Social Entrepreneurship

1. How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas (Updated Edition). David Bornstein; Oxford University Press: New York; 2007; 368 pages. The author profiles nine champions of innovative grass roots social change in distinct places including Bombay, India; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Washington, D.C. These extraordinary stories highlight transformation around the world by social entrepreneurs who are stepping up to solve problems where governments/bureaucracies have failed.
2. Entrepreneurship in the Social Sector. Jane C. Wei-Skillern, James E. Austin, Herman B. Leonard & Howard H. Stevenson; Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, California; 2007; 424 pages. This large casebook provides the framework for decision-making with detailed case studies. It describes the opportunity and challenge of applying leadership skills and entrepreneurial talents creatively and appropriately to create social value. A range of social enterprise activities are discussed with international examples.
3. Social Sector Entrepreneurship and Innovation (2nd Edition). Warren Tranquada, John Baker & John Pepin; Aperio LLC: East Orange, NJ; 2007; 80 pages. This concise reference guide is intended to teach non-profits how to become more entrepreneurial. Topics include strategic planning, idea creation, earned income, partnerships, business planning, marketing, structure, financing, and general resources.
4. Capitalism at the Crossroads: Aligning Business, Earth, and Humanity (2nd Edition). Stuart L. Hart; Wharton School Publishing; Upper Saddle River, NJ; 2007; 304 pages. While this book is written for corporations and business, it provides a pioneering roadmap for sustainability, and argues that there are unlimited opportunities for organizations that bring innovative solutions to social and environmental problems.
5. Cause Marketing for Nonprofits: Partner for Purpose, Passion, and Profits. Jocelyne Daw; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New York; 2006; 312 pages. The author describes how nonprofit professionals can build productive and profitable relationships that are of mutual benefit. Cause marketing is a corporate/nonprofit partnership that is both mission-based fundraising and a marketing tool that aligns a company’s marketing with a nonprofit’s cause to create and communicate social value.
6. Leveraging Good Will: Strengthening Nonprofits by Engaging Businesses. Alice Korngold; Jossey-Bass: San Francisco, CA; 2005; 240 pages. The author is an expert in matching business professionals with nonprofits. This book is filled with real-life success stories that show how nonprofits can gain business resources including experience, expertise, and funding to transform their organizations, and how for-profits can build stronger relationships with the community to develop leaders.
7. The Four Steps to the Epiphany: Successful Strategies for Products that Win (Paperback). Steven Gary Blank; Cafepress.com; 2005; 275 pages. Although this book is geared towards entrepreneurs, it offers a step-by-step strategy of successfully organizing business development with useful advice on discovering and cultivating customers and writing sales, business, and marketing plans.
8. Generating and Sustaining Nonprofit Earned Income: A Guide to Successful Enterprise Strategies. Cynthia W. Massarsky & Samantha L. Beinhacker, (Eds.); Jossey-Bass: San Francisco, CA; 2004; 352 pages. This book is a collaborative work by some of the most respected and experienced people in social entrepreneurship, covering a wide range of issues. It provides a framework for planning, launching, and operating a successful and sustainable nonprofit enterprise.
9. The Social Entrepreneurship of Change (Paperback). Leonard J. Duhl, M.D. Cogent Publishing; 2003; 176 pages. The author describes how positive social change can take place through new ways of thinking and planning creatively to overcome our largely defunct institutional structures. The book discusses how health and quality of life can be improved if communities implement the values of participation, decentralization, equity and support of the environment in their activities and policies.
10. Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty. Muhammad Yunus; Public Affairs: NY; 2003; 288 pages. Professor Yunus started lending very small amounts of money to the poor in Bangladesh without asking for collateral to help them become self-reliant. In the 30 years since his first $27 loan, he has lent out billions. His model has spread to 50 countries. This book is an inspirational example of how grass roots social change initiatives can transform lives.
11. Selling Social Change (Without Selling Out): Earned Income Strategies for Nonprofits. Andy Robinson; Jossey-Bass: San Francisco, CA; 2002; 200 pages. This book describes how to initiate/sustain earned income ventures that provide financial security and advance their mission. The author covers how to select a venture, draft a business plan, find start-up funding, and market goods and services. Other topics include the tax implications of earned income, the pros and cons of corporate partnerships and when to consider outsourcing, collaborating with competitors, and raising funds.
12. Venture Forth!: The Essential Guide to Starting a Moneymaking Business in Your Nonprofit Organization. Rolfe Larson; Amherst H. Wilder Foundation: St. Paul, MN; 2002; 256 pages. This handbook provides a complete step-by-step guide on how to find, test, and launch a successful nonprofit venture. It builds on the experience of dozens of organizations with examples, tips, timelines and reproducible worksheets to help access strengths and weaknesses; determine which ideas fit your mission, resources and skills; make solid decisions based on data; prepare a complete financial analysis; and write a business plan.
13. Strategic Tools for Social Entrepreneurs: Enhancing the Performance of Your Enterprising Nonprofit. J. Gregory Dees, Jed Emerson, & Peter Economy; John Wiley and Sons, Inc.: New York; 2002; 326 pages. This practical comprehensive guide helps nonprofits develop real-world strategies for income generation, value creation and growth. It is filled with examples, exercises, checklists, and action steps that bring the frameworks and tools to life to make organizations stronger, healthier, and better able to serve the needs of communities.
14. Social Entrepreneurship: The Art of Mission-Based Venture Development. Peter C. Brinckerhoff; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New York; 2000; 272 pages. This book includes theory and practical applications on how to become and stay entrepreneurial. Sections include focusing on community needs, matching core competencies to quality services, assessing risk and gauging opportunity, developing new project ideas, testing feasibility, writing a business plan, finances, and funding sources.
15. Private Sector Strategies for Social Sector Success. Kevin P. Kearns; Jossey-Bass: San Francisco, CA; 2000; 288 pages. The author discusses how to identify trends; assess core strengths and competencies; select strategies that advance the mission while building operational success; explore opportunities for collaborations; and encourage a culture of strategic thought and action.

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