Page 64 - Social Enterprise A New Business Paradigm for Thailand

Even religious charities joined this movement. The Salvation Army, a faith-based organization,
mobilized members across regions to raise funds, which were then used to establish charity shops,

run skills-training programs, and develop facilities such as emergency shelters, nursing homes,
and rehabilitation centers. Another example is Oxfam International. Initially founded during
wartime to aid conflict victims, it has since grown into a global network spanning more than 90
countries. It began by raising funds through the sale of secondhand clothing to support food relief
in Greece and later expanded to market goods from developing countries produced through
environmentally sustainable practices.

The National Trust in the United Kingdom, responsible for maintaining castles and public parks
across England, also turned to revenue-generating activities. By offering memberships, selling

tickets, and operating restaurants, the organization invited the general public to participate in its
mission, helping foster civic engagement while strengthening civil society. (Jamaree Chiangthong
2022, in Anand Kanjanapan 2022) One of the most notable recent milestones in global
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philanthropy is The Giving Pledge , a high-profile commitment launched in 2010 by some of the
world’s wealthiest individuals, including 1) Bill Gates, 2) Warren Buffett, 3) Mark Zuckerberg, 4)
Michael Bloomberg, and 5) Paul G. Allen. Through this pledge, they committed to donating the
majority of their wealth either during their lifetimes or through their estates, with the intention
of generating positive social impact. The initiative has since expanded into a broader
philanthropic network and has become a significant funding source for public benefit

organizations.

The evolution of civic-mindedness in Eastern countries has developed alongside that of the West,
with traditions of public giving also present since ancient times, most often channeled through
religious institutions. Even today, charitable donations remain remarkably high in many countries
across this region, including Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand (Rosalia Sciortino, 2022). However,
one of the most globally significant examples of public benefit giving as a form of social innovation
is the case of Muhammad Yunus, who by this time became renowned as the banker to the poor
through his founding of the Grameen Bank, a financial institution created by and for the poor. In

2006, both Yunus and the bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This event marked a
turning point, signaling to the Western world the emergence of a new kind of social business, one
that addresses grassroots social challenges through market-based mechanisms.

2 The Giving Pledge has been evaluated in terms of outcomes and found to be successful in the areas of health and
disease prevention, but unsuccessful in education (Kelsey, 2020) and other sectors. As a result, its overall impact
has yet to meet expectations. Ten years after its launch, it has attracted only about one-third of the more than
6,000 billionaires in the United States. On February 3, Bill Gates told the BBC that the foundation had donated over
100 billion U.S. dollars (http://www.bbc.com).
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