Nathaniel, feeling very late with this comment -- a week in the blogosphere is equivalent to an eon anywhere else -- but wanted to share sincere thanks for not only drawing attention to the Social Entrepreneur API but to your thoughtful analysis as well.
Su Yuen Chin, thanks for your kind words, too, and we agree that engaging developers to build of this resource is an important part of the work ahead.
We're listening and learning as the word about this resource gets out (the Social Entrepreneur Search feature on Social Edge is a huge boost to that effort) and can also envision adjusting the "value statements" in the direction of research and journalism. Already, groups like Dowser, Fast Forward Fund, NYU's NYU Stern's Berkley Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, and others in those spaces are in the process of drawing on the API. Foundation Source and others in the family foundation space, too. See http://bit.ly/seapi-community for groups like these that have been participating in the project's Google group.
Looking forward to sharing updates in the months ahead as more organizations of many kinds find value in what's being created here.
Sharing here that the Social Entrepreneur API has formally launched ~ http://bit.ly/seapi-launch for more information.
Jeff, I think the Social Entrepreneur API is one of many, many complementary resources needed by this field, and look forward to more and more development of all kinds of APIs -- for vetted as well as unvetted social entrepreneurs (and all shades in between). Our job is to 1) create these resources as quickly as possible and 2) communicate very clearly just what you'll find in each, so that people can easily connect with social entrepreneurs that they're specifically interested in supporting.
Heather, if you have a chance, please cross-post this on My Social Actions (http://my.socialactions.com). Would love to have the entirety shared w/ our 1,200+ members. Thanks!
Christine Egger
Social Actions
What a helpful post, Heather! Looking forward to drawing attention to it --
Christine Egger
Social Actions
Nathaniel, thanks so much for drawing attention to the Social Entrepreneur API! Like you, I'm thrilled to see this project come together. Even more, I'm looking forward to its inspiring the widgets, applications, and other tools that truly empower people to find and support these social entrepreneurs. Looking forward to your follow-up with Peter, and to keeping you posted as we approach launch ~