Fulfilling the Promise of Social Enterprise

Published in The World That Changes the World
by Wiley, 2010

Social enterprises are in vogue. The promise of delivering both social impact and financial sustainability has excited many within and outside the social sector. The social enterprise movement is also bringing together the social and business sectors in new ways. However, to date, most social enterprises have floundered. It is hard to meet more than one bottom line at the same time. Business and social sector leaders have come to social enterprises underestimating the challenges of the other sector. And capital for scaling has been scarce. Tackling these challenges with the right strategies, the right people, and the right capital will, hopefully, result in a new generation of successful social enterprises.