Money & Mission: Social Enterprise in Calgary - An Environmental Scan & Readiness of Calgary & Area Social Enterprise Activity

This report offers a brief summary of select report findings from an environmental scan and readiness assessment of social enterprise and earned income activity in Calgary’s human service nonprofit sector. The report provides better understanding of this activity in Calgary, reviews the readiness for a social enterprise stimulant,1 and provides recommendations regarding key considerations for stimulant activity.

Social Enterprise in Calgary - Research Summary

This document is a summary of the Social Enterprise report. The full report is available on www.calgaryunitedway.org. The ongoing debate regarding a single definition for social enterprise initiatives is reflective of a growing movement and multi-faceted environment. To support the initial research of this study, undertaken specifically with a focus on social enterprise as it relates to the not-for-profit sector, the following modified working definition was used:

A social enterprise is an enterprise, organization or venture that advances its social mission through earned-income strategies.

This definition is reflected in the findings of this study.

An Exploratory Study of Social Enterprise in Canade

This research report seeks to provide a better understanding of social enterprise definitions and success factors in the Canadian context by highlighting current thought regarding the Canadian social enterprise movement. The research conducted to support this report was undertaken on behalf of the United Way of Calgary and Area (United Way) from September through November, 2007.

This definition is reflected in the findings of this study.