What Nonprofits Can Learn From Social Entrepreneurs

By Nell Edgington

It seems that the social entrepreneurship movement is taking the world by storm. In recent years tremendous energy, new ideas, and (we hope) resources are moving toward solving social problems. Saving the world has suddenly become cool.

But, as I’ve written before, we can’t forget the sector that was working on saving the world long before it was cool–the nonprofit sector.  And in fact, there is much that the social entrepreneurship movement can offer to rethink, reinvigorate, and remake the nonprofit sector.

To that end, Social Velocity has just released a new white paper, “What Nonprofits Can Learn From Social Entrepreneurs,” detailing what nonprofits can borrow from the movement in terms of financing, articulating, planning and thinking about their work. Here’s an excerpt:

Social entrepreneurship is not a panacea. But there are things to be learned from a movement that is re-envisioning the future, finding new ways to finance social impact, working towards BIG goals and turning the status quo on its head. The social innovation movement provides an opportunity for the nonprofit sector to see things in a new way and move the best ideas forward. And in doing so, the nonprofit sector–the people, organizations, and resources it encompasses–could revolutionize social change in this country. But becoming more innovative involves some dramatic changes in a nonprofit’s mindset, goals, and approach to funding.

Nonprofits need to think bigger–much, much bigger. One thing that all social entrepreneurs have in common is their predilection toward bold thinking. What if nonprofit organizations took a new approach and became bold? Really BOLD. This change in perspective, in goals can revolutionize an organization. No longer are the board, staff and funders content to add a few sites each year with no end goal. Rather, they understand and rally around their long-term goal, which is to solve a problem. And they see every effort they make, every meeting they come to, every investment they secure as getting them that much closer to that solution. It can transform an organization, and ultimately solve a problem…

You can download the white paper here.

Photo Credit: SI Camp

Related posts:

1. What Social Entrepreneurs Can Learn From an Old Nonprofit
2. What Nonprofits Can Learn From Social Entrepreneurs – Recorded Webinar
3. What Nonprofits Can Learn from Social Entrepreneurs White Paper
4. Echoing Green Call for Social Entrepreneurs
5. What Social Entrepreneurs Can Teach The Nonprofit Sector

Tags: nonprofit, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Velocity

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