The 2nd annual Conscious Capitalism Conference: Unleashing the Power of Passion and Purpose was hosted by the Center for Education on Social Responsibility (CESR) and took place on March 2nd, 2011 for selected students from around the state by invitation only. Don Shaffer was the opening speaker of the event.
Don Shaffer is President and CEO of RSF Social Finance, a capital provider for non-profit organizations and for-profit enterprises with a social mission. Prior to joining RSF, Don served as Executive Director of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), developing it into an alliance of over 15,000 independently owned businesses across the U.S. and Canada.
He has also served as Interim Executive Director of Investors’ Circle, a network of angel investors, professional venture capitalists, foundations, family offices, and others who invest private capital into companies addressing social and environmental issues.
Don’s experience includes over 15 years in senior management positions building social mission companies, including Comet Skateboards, a designer and manufacturer of premium skateboarding products committed to local and sustainable business practices. He has served and led sales, marketing, business-development, and general-operations teams in the education and software sectors.
Don serves as a Board Member of Comet Skateboards, BALLE, and Social Venture Network. He participates in an advisory capacity with Entrepreneurship@Cornell, B Lab, and Slow Money. He also co-chairs the Roots of Change Business Leaders Council. Don graduated with a degree in American History from Cornell University and lives in Oakland, California, with his wife, Jennifer, and their daughter, Sabine.