What is a Social Enterprise?

So what is a Social Enterprise?

A Social Enterprise is a business whose objectives are primarily social, and whose profits from the sale of its products and services are used to run and expand their programs.  Social Enterprises are a hybrid of not for profit goals with for profit company methods and techniques.  While Social Enterprises can be structured as not-for-profit organizations or for-profit businesses, most often they are structured as not-for-profits.

Social Enterprises are distinctive from traditional charities in that they are run as self sustaining businesses that generate the majority of their income through the trading of goods or services rather than through donations. This gives them a degree of self-reliance and independence which puts them firmly in control of their own activities.

When Empowerment Works’ Apprenticeship program began, it was modeled after a very well known Los Angeles program Homeboy Industries.  Homeboy Industries serves high-risk, formerly gang-involved men and women with a number of social enterprises that serve as job-training sites.

Empowerment Works’ Apprenticeship Program uses a Social Enterprise model to provide bookkeeping and accounting services to small businesses that do not have the expertise or time to keep up with their own accounting. The small businesses pay Empowerment Works for bookkeeping services which in turn funds the apprentices salaries.