We have collected some resources from around the world on social enterprise for you, on a range of subjects below. We hope they’re helpful, have adapted them a little where needed, and will be adding resources as we find and develop them. Let us know if there’s an area that’s missing but would be valuable for you. Our thanks go to Social Enterprise Alliance, UK and Canada in particular as well as the original sources.
Starting a Social Enterprise
Social Enterprise Guide
The Canadian Social Enterprise Guide is a fantastic resource aimed primarily at those that are looking to set up or expand a social enterprise. It includes templates and case studies and looks to address fundamentals such as why would anyone start a social enterprise, verifying the feasibility of your idea, and the development pathway, as well as planning and performance management. Learn more here.
Why social enterprise? A guide for charities
Charities can diversify their income streams by looking to social enterprise. This guide from Social Enterprise UK offers practical tips and advice on the issues to consider before trading. Learn more here.
Start your Social Enterprise
Social Enterprise UK have produced this highly practical guide to give you the knowledge, confidence and inspiration to make your idea a reality. Learn more here.
Idea Identification and Feasibility Analysis
This resource from Social Enterprise Canada will help you think about your business ideas and test them. Learn more here.
Building and Running a Social Enterprise
The Power of a Good Strategy
When Mark Zuckerburg started Facebook in 2004, he managed to build the largest social networking platform on the planet. How did Facebook win against bigger and better funded competitors who had a huge head-start over them? Learn more here.
Financial Management for Social Enterprises
Finance best practices
Track the direction of your social enterprise with these financial planning tips. Learn more here.
Pricing
Pricing is always an interesting subject – especially for social entrepreneurs, who often think only of the social and forget that without the right price there won’t be any money to achieve their social purpose. Learn more here.
Business Models 1
There are more and more people arguing that business modelling is a leaner and more effective way to plan your business. The Business Model Canvas, is a strategic management and entrepreneurial tool. It allows you to describe, design, challenge, invent, and pivot your business model. Learn more here.
Business Models 2
The 20 Minute Business Plan: Business Model Canvas Made Easy. Learn more here.
Social Enterprise models 1
MaRS, a community of venture entrepreneurs, breaks down the various models of social business. Different levels of integration with non-profit components, method of business and key success factors are among determining characteristics. The article also provides examples of each model type. Learn more here.
Social Enterprise models 2
This article describes the 9 social enterprise business models further, complete with easy-to-understand diagrams of the interactions between social enterprise, market and target population. Each definition also provides links to more in-depth descriptions of each model, which include information such as marketing strategy, distribution channels, financial viability and a theoretical example. Learn more here.
Social Enterprise models 3
In this article you will find a presentation of a 3-model framework for understanding social enterprise. The article concisely describes each of the model, compares the models and gives specific examples of the model in action. The article concludes by recommending practical uses for this framework– including the consideration of consumer preferences, the distinction between using philanthropic or consumer funding and the decision about whether to invest. Learn more here.
Design Thinking for Social Enterprises
How Design Thinking Can Help Social Entrepreneurs
Stanford scholar Sarah Soule discusses a collaborative, human-centered approach to solving some of the world’s most pressing problems. Learn more here.
Design Thinking for Social Innovation
Designers have traditionally focused on enhancing the look and functionality of products. Recently, they have begun using design tools to tackle more complex problems, such as finding ways to provide low-cost healthcare throughout the world. Businesses were first to embrace this new approach – called design thinking – now nonprofits are beginning to adopt it too. Learn more here.
Virtual Crash Course in Design Thinking
A 90-minute video-led cruise through Design Thinking methodology, produced by Stanford University. Learn more here.
Product Design
There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come. This course is designed to help you materialize your game-changing idea and transform it into a product that you can build a business around. product Design blends theory and practice to teach you product validation, UI/UX practices, Google’s Design Sprint and the process for setting and tracking actionable metrics. Learn more here.
Finance Sources
Financing Options
In this brief article, Schaffer describes several guidelines to evaluating funding options. He then discusses the ins-and-outs of the 5 funding options for social enterprises. Learn more here.
Social Investment Explained
Ever heard the term ‘social investment’ and wondered what it’s all about? This guide is for you. Learn more here.
Crowdfunding
Raising capital is an issue for many SMEs, but crowdfunding can be a lifeline for many start-ups and for those struggling to secure finance through the more traditional routes, such as loans from high street banks, investments or grants. Learn more here.
Crowdfunding platforms for NZ
There are different types of crowdfunding and lots of local and international platforms that can be used. Learn more here.
Marketing
4 Strategies for Making Your Social Enterprise Stand Out from the Crowd
This quick read offers four strategies to differentiate your social enterprise, better tell its story, and get your audience more involved in its work. Learn more here.
How to Do Market Research — The Basics
This article gives a birds-eye-view of market research: types of market research, basic questions to ask and common marketing mistakes. Learn more here.
Guides to marketing research
Inc. provides a collection of links to their favorite market-research articles and resources. Topics include research priming, bootstrapping, getting feedback from consumers and collecting demographic information. Learn more here.
Conducting Market Research
This 10-minute read walks through the data-collection process for primary and secondary market research in the US. The Entrepreneur Staff list suggestions of where to turn for information– such as government entities, maps, community organizations and online resources. Learn more here.
Messaging Guidelines
This is a guideline for organizations and other stakeholders helping those facing the greatest barriers to work get jobs through social enterprise. Learn more here.
Selling and marketing your Social Enterprise
Mention the word ‘sales’ and for many people visions of used car salesmen and Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses come to mind. It’s the aspect of running a social enterprise that a lot of people feel most uncomfortable about, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips to help get your sales and marketing for your social enterprise up and running. Learn more here.
Technology
The A-list: top technology for small businesses
Which products and technologies should small businesses be considering when investing in IT? ZDNet has some suggestions. Productivity, collaboration, client devices, servers and storage are among the technologies listed. Learn more here.
Human Resources
Introduction to HR
What is HR and why should it matter? This quick article lays down the basic considerations you should take into account when thinking about your venture’s HR. Learn more here.
Hiring someone that is aligned with your mission
Important for all organizations, hiring someone that is aligned with your mission is especially critical for social enterprises. Check out this quick guide to hiring someone with the right fit. Learn more here.
Scaling up
Going from bad to great
McKinsey & Company, the world-renowned consulting and analytics firm, gives advice on how to clear negative behavior and “bad practices”before beginning to scale up an organization. Learn more here.
To Grow, Social Enterprises Must Play by Business Rules
How do social enterprises access the resources they need to grow bigger? Alan Hirzel, founder of the U.K.-based Social Business Trust, discusses the realities of scaling social enterprise. Learn more here.
4 Tips for Taking Your Social Enterprise To the Next Level
This quick read provides four pieces of advice for social enterprises looking to scale up and expand their reach. Learn more here.
Replicating Social Enterprise
How can social enterprises successfully replicate their organisations? This report examines the various replication journeys open to social enterprises. January 2011. By exploring real-life examples of replication, it seeks to shed light on the critical obstacles and success factors, and assess the value of each replication model for different forms of social enterprise. Learn more here.
Scaling impact
This article discusses replication in the social sector, describing how organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Teach for America expand organizations through replication in different locations. It also provides tips and strategies to maintaining a healthy dynamic of holding fast to core processes and programs, while constantly adjusting to local needs and resources. Learn more here.
Scaling Up – From Vision to Large-Scale Change
Scaling and replication are processes requiring detail, planning and informed decision making. This 61-page guide provides an in-depth management framework for leaders looking to scale up their organization. Crucial steps, such as assessing scalability and legitimizing change, are described thoroughly. The article also contains numerous graphics and infographics explaining the process’ finer points. Learn more here.
Performance Measurement
Performance measurement
All along the way of your enterprise operation you will need to measure your performance on several levels. The Developing Value resource discusses the importance of planning your evaluation strategy before you start your enterprise. If you begin with your vision for the social or environmental impact of your business and with a set of clear objectives, you will be able to identify measurable progress indicators and you will be able to develop a way to collect and report on the information you have gathered throughout the business development process. Learn more here.
Measuring Social Impact
Here are a few pointers to help you on your way to understanding, and measuring, your social impact. From the outside, social impact measurement, or assessment, can seem like a complicated business. However, once you have grasped the terminology and a few of the basic principles the process quickly becomes clearer. One of the main difficulties with assessing social impact is the variety of different methods used to measure it due to the diverse nature of the social enterprise sector, so some are better suited to certain organisations that others. Learn more here.
Social Innovation and impact
This Canadian document looks at social innovation and how to move beyond good intentions to real impact. Learn more here.
Social Impact Reports – Good Practice 1
Here are a few great examples of quality social impact measurements reportings:
- Connection Crew – Link here
- HCT Group – Link here.
Leadership and Succession planning
Succession Planning in Social Enterprises
Succession planning is important for any organization, especially for social enterprises. Mark Jack looks at the importance of succession planning to social enterprises and how incorporating this is an essential business strategy to deploy limited resources effectively and increase competitive advantage.