Definitions: According to J..Gregory Dees in Enterprising Non-Profits, Social Entrepreneurs “are one species in the genus entrepreneur”. They are entrepreneurs with a social mission.. Mission-related impact becomes the central criterion, not wealth creation. Wealth is just a means to an end for social entrepreneurs.. Social entrepreneurs play the role of change agents in the social sector, by: - Adopting a mission to create and sustain social value (not just private value), - Recognizing and relentlessly pursuing new opportunities to serve that mission, - Engaging in a process of continuous innovation, adaptation & learning,- Acting boldly without being limited by the resources currently in hand, - Exhibiting a heightened sense of accountability to the constituencies served and for the outcomes created Schwab Definition of Social Entrepreneurship - Describes an approach to a social issue. It is not a field of discipline that can be learned in academia. - An approach that cuts across disciplines (medicine, engineering, law, education, investment banking, agronomy, environment, etc.) and is not confined to sectors (health, transportation, finance, labor, trade, and the like). - More related to leadership than to management - Social entrepreneurs look for the most effective methods of serving their social missions.

Ashoka Foundation

“The job of a social entrepreneur is to recognize when a part of society is stuck and to provide new ways to get it unstuck. He or she finds what is not working and solves the problem by changing the system, spreading the solution and persuading entire societies to take new leaps. Social entrepreneurs are not content to give a fish or teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry.”

Peter Brinckerhoff in Social Entrepreneurship

“The core of social entrepreneurship is good stewardship. Good stewards don’t just rest on their laurels, they try new things, serve people in new ways, are lifelong learners, try to have their organizations be fonts of excellence.” “Social Entrepreneurs have these characteristics... · They are constantly looking for new ways to serve their constituencies and to add value to existing services.

· They are willing to take reasonable risk on behalf of the people that their organization serves. · They understand the difference between needs and wants. · They understand that all resource allocations are really stewardship investments. · They weigh the social and financial return of each of these investments. · They always keep mission first, but know that without money, there is no mission output.”

Centre for Social Initiative and Management:

Social entrepreneurship is a mechanism to create human capacity in the social sector. It is a conscious, committed effort based on strategic and problem solving mindset to bring about social change.
Social entrepreneurship is about working within the current constraints, creating an operating model that will adapt and sustain itself. Building competence and capability to provide professional service and effective results in the social sector.Being creative and innovative while planning and delivering service.Developing knowledge, skills, and practices that sustain the organizational mission and support the individual’s passion for social work. Creating a sustainable and scalable model that can reach a broader range of people, places & context.

Important Links

www.ashoka.org
www.schwabfound.org
www.socialentrepreneurs.org
www.emkf.org
www.bus.ualberta.ca/ccse
www.authenticityconsulting.com
www.communitywealth.org
www.hbs.edu/mba/experience/learn/socialenterprise
www.gsb.stanford.edu/csi/SE_resources.html
www.globalgiving.com