Westfield will provide a whopping $1.26M in Westfield Local Hero grants in 2022! In nominating a local hero, you not only give a hardworking member of the community the recognition they deserve, but the chance for their cause or organisation to step into the spotlight. In this post, we showcase some alumni so you get a taste of what it takes to be a local hero.
Continue reading "Heroes in Hard Times: Local Legends Making A Difference"
If there’s something that’s consistent across all social enterprises, it’s faith – even when that faith isn’t always warranted. In 2020, Irish researcher Kate Kenny and her UK-based colleagues looked into exactly that. They asked how, amidst tensions and anxieties, social entrepreneurs were able to retain their faith in the field. Is it because of fantasy? Let’s explore some of their key takeaways.
Continue reading "The Delusion in Social Enterprise & Entrepreneurship"
By focusing on both sales and marketing, social impact organisations can boost their effectiveness, efficiency and bottom lines, accelerate progress towards their core purpose and ultimately have a greater impact on the world.
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Using business as a force for good has taken the world by storm, and for good reason. According to the World Economic Forum, in just two decades, social entrepreneurs have improved more than 622 million lives. They argue that social enterprises exert so much positive influence that they have the potential to transform entire industries for the better. Locally, social enterprise is on the rise and not just for the positive impact the sector is having. Here are 8 other reasons social entrepreneurship is becoming more popular in Australia.
Continue reading "8 Reasons Why Australian Social Enterprise is on the Rise"
As we wrap up the crazy year, help your loved ones unwrap gifts that support social and environmental good. These social enterprises have just what you need to spread some holiday cheer.
Continue reading "The Perfect Gift: Social Enterprises to Support this Christmas"
Public Interest Registry (PIR), the people behind the .ORG domain, have named the winners of the 3rd annual .ORG Impact Awards, which honour and celebrate mission-driven organisations and individuals working to make the world a better place.
Continue reading "Public Interest Registry Unveils Winners of the 3rd Annual .ORG Impact Awards"
This year’s SEWF – Social Enterprise World Forum C.I.C. just wrapped up. Changemakers from around the globe made their way (in most cases, virtually) to Nova Scotia, Canada. Co-host Common Good Solutions set the stage for conversation, inspiration, and so much more. Weren’t able to tune into the event? Here’s what you missed.
Continue reading "Social Enterprise World Forum 2021: Take a Bow & Bring on Brisbane 2022!"
As the CEO and founder of StartSomeGood, a crowdfunding platform and education provider for social entrepreneurs, Tom Dawkins sees people attempt to launch their enterprise every day, full of optimism, hope and good intentions. But these things alone are not enough. In this post, Tom shares the top 5 common and consistent reasons social enterprises fail – so you can avoid them.
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As a person whose journey into social entrepreneurship began around six years ago, Sarah Prime knows how tough it can be. At times, it can feel isolating, overwhelming and disheartening. But she’s still here. And there’s a very good reason why.
Continue reading "Social Change Fellowship Creates Life-Changing Opportunity"
SEWF is an opportunity for social enterprise leaders and practitioners from around the world to network and exchange ideas. The multi-day event of roundtables, panels and open forums will discuss issues relevant to running a social enterprise, measuring impact and navigating the ecosystem.
Continue reading "The Social Enterprise World Forum is Coming to Australia in 2022!"
Wondering if a startup or accelerator is right for you and your social enterprise? Let’s take a look at what exactly they are, and what you should consider before joining.
Continue reading "Should Your Social Enterprise Join an Accelerator?"
Hoping to make a positive social or environmental impact? Want to make it on a meaningful scale? If you’re a social innovator and you answered ‘yes’ to either of these questions, securing capital should be a top priority. While there’s no single “best” approach to navigating social enterprise funding, it’s helpful to know some of the different types of investors you might end up receiving funding from.
Continue reading "11 Types of Investors for Social Enterprises"
Every now and then, a bit of inspiration can go a long way in providing a much-needed boost in combating burnout, overcoming obstacles, and making sense of day-to-day life as a changemaker. While the digital world has become a popular medium of choice for digesting information, sometimes there’s nothing as powerful as a good old fashioned book. Here are 5 every budding social entrepreneur needs to read.
Continue reading "5 Books to Read to Be a Better Social Entrepreneur"
You want to do it all. You’ve got the passion and the heart to make our world a better place. That’s no small feat, and it’s important to remember that you don’t have all the answers, nor do you need to do everything on your own. We know that sometimes, the most difficult thing to do is accept your shortcomings and ask for help. To give you a leg up, we’ve come up with a few ways you can learn to embrace your social enterprise’s vulnerability.
Continue reading "The Best Social Entrepreneur’s Get Comfortable With Vulnerability"
As a social entrepreneur, it’s common to want to do even more. But how do we go about this? Much like in the traditional business world, your options include scaling or replicating your social enterprise. So, what exactly do scalability and replicability mean, and how might they apply to your organisation?
Continue reading "Identifying Your Ideal Social Enterprise Growth Strategy"
You’ve founded a social enterprise and are shepherding its growth. But do you know when it’s time to throw in the towel? There are two terms that go together more than people like yet are rarely talked about: social enterprise and failure. In an interview with The Guardian, social enterprise founder Emily Mathieson speaks to some of the trouble […]
Continue reading "Is It Time to Give Up on Your Social Enterprise Dreams?"
In the world of impact, there are unfortunately many things outside of our control. While it will do no good to worry about everything (cough, cough, burnout can be a cause of failure, too), it is helpful to understand ways you can support yourself and your team, and ultimately decrease your social enterprise’s chances of failure.
Strategies, action plans, and goals are important, but without accountability at the core, real change won’t be achieved. With this in mind, here are 5 steps for how to ensure your social enterprise is accountable to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Continue reading "From Promise to Practice: Accountability and the Sustainable Development Goals"
Coming up with an idea for a social enterprise is one thing, but breaking through the ideation phase can end up being quite the challenge. To help you move those ideas out of your head and into the real world, here are 5 proven steps for testing a social enterprise idea.
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Whether you’re an aspiring social entrepreneur or you’ve been in the game for years, chances are that you’ve got some competition – and will continue to have more in the years to come. In a world that’s becoming increasingly concerned with social impact, just how do you and your organisation stand out from the crowd?
Continue reading "5 Authentic Ways to Make Your Social Enterprise Stand Out From the Crowd"
Regardless if you’re a budding social entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, there’s always room for improvement when it comes to a successful pitch. So, without further ado, here are some tips for perfecting yours.
Continue reading "How to Pitch Your Social Enterprise like a Pro"
Even with all of the recent buzz surrounding social enterprises, many people are still left in the dark about what exactly a social enterprise is and what they do. Perhaps even worse, there are several common misconceptions about social enterprises that are leaving people confused about how social enterprises are effective mission-driven businesses. While there’s still some debate around what exactly a social enterprise is, we know for sure what they are not. That being said, here are 5 common misconceptions about social enterprises.
Continue reading "Social Enterprise Misunderstandings Debunked"
