Since 1992, I've been coaching and mentoring entrepreneurs engaged
in social missions. Social entrepreneurship, social enterprise, and social business are concepts
that have gained momentum in recent years as answers to social problems and scarce
resources to address them. If the enterprise or project you own, manage, or dream of building
follows one of the models below, I may be able to assist you.
Social Entrepreneur - An individual who uses entrepreneurial principles to create positive
social change. Social entrepreneurs launch innovative or pattern-breaking ventures in either the nonprofit
or for-profit sector, and create replicable systems that they or others can use to expand their impact.
My social entrepreneur clients are typically entrepreneurs in the classic sense; their ventures generate
income through the sale of products and services.
Social Enterprise - An income-earning venture with a social agenda that holds a higher priority than
maximizing profits. Social enterprises can be nonprofit organizations that derive a substantial portion of
their income from selling products and services, businesses that dedicate a significant
portion of their profits to social causes, or projects that commit profits to social purposes which are
operated by an otherwise traditional business or nonprofit. My social enterprise clients are typically
businesses, or are led by entrepreneurs.
Social Business - A for-profit business established for the primary purpose of fulfilling a social
mission. Social businesses either dedicate a significant portion of profits to a social cause, or the business
operations themselves address a social issue. The key difference between a social business and a traditional
business is its reason for existence. A social business is formed primarily to solve a social problem
rather than to generate income for its owners, even though the business may be quite profitable.
Entrepreneur Philanthropist - An entrepreneur who gives back to his or her community by engaging in
a philanthropic venture. This may be a foundation, nonprofit organization, volunteer effort, or advocacy
group. My philanthropist clients are typically people who go beyond donating money or volunteer time; they are
launching social ventures of their own.
Professional Activist/Educator - An individual working to educate, motivate, and inspire others to
action about practical solutions to social issues. He or she earns a living at writing, teaching, speaking,
artistic works, or organizing to communicate, advocate for, and implement these ideas.
Right Livelihood Entrepreneur - An entrepreneur using any of the models above to fulfull a personal
mission or calling that also benefits others. Right livelihood is meaningful work, consciously chosen, which
makes the best use of your talents, honors your values, and causes no harm. Your right livelihood is the
work that you were "meant to do." Right livelihood entrepreneurs have chosen business or self-employment
as a vehicle for earning a purposeful livelihood.
What all these models have in common is that they make use of business principles and entrepreneurial
skills to address social issues. They use the spirit, creativity, and drive of motivated entrepreneurs to
make a positive difference in the world.
If these principles describe you and your venture, I'd like to help you succeed. Please visit my
free resources for social entrepreneurs or find out more about
workshops or coaching. Together,
we can build enterprises that make a difference.
— C.J. Hayden
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Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship
Audio workshop on CD or MP3
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Find out more
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Check out my free
resources for social entrepreneurs and social enterprises.
Find out how coaching or training can help your enterprise or project succeed.
Read about social entrepreneurship projects my clients are involved in.
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