Community Futures South Fraser (CFSF) and Mennonite Central Committee, Employment and Community Development (MCC-ECD), together with the community economic development movement across Canada, acknowledge the value of the social economy, and recognize the importance of connecting economy and social values.
Social enterprise applies an entrepreneurial approach to addressing social issues and creating positive community change. In its most narrow definition, it means non-profits acting entrepreneurially and earning some of their revenues through selling goods and services instead of relying solely on grant writing and donations. In its broader sense – the definition that the Centre embraces – social enterprise involves the business sector in mentoring or investing in social enterprise, or moving beyond corporate social responsibility to start its own social enterprises.
Originated locally, the concept for the Fraser Valley Centre for Social Enterprise is supported by Western Economic Diversification Canada.
The main activities of the Fraser Valley Centre for Social Enterprise are:
- community capacity building, outreach, advocacy and education;
- the creation and hosting of networking events and relevant summits;
- NPO-specific enterprise and feasibility / market research-related workshop development and delivery;
- the offering of a current library of social enterprise resources;
- business plan and enterprise implementation assistance for non-profit organizations (both by the Centre itself, and through mentorship relationships between businesses and social enterprises in complementary or non-competing industries);
- analysis and research;
- social enterprise loans distribution and connection of clients to other lending bodies;
- connecting groups / resources to avoid duplication and working in ‘silos’; and
- setting a strong example for its constituents and community by engaging in its own social enterprise activities.
CURRENT ACTIVITIES
Contributions of the Fraser Valley Centre for Social Enterprise to date include:
- Hosting of BC Social Economy Forum (June 2005);
- Coordination and delivery of Fraser Valley Conference on Social Enterprise (September 2005);
- Development of a comprehensive social enterprise interview tool, and completion of 11 interviews;
- Coordination of social enterprise focus groups throughout Fraser Valley, Abbotsford to Agassiz;
- Hosting of monthly social enterprise networking meetings*;
- Work on a discussion paper regarding business types, (i.e. corporation, partnership, cooperative, etc.), specific to social enterprise;
- Active participation on BC Social Economy Roundtable;
- Support of local fledgling social enterprises;
- Providing speakers about social enterprise to a variety of groups, events and programs to continue to build a framework of discussion about various social enterprise issues.
Social enterprise involves entrepreneurial approaches. Some comments on an entrepreneurial approach to the management and activities of non-profits, in meeting of community needs:
“Entrepreneurship" is defined as the pursuit of personal, business and societal success through informed decision making and the acceptance of responsibility for the consequences of actions.
Entrepreneurial people possess skills such as creativity and innovation, decision making, communication and action planning. They are focused, motivated and tenacious with a propensity for change.
Entrepreneurial skills may be manifested in a new or existing business, government and society. Their application usually creates change and betterment.” Acadia Centre for Small Business and Entrepreneurship
“An entrepreneurial culture involves developing enterprising attitudes within the private, public and third sectors. Such a culture requires people who are dynamic, flexible, adaptable and quick to learn new ways when conditions change. The community can succeed and prosper in the years ahead, but to do so it must embrace change as an opportunity.” http://www.entreplexity.ca/cfe/constituents.htm
