Social enterprises - Essay Example

The main mission and objectives of a social enterprise are to carry out some form of social benefit to the local or international community by developing socially-minded programs, workplace ethics, and then expanding these principles into broader society. Common examples of social enterprises are those organizations that have a specific focus such as conserving wildlife or improving the skills and talents of workers so that they can become better contributors in society. A social enterprise takes all of its profit (if earned through commercial practices) and then builds momentum with these resources in redefining or assisting social policy.

Any organization that is non-profit and has a specific agenda (though they can have profit opportunities), with a focus on contributing to society through corporate social responsibility, would be labeled a social enterprise. An example of the social enterprise can be viewed in The Ashoka Organization, a non-profit organization that specializes in social program development and social enterprise entrepreneur support. Ashoka is a global association of many different social enterprise leaders that provides temporary salaries to start-up social enterprises, offers professional support in their social-minded efforts, and also provides networking opportunities for social enterprise leaders for the purpose of education and support (ashoka.org, 1). One of the main missions of this organization is to assist in building infrastructures and financial stipends to assist in developing a common social agenda and spreading social innovation at the global level.

This social enterprise uses its resources solely for this agenda, taking part in many different social programs such as working toward the de-programming of bullies that assault youths (ashoka.org). The common goal is improving society and building more network support in efforts such as these. What makes the social enterprise