Makesense

makesense is a global non-profit organization that designs and supports programs for collective citizen and entrepreneur engagement to foster a more inclusive and sustainable society. Founded in 2010 by Christian Vanizette and Leila Hoballah, the organization originated from their travels in Asia, where they were inspired by social entrepreneurs. They developed a model of collaborative workshops, called 'hold-ups', to help social entrepreneurs solve specific challenges by tapping into the skills of citizen volunteers.

Christian Vanizette's background includes a socially conscious upbringing in French Polynesia and studies in business innovation, which shaped his entrepreneurial path. Leila Hoballah, with a Colombian, Lebanese, and French heritage and a father engaged in environmental work at the UN, was similarly primed for social entrepreneurship. The duo's journey began with a desire to give visibility and support to social entrepreneurs, a mission inspired by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

makesense operates as a non-profit association, sustained by a diverse funding model. Approximately 60% of its budget comes from services provided to corporations and organizations, helping them develop social engagement and responsible innovation strategies. The remainder is sourced from sponsorships for engagement programs, public subsidies, and donations from foundations and individuals. The organization's ecosystem includes three main pillars: engaging citizens in programs to raise awareness and foster collective action, supporting social entrepreneurs through incubators and funding, and advising organizations (companies, NGOs, public authorities) on their transformation towards sustainability. It has launched several branches, including 'SenseSchool' for educational programs, 'CommonsSense' for corporate consulting, and the 'SenseCube' incubator. The organization also created its own seed fund, Seed I, in 2019 to further support entrepreneurs.

Keywords: social entrepreneurship, citizen engagement, collective action, social innovation, sustainable development, impact investing, non-profit organization, community building, environmental solutions, volunteerism, corporate social responsibility, social impact, innovation consulting, startup incubator, skill-based volunteering, civic tech, ecological transition, global network, community mobilization, social change