Social
enterprise and earned revenue are topics of growing interest in the social sector. According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, 73% of nonprofit income came from earned revenue in 2010. Blackbaud claims that donor populations have been shrinking for the past five years while revenue per donor has remained flat. With these facts
in mind, it is no surprise that earned revenue is being taken more seriously as organizations are striving to find more innovative ways to support their programs.
Whether you are developing new programs, restructuring a current earned revenue model or just yearning to learn more in this area, here’s a few
great books in our collection that may interest you. Visit
the Foundation Center to read these books or register for our lending program to borrow items from our collection. Titles marked with an * below are available for checkout.
*Social Entrepreneurship for Dummies, by Mark B. Durieux and Robert A. Stebbins (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing, 2010)
This all inclusive book goes beyond financial performance
to explain social enterprise by discussing social responsibility and how to implement innovative ideas. It breaks down social entrepreneurship by explaining motivation,
communication, current trends, initial planning, funding,
branding, social networking, incorporation,
basic management and the necessity of teamwork.
*The
Social Entrepreneur’s Handbook: How To Start, Build, and Run a Business that Improves
the World, by Rupert Scofield (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011)
Scofield speaks to passionate change makers by providing advise on how to focus their efforts, develop solid business plans and minimize financial and
professional risks.
The Real Problem Solvers: Social Entrepreneurs in America, by Ruth Shapiro (Stanford, CA: Stanford Business Books, 2012)
Shapiro interviews an array of notable social entrepreneurs like Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO and Founder of Acumen Fund, to uncover the impact social entrepreneurs make on society and the barriers they have overcome to implement their innovative ideas.
Understanding Social Entrepreneurship: The Relentless Pursuit of Mission in an Ever Changing World, by Jill R. Kickul and Thomas S. Lyons (New York: Routledge, 2012)
Kickul and Lyons provide constructive advise to entrepreneurs through case studies that give readers a practical understanding of the field. They analyze the differences in various organizational structures, provide insight on raising capital and discuss the importance of measuring impact. In addition, they highlight the challenges around scaling scaling ventures and the future of social enterprise.
*Linking Mission to Money: Finance for Nonprofit Leaders, by Allen J. Proctor (Worthington, OH: LMM Press, 2010)
If you’re already invested in an earned revenue stream and grappling with how to balance the need for for income with the need of your most underserved clientele, Proctor’s book may be the perfect fit for you. Proctor provides information and tools to help organizations maximize mission and impact while still maintaining a sustainable business model.
*More Than Just Money: Practical and Provocative Steps to Nonprofit Success, by Allen J. Proctor (Worthington, OH: LMM Press, 2010)
In his follow up to Linking Mission to Money, Proctor goes beyond explaining the theoretical and provides examples and practical steps for how organizations can make their programs and earned revenue models excel.
*Social Entrepreneurship: How to Start Successful Corporate Social Responsibility and Community-based Initiatives for Advocacy and Change, by Manuel London and Richard G. Morfopoulos (New York: Routledge, 2010)
London and Morfopoulos attempt to identify the attributes of successful social entreprenuers and offer strategies for approaching the world of social enterprise and developing effective teams.
*Social entrepreneurship: What Everyone Needs To Know, by David Bornstein and Susan Davis ( New York, Oxford University Press, 2010)
Social Entrepreneurship is a loaded word with many meanings.
Bornstein and Davis tackle the complexity of this word by not only defining social entrepreneurship, but also explaining who the players are,
what these players are doing, and how social entrepreneurship differs from business entrepreneurship,
government, activism, and democracy.
*Social Enterprise: A Global
Comparison, by Janelle A. Kerlin (Medford, MA: Tufts University Press, 2009)
Kerlin
provides a series of essays that examine the conceptualization, history,
framework and challenges of social enterprise throughout the world. She then
compares the different models and highlights their strengths.
Lauren Kline, Program Associate, Foundation Center-Atlanta
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