Welcome to Social Enterprise Ventures LLC

We offer training and consultation to nonprofits that want to diversify their income from traditional fundraising into earned income ventures.

Click here for a short introductory video
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The funding market place evolved over the past few years. Much of corporate giving is being redirected toward “investing” rather than buying tables and is on the decline in many markets; government funding is diminishing while traditional funding sources are less and less reliable. Successful businesses are tired of giving to organizations which operate with a continued mentality that they will be ‘bailed out’ by someone else.

What does this change in the funding market place mean for your organization? It means a shift to “earned income” instead of relying on a “handout.” Realize that nonprofit is a tax designation, not a business plan! Nobody is requiring you to lose money.

How prepared is your organization to endure these changes in the market place? Have you created a plan to diversify your income streams? Is your organization working strategically toward financial self-sustainability? If not, may be past time...

What is the difference between traditional funding and earned income?

Earned Income is simply money that you have generated through product sales, payment for services, or other business opportunities that is yours to use as your organization sees fit. It is unrestricted income that creates the path toward self-sustainability and enhances your mission.

Traditional funding includes grants, special events, donations, sponsorships, underwriting, etc. You work hard to get the money, you use it up and then you have to go back to get more. Inevitably there are strings attached to this money: grantors require reports to ensure that you have met their funding requirements; donors, too, have expectations - even with a special event, donors want to have a good time, enjoy the food, expect to be recognized, etc. It could, actually, be considered restricted money

What is required to become a successful social entrepreneur?

Successful entrepreneurial nonprofit organizations embrace the big picture. They think and act strategically. They build a plan. They educate themselves about market trends, customer buying cycles, consumer benefits and they know their competition. Successful social entrepreneurs “Get Up and Get Out” to test their assumptions. Most important of all, successful social entrepreneurs invest resources to grow and enhance their mission.

We have created a printable fact sheet about Social Enterprise Ventures, LLC. To view this document, please click here (Adobe Acrobat format).

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