Social Enterprise Network
Social enterprise is a hot topic. However, it's not new, and many nonprofits are already successfully implementing this earned income strategy.
To support Minnesota's social entrepreneurs, Nonprofits Assistance Fund and MAP for Nonprofits have launched the Social Enterprise Network.
A Peer Group to Strengthen & Support Social entrepreneurs
The Social Enterprise Network is designed for nonprofit organizational leaders who are current practitioners in social enterprise. The conversations will focus on sharpening the management of existing social enterprises and building organizational cultures to support those enterprises. Participants will exchange tools and knowledge that will help each other advance their social enterprises.
What Is It?
The Social Enterprise Network is a peer group to strengthen and support social entrepreneurs. It meets every other month on the second Thursday from 12:00-1:30pm.
The goals of the Social Enterprise Network are to help Minnesota social enterprise practitioners:
- Expand their knowledge
- Scale up their activities
- Develop a network of peers
Each month the group will meet to discuss a specific topic at a different local social enterprise. The host will share information about their nonprofit social enterprise and help lead the peer discussion. Learn more about the upcoming networks.
Just bring your lunch, your business cards, and your experience as a social entrepreneur.
2010 Network Series
March: UBIT
Sarah Duniway of Gray Plant Mooty will explain the finer points of UBIT - unrelated business income tax - at Bedlam Theater.
Future Social enterprise Networks
Do you want to a host a Network? Do you have a topic for our group to discuss? Email your ideas to Ashley.
When: Second Thursday of every other month, 12:00-1:30pm. The network runs from noon - 1:00 pm, but we invite participants to stay and continue networking until 1:30.
These meetings are free and open to any nonprofit social entrepreneurs. Please RSVP with Nonprofits Assistance Fund.
The Social Enterprise Network is jointly hosted by Nonprofits Assistance Fund and MAP for Nonprofits
Network Archive
Read notes from previous discussions.
- Marketing and Branding
- Expansion and Scale
- Collaboration
- Business Planning for Social Enterprise
- Competition and Competing with Business
- Capital Sources, Options, and Structures
- Governance Issues
- Mission Fit
- Understanding Your Market
- Fostering a Culture of Entrepreneurship
Get LinkedIn
We have created a LinkedIn Group for participants in the Social Enterprise Network. Use this tool to take our network to the next step - pose questions, share resources, and reinforce connections with other nonprofit social entrepreneurs.
Interested in Learning More?
- Read Network to strengthen nonprofits' entrepreneurial programs in MinnPost
- Read Kate's blog post, An Upbeat Day - At Last
- See photos from the network
Introduction to Social Enterprise
The Social Enterprise Network is a peer network, designed to provide practical tools for operating a social enterprise. For an introduction to social enterprise, there are many useful resources, publications, and training:
- Building a Social Enterprise
- Venture Forth! The Essential Guide to Starting a Moneymaking Business in Your Nonprofit Organization (published by Fieldstone Alliance)
- Social Enterprise Alliance
- Earning income, serving the community: Guidance for building a social enterprise a resource article for FedGazette
Resources for nonprofit Social Entrepreneurs
- Ashoka
- Balacing the Mission Checkbook
- Community Wealth Ventures
- Fieldstone Alliance
- REDF
- Social Enterprise Alliance
- Social Venture Network
- Social Investment Forum