Nonprofit Resource Connection Newsletter
Fourth Quarter 2010

Social Entrepreneurship
Jerry Stai, NRS, Minot

Much has been written about entrepreneurship in managing a non-profit organization, or about social entrepreneurship. Like entrepreneurship in a for-profit business, social entrepreneurship uses similar approaches to effectively and efficiently solve social problems. One book I can recommend is "Entrepreneurship in the Social Sector" (Jane Wei-Skillern, James E. Austin, Herman Leonard, and Howard Stevenson, 2007, Sage Publications). The authors provide a thorough examination and analysis of the theories, knowledge and tools from starting, to growing, and to enhancing the impact of non-profit organizations. Along with an analytical framework, cases are provided to illustrate creative and effective responses to challenges. Again, much has been written about social entrepreneurship, and I encourage the reading of various authors to increase one’s creative thought process.