheaply and effectively on so many county roads.

I’m sure that Gallatin County would save wear and tear on the County’s Animal Control vehicles that often use it when delivering strays to HOV. County commissioners may also take note if the 7,000 members of HOV and other individuals and agencies advise Gallatin County commissioners of the value of this project. As government funds become ever tighter, such cooperation will be appreciated by tax paying voters.