Social Enterprise Products, Services and Outcomes
A social enterprise can take on a remarkable diversity of forms.
- From a product perspective, it can create anything from planter boxes, fertilizer or patio furniture to packing cartons, meat pies, and cookies.
- From a service standpoint, a social enterprise can deliver anything from consulting services, recycling, or building management to courier and voice mailbox services, lawn maintenance, cafes and restaurants.
- From a fiscal perspective, non-profit enterprises can generate anywhere from 5% to 100% of a program's or organization's costs. Income sources can range from high-end businesses with private clientele or discounted services paid for by low-income clientele, to government contracts or government-funded services.
- From an outcomes perspective, non-profit enterprises can provide pre-employment services for Aboriginal youth, supply food or dental services for low-income children, improve watershed management and increase fish stocks, or support the employment of mental health consumers or people with developmental disabilities.