What is a social enterprise? A social enterprise is an organization that employs a business model to tackle the world’s social and environmental challenges. There are only three ways that a social cause can garner income: donations, government grants and earned income. This third avenue is at...
An excellent example of a social enterprise isThe Empowerment Plan—an organization that hires people currently living in homeless shelters to create a combination winter coat, sleeping bag, and over-the-shoulder bag, which is then distributed to the homeless of Detroit free of charge. This incorp...
The Social Enterprise Alliance (2014). What's a Social Enterprise? Available at: https://www.se-Social Enterprise Alliance. 2014. "What's a Social Enterprise?" Minnetonka, MN: Social Enterprise Alliance. https://se-alliance.org/why#whatsasocial enterprise (accessed April 18, 2014)....
The concept of social enterprise (SE) has been developed by an emerging and collective effort of scholars over the world. However, a comprehensive meaning of 'SE,' which embeds traditional knowledge of organizational management has potential to be explored further. Due to the relevance of 'SE' ...
Social entrepreneurs and social enterprises exist to inspire environmental and social innovation. But they can be profitable too. Here are some of the things you should know if you want to start your own.
A social enterprise’s mission is a competitive advantage that can help it stand out in a crowded market—if they can communicate their motivation and impact. Building a social enterprise comes with its own unique benefits for the entrepreneur that are worth getting excited about if you plan to...
Work becomes more meaningful when you have a larger purpose. Four undergraduates share their internship experience at social enterprises What is it like to work at a social enterprise? How does it differ from a typical business – or is there even a difference?
when evaluating the impact created by your social enterprise or impact-driven business, it’s important to have a clear view of how the impact is generated (your “theory of change”), and the realised breadth and depth of the intended social impact (i.e., the number of people positively...
A big one. At every touchpoint of your online presence, from your e-commerce website and your social media channels to your marketing emails, you should carefully consider the customer experience. Online shoppers expect ease, convenience, and speed – and so much of that is tied into the nex...
Sustainable revenuedifferentiates a social enterprise from a traditional charity that relies on outside funding to fulfill its social mission. This goal doesn't mean social enterprises can't be profitable. Instead, it's simply that their priority is to reinvest profits into their social mission rat...