Social enterprise

Social enterprise
See also
Access to finance Voluntary sector Social economy Venture capital investments Management company Business group Community development corporation Micro-enterprise Inorganic growth

Social enterprise is a term used to describe a type of business that focuses on achieving a social or environmental purpose in addition to generating profits. Unlike traditional businesses, social enterprises are not solely focused on maximizing profits, but instead are driven by a mission to create positive social change. Examples of social enterprises include non-profit organizations, co-operatives, hybrid organizations, and for-profit social ventures.

Social enterprises are driven by a social mission, which may involve providing access to goods and services to traditionally under-served communities, creating jobs for disadvantaged people, advocating for social justice, or conserving the environment. The profits generated by these enterprises are reinvested back into their mission, allowing them to become self-sustaining and create a lasting social impact.

Additionally, social enterprises can take a variety of organizational forms. Non-profit organizations remain the most common type of social enterprise, as they are able to access grant funding and tax-exempt donations. Co-operatives are another type of social enterprise, which are democratically-run enterprises owned and operated by their members. Hybrid organizations combine elements of both non-profits and for-profits in order to access funding from multiple sources. Lastly, for-profit social ventures are businesses that generate profits and reinvest them into their social mission.

Example of Social enterprise

Social enterprises are organizations that seek to promote social change through their activities. Examples of social enterprises include non-profit organizations, co-operatives, hybrid organizations, and for-profit social ventures.

Non-profit organizations are the most common type of social enterprise, and are typically dedicated to providing access to goods and services to traditionally under-served communities or advocating for social justice. Co-operatives are democratically-run enterprises owned and operated by their members, which often focus on providing jobs or training to disadvantaged people. Hybrid organizations, such as benefit corporations, combine elements of both non-profits and for-profits in order to access funding from multiple sources. Lastly, for-profit social ventures are businesses that generate profits and reinvest them into their social mission, such as providing access to renewable energy or affordable housing.

Formula of Social enterprise

The formula for social enterprise can be expressed as follows:

Social enterprise = Social mission + Self-sustaining profits reinvested into mission

This formula suggests that a successful social enterprise needs to have a clear social mission and be able to generate self-sustaining profits that are reinvested into the mission. This allows the enterprise to become self-sustaining and create a lasting social impact.

When to use Social enterprise

Social enterprises can be used in a variety of situations, depending on the specific goals and resources of the organization. Non-profits may use social enterprise to provide employment opportunities for individuals who are traditionally under-served by the job market, or to generate additional revenue to support their mission. Co-operatives may use social enterprise to empower members by providing democratic control over their own economic activity. Hybrid organizations may use social enterprise to access a larger pool of funding sources and achieve their mission. Lastly, for-profit social ventures may use social enterprise to generate profits while also reinvesting them into a social mission.

Types of Social enterprise

Social enterprises can take a variety of forms, including:

• Non-profits: Non-profit organizations are the most common form of social enterprise, and are able to access grant funding and tax-exempt donations. These organizations typically focus on providing access to goods and services to traditionally under-served communities, creating jobs for disadvantaged people, advocating for social justice, or conserving the environment.
• Co-operatives: Co-operatives are democratically-run enterprises owned and operated by their members. They are able to offer a range of services, such as housing, healthcare, childcare, and banking services, while also contributing to the local community.
• Hybrid Organizations: Hybrid organizations combine elements of both non-profits and for-profits in order to access funding from multiple sources. These organizations are becoming increasingly popular as a way to maximize the impact of their social mission.
• For-profit Social Ventures: For-profit social ventures are businesses that generate profits and reinvest them into their social mission. These enterprises typically focus on providing goods and services to traditionally underserved communities, and strive to create a lasting impact.

Steps of Social enterprise

The process of creating a social enterprise involves several steps. Firstly, it is important to identify a need in the community and develop a mission that addresses that need. This mission should be specific and measurable, and should be used to guide the direction of the enterprise. Secondly, a business model should be developed which outlines how the enterprise will generate profits and reinvest them into the mission. Thirdly, a legal structure must be chosen which will determine the type of organization and the tax implications. Fourthly, a team should be assembled which includes both staff and volunteers to help execute the mission. Lastly, a funding strategy should be developed which outlines how the enterprise will raise the necessary capital to get started.

Advantages of Social enterprise

Social enterprises offer a variety of advantages that can be beneficial to both the organization and society. These advantages include:

• Access to Funding: Social enterprises are often able to access additional sources of funding, such as grants, tax-exempt donations, and investment capital. This access to additional funding can help organizations to become more financially stable, and can enable them to expand their operations and create a greater impact.
• Increased Efficiency: The profit-driven model of social enterprises allows them to be more efficient, as they have an incentive to reduce costs and maximize their impact. This efficiency can be beneficial to both the organization and society, as it allows for more resources to be invested in the social mission.
• Sustainable Impact: Social enterprises are able to reinvest their profits back into their mission, which can help them to become self-sustaining and create a lasting social impact. This is in contrast to non-profit organizations, which may rely on donations or grants to continue their operations.

Limitations of Social enterprise

Despite the potential benefits of social enterprise, there are several limitations that are worth considering. Firstly, social enterprises often have difficulty accessing capital and investment, as investors may be wary of the risk associated with them. Additionally, social enterprises often struggle to compete with traditional businesses that have access to greater resources and economies of scale. Furthermore, social enterprises may lack the managerial and operational capacity to successfully manage their organization, which can limit their effectiveness. Lastly, social enterprises may face legal restrictions, such as the inability to access certain types of funding or form certain types of organizations.

Other approaches related to Social enterprise

In addition to social enterprise, there are a few other approaches to creating social impact. These include:

• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Corporate Social Responsibility is a business approach that focuses on the responsibility of businesses to contribute to sustainable development and to act as a positive force in their communities. Companies that practice CSR typically focus on improving their environmental, social, and economic impacts.
• Impact Investing: Impact investing is the practice of investing capital in businesses and funds that generate positive social and environmental impacts. Impact investments are made with the intention of generating financial returns, as well as social and environmental returns.
• Social Impact Bonds (SIBs): Social Impact Bonds are an innovative financing model that combines the expertise of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to support social programs. SIBs are paid based on the outcomes achieved by the social program, allowing investors to earn a return on their investment if the program succeeds.

Suggested literature

• Defourny, J., & Nyssens, M. (2008). Social enterprise in Europe: recent trends and developments. Social enterprise journal, 4(3), 202-228.
• Nyssens, M. (2006). Social enterprise (pp. 3-2). London: Routledge.
• Galera, G., & Borzaga, C. (2009). Social enterprise: An international overview of its conceptual evolution and legal implementation. Social enterprise journal, 5(3), 210-228.