Late last year, Dr. Ann Armstrong, a professor at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Business, presented a workshop at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) outlining the various forms of social enterprises and the challenges they face. The session included an open forum discussion that highlighted a number of social enterprises and allowed guests to learn from each other. We would like to thank Dr. Armstrong for sharing her slides with the SocialFinance.ca community.

1. Social Enterprise
Development in Canada
Ann Armstrong, PhD
ann.armstrong@rotman.utoronto.ca
November 26, 2010 in OISE 5-240
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2. Session Plan
Welcome & Expectations
Session Objectives
Examples of Social Enterprises
Design Principles & Practices
Challenges of Operating Social
Enterprises
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3. Welcome & Expectations
At what stage of social enterprise
development is your organization?
What do you hope learn today?
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4. Session Objectives
Engage in learning conversations with
one another
Learn about different types of social
enterprises
Understand key issues in managing
social enterprises
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5. Social Entrepreneurs:
Today’s Reformers &
Revolutionaries?
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6. What is a Social Enterprise?
Hard to define and create a common
understanding!
May not matter though - as long as the
social mission focus is strong
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7. One Definition
“Any earned income business or strategy
undertaken by a nonprofit to generate
revenue in support of its charitable
mission.”
(www.se-alliance.org)
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8. Social Entrepreneur
“The job of the social entrepreneur is to
recognize when a part of society is stuck
and to provide new ways to get it
unstuck. ... Social entrepreneurs are not
content to give a fish or [to] teach how to
fish. They will not rest until they have
revolutionized the fishing industry.”
(www.ashoka.org)
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9. Essential Attributes
Social objective
Blend of social and commercial
methods: (1) commercial methods to
generate funds, (2) starting mission-
related businesses, and (3) mutually
beneficial partnerships with for-profits
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10. Social Enterprise Example 1
Eva’s Phoenix Print Shop, Toronto
http://phoenixprintshop.ca/
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11. Social Enterprise Example 2
Inner City Renovations, Winnipeg
http://www.icdevelopment.ca/default.asp
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12. Social Enterprise Example 3
Potluck Café and Catering, Vancouver
http://www.potluckcatering.org/
about.html
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13. Social Enterprise Example 4
Le Bucafin, Trois Rivieres
http://www.bucafin.qc.ca/
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14. Design Choices
Mission Orientation
Range from Mission-centric to Mission-
related to Mission-unrelated
(Alter, 2007)
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15. Design Choices
Business and Program Integration
Range from embedded to overlapping
to external
(Alter, 2007)
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16. Readiness
Organization must determine if it is
really ready to embark on social
enterprise path
Important consideration as it will
consume time, resources and often
requires new mindset and skills
Use Agency Self-Assessment Tool from
www.enterprisingnonprofits.ca
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17. Strategies & Opportunities
Strategies: Fee for Service, Commercial
Ventures, Business Partnerships and
Franchising
Opportunities: Social Value, Market,
Sustainability
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18. Opportunity Assessment
High
Most Attractive
Mission
Fit
Low Least Attractive
Low High
Demand - Need/Desire 18
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19. Screening Ideas
Preparation
Generating ideas - brainstorming is vital
activity
Quick screening
Second screening of ideas
Feasibility study
Use Scorecard from
www.enterprisingnonprofits.ca
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20. 10 Questions - enp Guide
(1) Where is your venture now?
(2) What is your product or service?
(3) What is your market?
(4) How will you reach your market?
(5) Against whom will you be competing?
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21. 10 Questions - enp Guide
(6) How will the product be produced the service
offered?
(7) Who is to be involved?
(8) What are your financial projections and how
much money do you need?
(9) What are the risks?
(10) What is the social return on investment
and how will it be measured?
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22. Business Plan - Elements
Executive Summary
Market Opportunity
Business Model
Operational & Managerial Processes
Social and Environmental Outcomes
Financial Statements & Projections
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23. Measure Impact
What gets measured gets Done
Use Demonstrating Value Dashboard
Determine what you know and want to
show
Available at
www.demonstratingvalue.org
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24. Challenges
There are many, many,
&
still more challenges!
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25. Social Challenges
Staying on mission
Appreciating small and significant
wins
Finding the right talent for the
enterprise manager
Measuring social impact
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26. Business Challenges
Finding business opportunities that
address customer wants/needs that are
married to mission
Managing costs
Marketing expertise and strategy
Making money - and in a timely way
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27. Environmental Challenges
Creating a green culture
Assessing the economic and social costs
of being green
Integrating the environmental bottom
line
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28. Thank you!
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29. References & Resources
Alter, K. (2007) Social Enterprise Typology, Virtue Ventures Inc.
Quarter, J., L. Mook and A. Armstrong (2009) The Social Economy - A
Canadian Perspective, Toronto: UTP.
Social Enterprises’ Analytical Model, Chantier de l’économie sociale.
The Canadian Social Enterprise Guide, 2nd edition,
www.enterprisingnonprofits.ca - free and fabulous download
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