Nonprofit Workshop Offers Social Enterprise Options for Nonprofits

Lean economic times and the corresponding reduction in state and federal funding are forcing nonprofit organizations to look at new ways to generate revenue, and to do it on a sustainable basis.

One approach, called “social enterprise,” is to develop revenue-generating business that can earn unrestricted income and increase visibility. HopeWorks Social Enterprises, established in 2010 by Housing Hope, is hosting a workshop Wednesday to assist nonprofits in understanding the opportunities and challenges associated with successful social enterprise. 

Snohomish County, through the Gates Foundation’s Investing in Families grant, has been working with local nonprofits including Housing Hope to expand social enterprise options locally.

“As state and federal grants dry up, we must help our local agencies find new ways to fund the important work they are doing in this community,” said Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon. “Working with the Gates Foundation’s Investing in Families program is allowing us to do that.”

The workshop, which will run from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Housing Hope Village, 5908 Evergreen Way, Everett, will offer a interactive session to help determine if a social enterprise is relevant to your organization and to explore the steps toward developing a cost-effective business plan.  It will include case studies and best practices from the field, as well as input from fellow participants, and discussion on the following:

• What social enterprise is, how to implement it and why it’s important
• Understanding the spectrum of social enterprise
• Learning specific ways social enterprise can be applied to organizations;
• Evaluating your organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
• Developing and screening potential business ideas
• Forecasting realistic expectations of costs and revenue
• Putting it all together in a business plan
• Obtaining financing and other support

The workshop will be conducted by Kirsten Gagnaire of MissionWise, a leading nonprofit consultancy that helps nonprofits build organizational strength and sustainability. Gagnaire has more than 15 years of experience in concept-to-execution program management with health and human services.

The cost of the workshop is $25 per agency for up to five attendees. To register, contact Housing Hope at 425-347-6556 or maryjonasen@hopewrks.org. For more information, go to http://tinyurl.com/44xq45c.