As global funding dries up, we need to find alternative ways to fund and sustain the critical services offered by community-led organizations. One solution (among others) is to start a social enterprise: a profit-making entity to help sustain the work of your community-led organization.
Whether your organization offers safe spaces, health or other social services, leads advocacy efforts, or supports your community in other ways, social enterprises can provide alternative funding that, when successful, can ensure the long-term sustainability of your organization.
This handbook has been developed to provide guidance for trans and gender diverse organizations on how to set up, launch and maintain a social enterprise.
In the Handbook, we provide links and references to external resources that give more detailed guidance on forming social enterprises. The Case Studies featured in the Handbook offer success stories from five thriving social enterprises currently thriving worldwide, which we hope will help you envision ideas for your organization.
What’s included?
Chapter 1: About the Handbook
Chapter 2: Understanding Social Enterprise
2.1 Defining What a Social Enterprise Is and What It Is Not
2.2 Case Studies
Chapter 3: Starting Your Social Enterprise Journey
3.1 Checklist For Creating Your Social Enterprise
3.2 Define Your Starting Point: Turning Community Assets Into Opportunities
3.3 Key Considerations Before You Start
Chapter 4: Navigating Legal Pathways
Chapter 5: Securing Financing Streams
5.1 Starter Funding
5.2 LGBTQI+-Focused Investors
5.3 Other Strategies for Capital Investment
Chapter 6: Launching And Sustaining Your Social Enterprise
6.1 Steps To Launch And Scale Your Social Enterprise
6.2 Strategies for Growing and Sustaining Your Enterprise
This handbook is designed to help non-profit, community-led organizations develop the knowledge, skills, organizational structures and expertise to set up a social enterprise.
It also builds on the immense learnings from other sectors, besides the Non-profit one, to provide an overall vision of what is possible.
Download GATE’s Social Enterprise Handbook to start learning basic knowledge and tools to start a social enterprise.
