|
Launching a social enterprise is no different than launching a business and there are many tools and informational articles on all facets of the business planning process. There is also an ever-growing body of work on social enterprise, from its impact in the sector to ways to measure social return on investment. We have tried to collect some of the resources we find most useful. If you would like to contribute something to this list, or know of a resource we should list, please let us know.
Please note as well that if you visit the Social Enterprise Continuum under Are You Ready?, you’ll find these tools organized by social enterprise knowledge level.
A Brief Tutorial on Business Planning for Nonprofit Enterprise
http://www.ventures.yale.edu/docs/brieftutorial.pdf
This brief tutorial offers answers to frequently asked questions and a list of resources on business planning for nonprofit enterprise from a professor at the Yale School of Management.
An Introduction to Business Planning for Nonprofits
http://www.bridgespangroup.org/kno_articles_businessplanning.html
This article draws on client experience to illustrate the key components of the business-planning process. The authors share some practical tips about getting started and also describe a typical written plan.
Business Planning for Nonprofits: What it is and why it matters
http://www.bridgespan.org/kno_articles_bpfornonprofits.html
"An Introduction to Business Planning for Nonprofits" draws on Bridgespan's experience with clients to highlight some common steps and concerns.
Fast Track or Back Burner: Measuring the Feasibility of your Venture Ideas
http://www.andrewhorsnell.com/Tools.html
Assessment steps and criteria to use when screening venture ideas.
Guidelines and Framework for Designing Basic Logic Model
http://www.managementhelp.org/np_progs/np_mod/org_frm.htm
A framework that can be filled in by readers to design a logic model (or diagram) for their organization and for each of its programs. Guidelines and examples are provided to help the reader.
Identifying Your Social Enterprise Opportunities
http://www.np-biz-dev.com/tools.html
This workbook is designed to help you identify, rank, and select your best social enterprise opportunities. It is the third in a series of workbooks designed to help you determine if and how you should pursue social enterprise development. The other workbooks include: Workbook 1: Exploring the Climate for Social enterprise, and Workbook 2: Taking Stock of Your Social enterprise Assets. All these workbooks are available from Authenticity Consulting, LLC at: www.np-biz-dev.com/tools.html and also from Andrew Horsnell & Associates at www.andrewhorsnell.com.
Implementation: Turning your Business Plan into a Business
http://www.andrewhorsnell.com/Tools.html
Tips for implementating your business plan from Andy Horsnell and Rolfe Larson.
Just Enough Planning
http://www.andrewhorsnell.com/Tools.html
An article on business planning from Andew Horsnell & Associates. The article compliments their Quick Business Plan tool.
Pricing in the Nonprofit Ventures
http://www.ventures.yale.edu/docs/pricing.pdf
A guide to price setting for nonprofits pursuing earned income strategies from a professor at the Yale School of Management, published in the Nonprofit Times in October 2000.
Rolfe Larson Associates
http://www.rolfelarson.com/business.htm
Rolfe Larson Associates have many planning tools around developing and launching a social enterprise.
Small Business Planner
http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/index.html
SBA's small business planner.
Stanford Alumni Consulting Team
https://alumni.gsb.stanford.edu/act/index.html
Pro bono management consulting services to nonprofit organizations through a network of alumni volunteers
Taking Stock of your Social Enterprise Assets
http://www.np-biz-dev.com/tools.html
This workbook is designed to help you take stock of all the various assets and resources you have to develop a social enterprise. It is the second in a series of workbooks designed to help you determine if and how you should pursue social enterprise development. The other workbooks include:
Workbook 1: Exploring the Climate for Social Enterprise, and
Workbook 3: Identifying Your Social Enterprise Opportunities,
All these workbooks are available from Authenticity Consulting, LLC at: www.np-biz-dev.com/tools.html and also from Andrew Horsnell & Associates at www.andrewhorsnell.com.
Testing the Waters: The Quick Feasibility Test
http://www.andrewhorsnell.com/Tools.html
An article on feasibility screening for venture ideas from Andew Horsnell & Associates. The article compliments their feasibility screening planning tool.
The Quick Business Plan
http://www.andrewhorsnell.com/Tools.html
A planning tool to help you put together a business plan.
The Quick Feasibility Screen
http://www.andrewhorsnell.com/Tools.html
A tool to use to quickly screen your venture ideas for initial feasibility.
The Quick Feasibility Test
http://www.andrewhorsnell.com/Tools.html
A tool to help you do a more in-depth feasibility screening of your venture ideas
Capacity, Strategic Planning
click to view
Association for Enterprise Opportunity
http://www.microenterpriseworks.org/
AEO is the national association of community-based organizations that provide entrepreneurial education, access to capital, and support to aspiring and active low-income entrepreneurs. AEO provides its members with a forum, information, and a voice to promote enterprise opportunity for people and communities with limited resources.
Benevon
http://www.benevon.com/
Organization involved with creating sustainable funding for Nonprofits.
Capital Missions Company
http://www.capitalmissions.com/
Capital Missions Company (CMC) creates networks of investors, business leaders and philanthropists to catalyze a globally sustainable economy. Over the past 26 years, President Susan Davis, has successfully proven KINS (Key Initiator Network Strategy), her networking method, as a time-efficient and cost-efficient approach to introduce innovation into culture. KINS networks leverage philanthropic dollars into catalytic initiatives to solve social problems and is based on the understanding that 'we are all one'.
How to Assess Nonprofit Financial Performance
http://ksghome.harvard.edu/~ekeatin/finassess.pdf
Authors argue that "the nonprofit community's future economic success
depends not only on the quality of its social and economic activities, but also on improving the way it measures its work and communicates these results to the sector multiple and diversestakeholders. This report is designed to help participants in the nonprofit sector better address two issues: How should nonprofit financial performance be assessed? How can information about financial performance be made accessible to and usable by the multiple stakeholders in nonprofit organizations?"
Nonprofit Finance Fund
http://www.nonprofitfinancefund.org/#
Provides capital and advice to help nonprofits achieve their mission
Xigi.net
http://www.xigi.net/2006/07/
xigi.net is the creative commons where people who want to be involved or learn more about investing for good will hopefully come together to house their collective market intelligence and thinking. Currently in beta, xigi.net provides a space for conversation by offering a blogged dialogue among industry players and third parties. It also provides users with something to talk about -- a deal database of entities and offerings that show deal sizing, terms and other critical data such as relationships.
Board Assessment Checklist
PA Assoc. of Nonprofit Associations self assessment checklist
BoardSource
http://boardsource.org/
A resource for building effective nonprofit boards
Online Compendium of Federal and State Regulations for US Nonprofit Organizations
http://www.muridae.com/nporegulation/index.html
This Web site provides a central resource for nonprofit organization (NPO) administrators, regulators and the interested public to find information about the laws and regulations controlling NPOs in the U.S. The site has three major sections: a set of informational pages about various general topics, a section of pages each dedicated to an individual jurisdiction (e.g. states) that describe the regulations of those jurisdictions, and a section devoted to current issues in NPO regulation and the efforts being made to minimize the regulatory burden that NPOs face.
Publications from the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals
http://www.governanceprofessionals.org/cgi/pubs.pl
Wide array of governance articles, including one called Governance for Nonprofits: A Summary of Organizational Governance Principals and Resources for Directors of Nonprofit Organizations.
Free Management Library
http://www.managementhelp.org/
Comprehensive Management Database of articles
Management, fundraising and legal resources compiled by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
http://www.mncn.org/infocentral.htm
This section of the MCN web site collects many important management, fundraising, and legal resources. This area is organized primarily around the Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence, MCN's popular guidelines on nonprofit accountability. Each section provides an overview of the topic, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and lists additional resources. Also, here you will find information on how to start a nonprofit organization.
''Pittsburgh Roars'' Louder Than Ever
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_496806.html
"Pittsburgh Roars" has garnered a lion's share of regional attention, attendance, and dollars.
How Consumers Help Build a Brand's DNA
AdWeek January 29, 2007
Document: Consumer.pdf
Article on how companies use feedback from ad efforts to enhance their products.
WK Kellogg Communications and Marketing Kit
http://www.wkkf.org/default.aspx?tabid=112&NID=196&LanguageID=0
This Communications and Marketing Kit has been compiled by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to help non-profit organizations use communications to achieve their social change goals. The toolkit includes both references and specific, detailed steps necessary to understand options, identify resources, plan, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of strategic communications for your organization. (Underlined text provides direct Internet links to the cited resources.)
Word of Mouth Marketing Association
http://www.womma.org/wom101/
An introduction on word of mouth marketing and how to make it work for you.
15 Key Sources on Scaling Social Impact
http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/centers/case/documents/keysources_on_scalingsocialimpact.doc
15 sources provide a useful introduction to key issues related to the topic of scaling social impact from the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship at Duke.
A Business Planning Guide to Developing a Social Enterprise
Document: SocialEnterpriseBusinessPlanningGuide.pdf
A guide to help your organization develop a new social enterprise.
Forth Sector and the Royal Bank of Scotland
Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship--Duke University
http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/centers/case/
A research and education center around Social Enterprise based at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. Many resources on earned income and scaling social impact.
Compounding Impact: Mission Investing by U.S. Foundations
Document: Compounding Impact(3).pdf
A comprehensive look at mission investing by U.S. foundations.
Construction Junction Hopes Window Cache Opens a New Door
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06252/720303-30.stm
Construction Junction receives more than 200 new windows and doors that it plans to sell.
Eight Basic Principles for Nonprofit Entrepreneurs
http://www.socialent.org/pdfs/8BasicPrinciples.pdf
Lessons from pioneers in the field of social enterprise from Jerr Boschee.
Entrepreneurship Bookmarks
http://www.acceleratenow.org/documents/Entrepreneurship_Bookmarks.pdf
Exploring the Climate for Social Enterprise
http://www.np-biz-dev.com/tools.html
This workbook is designed to help you decide whether the timing and climate are right to launch a social enterprise. It is the first in a series of workbooks designed to help you determine if and how you should pursue social enterprise development. The other workbooks include: Workbook 2: Taking Stock of Your Social Enterprise Assets, and Workbook 3: Identifying Your Social Enterprise Opportunities. All these workbooks are available from Authenticity Consulting, LLC at: www.np-biz-dev.com/tools.html and also from Andrew Horsnell & Associates at www.andrewhorsnell.com.
Facts and Figures on Revenue Generation in the Nonprofit Sector
http://www.ventures.yale.edu/factsfigures.asp
Facts and Figures on Revenue Generation in the Nonprofit Sector.
Funding Them to Fish: The Case for Supporting the Earned Income Activities of Nonprofits
http://www.se-alliance.org/making_the_case_final.pdf
Summary of when and why nonprofits should explore social enterprise and why funders should support these efforts.
Funding Them to Fish: The Final Report
http://www.se-alliance.org/sundance_final_report.pdf
“Funding Them to Fish” was a two-day conference held at Sundance Village, Utah designed to create conversation among funders interested in making investments that lead toward nonprofit financial sustainability. It was the first event of its kind, focusing on the strategy of supporting nonprofit earned income activities as an important and effective strategy in the overall goal of helping nonprofits become more financially sustainable.The event was orchestrated by Social Enterprise Alliance, the national membership organization leading the creation of a social enterprise movement by mobilizing a community of nonprofit organizations, practitioners and funders to advance earned income strategies. Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) partnered with Social Enterprise Alliance in developing the event and publicized it among its members.
Keep or Kill? Score your Programs
http://www.socialent.org/pdfs/NONPROFITWORLDOrganizedAbandonment.pdf
A tool from Jerr Boschee to use to decide which activities to nurture and which to abandon.
Key Definitions
Document: KeyDefinitions1.pdf
Mapping Your Assets and Identifying Opportunities
http://www.communitywealth.com/Vol1%20--%20Mapping%20Assets%20and%20Opportunities1.pdf
An asset mapping workbook from Community Wealth Ventures.
Merging Mission and Money: A Board Member's Guide to Social Entrepreneurship
http://www.socialent.org/pdfs/MergingMission.pdf
Good introduction to social enterprise for sharing with board members.
National Center for Social Entrepreneurs Organization Profiler
http://www.missionmoneymatters.org/
Visit NCSE's Website and click on Is Social Entrepreneurship right for you? or a downloadble questionnaire that helps you determine if your organization is ready for social enterprise. The National Center for Social Entrepreneurs' mission is to increase the effectiveness and financial self-sufficiency of the nonprofit sector by helping nonprofits think and act in a more entrepreneurial manner, and the Website has useful resources, tools and information.
REDF
http://www.redf.org/
REDF, A San Francisco-based foundation that has done a lot of work around SROI. It has good resources and publications on its Website.
Social Enterprise Alliance
http://www.se-alliance.org/
Membership organization devoted exclusively to building sustainable nonprofits.
Social Enterprise Bookmarks
http://www.acceleratenow.org/documents/Social_Enterprise_Bookmarks.pdf
Social Enterprise Digital Library
http://db.olszak.com/
The directory contains listings (and links where possible) to research papers, articles, books, Websites, forums, programs and materials related to social enterprise. This directory, developed by Olszak Management Consulting, Inc., is provided in partnership with the Social Enterprise Alliance, an organization committed to building sustainable nonprofits through earned income. Olszak Management Consulting, Inc., developed this directory as a resource for anyone interested in the field of social entrepreneurship, including businesses, nonprofit organizations, consultants, researchers, academicians, students, funders and investors. OMC and SEA are committed to keeping the directory active and growing. They invite you to submit new resources for listing and urge you to visit often.
Social Enterprise Initiative
http://www.hbs.edu/socialenterprise/
A Website that generates and shares knowledge to help individuals and organizations create social value in the nonprofit, private, and public sectors.
Social Enterprise Magazine Online
http://www.socialenterprisemagazine.org/
An online magazine (print version also available) about social enterprise. Includes interviews, articles, research and resources.
Social Enterprise Resources from Community Wealth Ventures
http://www.communitywealth.com/resources_links.htm#SocialEnterprise
Articles, Websites and other useful resources related to social enterprise compiled for your benefit by Community Wealth Ventures.
Social Entrepreneurship Basics
http://www.np-biz-dev.com/Social%20Entrepreneurship%20Basics.pdf
An introductory article on social enterprise that discusses how social enterprise can enhance capacity, impact and sustainability.
Social Entrepreneurship Toolbox
http://www.np-biz-dev.com/tools.html
This “toolbox” of suggested resources is provided courtesy of AuthenticityConsulting of Minneapolis and Toronto. It is designed to introduce nonprofit managers and leaders to the expanding field of social entrepreneurship. It is also part of their handout materials for their workshop, “Social Entrepreneurship: A Introductory Workshop for Nonprofit Leaders.” It is very similar to the one compiled by Andrew Horsnell & Associates. (Horsnell is part of Authenticity Consulting.)
Spinning Off--Effective Transitions: Lessons to be applied when an organization creates a new nonprofit or for-profit spinoff.
http://www.charityvillage.com/cv/research/rcomm4.html
Study of successful and non-successful nonprofit spinoffs from Tranquada & Associates. Other useful research articles located here in CharityVillage.com's resource library.
The npEnterprise Forum: Where Nonprofits Discuss Earned Income
http://www.npenterprise.net/
An online disucssion of earned income strategies.
Entrepreneur Magazine
http://www.entrepreneur.com/franzone
Entrepreneur magazine provides an annual ranking of various franchises as well as help and how-to links.
Ben & Jerry's PartnerShop Program
http://www.benjerry.com/scoop_shops/partnershops/
Information on Ben & Jerry’s PartnerShop program.
Forum on Franchising
http://www.abanet.org/forums/franchising/home.html
The Mission of the Forum on Franchising is to be the preeminent forum for the study and discussion of the legal aspects of franchising. The ABA is a source for franchise lawyer referrals.
Franchise Opportunities
Franchise industries and company examples -- to illustrate the reach of franchising from our friends at Social Franchise Ventures.
Franchise Times
http://www.franchisetimes.com
Franchise Times is the leading publication on the franchise industry.
Frequently asked questions about social franchising
Some frequently asked questions about nonprofits and franchising from our friends at Social Franchise Ventures.
FTC regulations on Franchising
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-fran.htm
The Federal Trade Commission regulates the franchise industry and provides information and guidance related to franchising.
International Franchise Association
http://www.franchise.org
International Franchise Association provides a broad listing of franchise opportunities, educational resources, and other franchise related information.
SBA Franchise Hotlist
http://www.sba.gov/hotlist/franchise.html
The SBA Franchise Hotlist provides referrals to numerous other franchise resources.
Social Franchise Ventures
http://www.socialfranchise.com
Social Franchise Ventures has case studies, articles and other resources for nonprofits interested in launching franchises.
Everything You Wanted to Know About Logic Models But Were Afraid to Ask
http://www.insites.org/documents/logmod.htm
Good introduction to Logic Models. This paper, funded by WK Kellogg, addresses situations where a private foundation designs an initiative and awards grants to a number of sites to participate in the initiative in their local setting. The basic ideas are applicable to other situations.
From Insight to Action: New Directions in Foundation Evaluation
http://www.fsg-impact.org
Document: FromInsighttoAction.pdf
This study focuses on performance-centered and forward-looking evaluation approaches for both foundations and grantees.
FSG Social Impact Advisors
Social Return on Investment: Partnership on Nonprofit Ventures
http://www.ventures.yale.edu/docs/Olsen_Presentation.pdf
Introduction to Social Return on Investment from SVT Consulting
The Center for What Works
http://www.whatworks.org/
The Center for What Works helps social sector organizations to articulate successes, measure programmatic performance, and improve toward their mission and desired outcomes.
Theory of Change Model
A slightly different approach to developing a logic model, check out the Theory of Change modeling for social impact. This power point introduction to Theory of Change modeling was developed by the Root Cause Institute: A Thinktank for the Social Sector http://www.rootcauseinstitute.org/
Theory of Change Online Tools
http://www.theoryofchange.org/index.html
ActKnowledge has created an interactive online suite of tools for creating, sharing and using Theories of Change. The Aspen Institute Roundtable on Community Change is a partner in this process and a National Advisory Group has been convened as well. A Theory of Change is an innovative tool to design and evaluate social change initiatives. By creating a blueprint of the building blocks required to achieve a social change initiative’s long-term goal, such as improving a neighborhood’s literacy levels or academic achievement, a Theory of Change offers a clear roadmap to achieve your results identifying the preconditions, pathways and interventions necessary for an initiative’s success.
WK Kellogg Evaluation Handbook
http://www.wkkf.org/default.aspx?tabid=112&NID=196&LanguageID=0
This handbook from the WK Kellogg Foundation provides a framework
for thinking about evaluation as a relevant and useful program tool. It provides enough basic information to allow project staff to conduct an evaluation without the assistance of an external evaluator. For those with little or no evaluation experience, and without the time or resources to learn more, this handbook can help project staff to plan and conduct an evaluation with the assistance of an external evaluator.
It is not intended to serve as an exhaustive instructional guide for conducting evaluation. It provides a framework for thinking about evaluation and outlines a blueprint for designing and conducting evaluations, either independently or with the support of an external evaluator/consultant. For more detailed guidance on the technical aspects of evaluation, readers can consult the sources recommended in the Bibliography section at the end of the handbook.
WK Kellogg Logic Model Development Guide
http://www.wkkf.org/Pubs/Tools/Evaluation/Pub3669.pdf
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation Logic Model Development Guide, a companion publication to the Evaluation Handbook, focuses on the development and use of the program logic model. The program logic model is defined as a picture of how your organization does its work – the theory and assumptions underlying the program. The logic model and its processes facilitate thinking, planning, and communications about program objectives and actual accomplishments. Through this guide, The W.K. Kellogg Foundation hopes to provide an orientation to the underlying principles and language of the program logic model so it can be effectively used in program planning, implementation, and dissemination of results. The premise behind this guide is simple: Good evaluation reflects clear thinking and responsible program management.
Australia's National Innovation Website
http://www.innovation.gov.au/
The Australian government believes in generating new ideas and translating them into commercial and social outcomes.
Blended Value
http://www.blendedvalue.org/
Website devoted to the concept of blended value. Traditionally, we have thought of value as being either economic (and created by for-profit companies) or social (and created by nonprofit or non-governmental organizations). What the Blended Value Proposition states is that all organizations, whether for-profit or not, create value that consists of economic, social and environmental value components—and that investors (whether market-rate, charitable or some mix of the two) simultaneously generate all three forms of value through providing capital to organizations.
Global Ideas Blog
http://www.globalideasblog.com/
A blog that deals with social innovation--a good place to go to learn about a lot of really cool projects happening around the world. The blog's creator is "convinced of the necessity of social innovation alongside technological innovation, and the need to legitimise people's creativity."
Greece's Institute of Social Innovation
http://www.isi.org.gr/
The aim of this organization is to highlight social innovation as a process of identifying contemporary problems or risks and finding new solutions to deal with these problems.
Innovation & Design
http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/index.html
BusinessWeek regularly features a section on Innovation.
BusinessWeek
Innovation Network
http://www.innonet.org/
This organization provides consulting, training and online tools for nonprofits and funders.
InnovationNetwork
http://www.thinksmart.com/
InnovationNetwork helps organizations develop a core competency of innovation.
Institute for Social Innovation
http://www.heinz.cmu.edu/socialinnovation/
Part of the Heinz School at Carnegie Mellon University, the Institute for Social Innovation was established to foster creativity and entrepreneurship in the social sector.
Institute for Social Innovation (Fielding Graduate University)
http://www.fielding.edu/hod/ISI/
As part of the School or Human and Organizational Development at Fielding Graduate University in California, ISI supports graduate fellowships, educational programs, and research projects that further social innovations for a humane global future.
Knowledge @ Wharton
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/
Upenn Wharton Online Business Journal, which has a section devoted to innovation and entrepreneurship.
Social Innovation and the New Economy: Lessons from the Bay Area of Northern California
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/2/31/1811942.doc
Article that shows how social innovation is a key element for sustainable economic progress; includes best policies and practices on social innovations.
Stanford Social Innovation Review
http://www.ssireview.org/
Journal devoted to strategies, tools and ideas for nonprofits, foundations and socially responsible businesses.
StartingBloc Fellowship
http://www.startingbloc.org/TheFellowship.html
The Institute for Social Innovation, founded by StartingBloc, offers a unique Fellowship program for undergraduate students and young professionals interested in social, economic and environmental innovation.
Stuart C. Dodd Institute for Social Innovation
http://www.stuartcdoddinstitute.org/index.shtml
This organization designs and develops the ideally profitable scientific think-tanks suited to the emerging civilization of the 21st century, in Business, Government and Society.
The Innovation Journal
http://www.innovation.cc/
Independent, peer-reviewed journal devoted to public sector innovation.
The Innovation Unit (UK)
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/innovation-unit/
The Innovation Unit is one of Britain's leading organizations for promoting innovation to improve education.
What Is Innovation?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/innovation
Wikipedia's definition of innovation.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 
