Start YOUR OWN FREE FOOD Program

Start YOUR OWN FREE FOOD Program     From the great success that we have had with our Free Food Programs established in the 1950’s by my Parents, Aaron and Margaret Wallace, we have since been instrumental in the founding and supplying of other free food service organizations around the country.     With the demand for our help …
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AARON & MARGARET WALLACE FOUNDATION Muslims Giving Videos

Surah Al-Insan says: “And they are those who give food – in spite of their own need , to the needy, and the orphan, and the captive, [saying in their hearts], “We only feed you for the sake of God, and we desire nothing in return from you, not even a word of thanks’’ (76:8-9).As Salaamu Alaikum wa …
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What Is a Social Entrepreneur?

Social Entrepreneur
By ADAM HAYES
Reviewed By AMY DRURY
Updated Jan 18, 2021
What Is a Social Entrepreneur?
A social entrepreneur is a person who pursues novel applications that have the potential to solve community-based problems. These individuals are willing to take on the risk and effort to create positive changes in society through their initiatives. Social entrepreneurs may believe that this practice is a way to connect you to your life’s purpose, help others find theirs, and make a difference in the world (all while eking out a living).

Widespread use of ethical practices—such as impact investing, conscious consumerism, and corporate social responsibility programs—facilitates the success of social entrepreneurs.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
A social entrepreneur is interested in starting a business for greater social good and not just the pursuit of profits.
Social entrepreneurs may seek to produce environmentally-friendly products, serve an underserved community, or focus on philanthropic activities.
Social entrepreneurship is a growing trend, alongside socially responsible investing (SRI) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing.
Understanding Social Entrepreneurs
While most entrepreneurs are motivated by the potential to earn a profit, the profit motive does not prevent the ordinary entrepreneur from having a positive impact on society. In his book, “The Wealth of Nations,” the economist Adam Smith explained, “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest.”1 Smith believed that when individuals pursued their own best interests, they would be guided toward decisions that benefited others. The baker, for example, wants to earn a living to support his family. To accomplish this, they produce a product—bread—which feeds and nourishes hundreds of people.2

One example of social entrepreneurship is microfinance institutions. These institutions provide banking services to unemployed or low-income individuals or groups who otherwise would have no other access to financial services. Other examples of social entrepreneurship include educational programs, providing banking services in underserved areas, and helping children orphaned by epidemic disease. All of these efforts are intended to address unmet needs within communities that have been overlooked or not granted access to services, products, or base essentials available in more developed communities.

A social entrepreneur might also seek to address imbalances in such availability, the root causes behind such social problems, or the social stigma associated with being a resident of such communities. The main goal of a social entrepreneur is not to earn a profit. Rather, a social entrepreneur seeks to implement widespread improvements in society. However, a social entrepreneur must still be financially savvy to succeed in his or her cause.

Social entrepreneurship is related to socially responsible investing (SRI) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. SRI is the practice of investing money in companies and funds that have positive social impacts. SRI has also grown in popularity in recent years. Socially responsible investors will often eschew investments in companies that produce or sell addictive substances (like alcohol, gambling, and tobacco). They may also seek out companies that are engaged in social justice, environmental sustainability, and alternative energy/clean technology efforts.

Socially conscious investors screen potential new investments for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. This set of standards considers how a company performs as a steward of nature, how it manages relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities where it operates, and how it treats its company’s leadership, compensates its executives, and approaches audits, internal controls, and shareholder rights.

Examples of Social Entrepreneurship
The introduction of freshwater services through the construction of new wells is another example of social entrepreneurship. A social entrepreneur may have the goal of providing access to communities that lack stable utilities of their own.

In the modern era, social entrepreneurship is often combined with technology assets: for example, bringing high-speed internet connectivity to remote communities so that school-age children have more access to information and knowledge resources.

The development of mobile apps that speak to the needs of a particular community is another way social entrepreneurship is expressed. This can include giving individuals ways to alert their city administrations to problems such as burst water mains, downed powerlines, or patterns of repeated traffic accidents. There are also apps created to report infractions committed by city officials or even law enforcement that can help give a voice to the community through technology.

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Related Terms
Socially Responsible Investment (SRI)
Socially responsible investing looks for investments that are considered socially conscious because of the nature of the business the company conducts. more
What You Should Know About Entrepreneurs
Learn what an entrepreneur is, what they do, how they affect the economy, how to become one, and what you need to ask yourself before you commit to the path. more
Profit Motive
Profit motive is the intent to achieve monetary gain in a transaction or material endeavor. more
Social Good Definition
A social good is an act that benefits the largest number of people in the largest possible way, such as clean air, clean water, healthcare, and literacy. more
Social Identity
Social identity is a company’s image as derived from its relationships with all of its stakeholders. more
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Criteria
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are a group of standards used by socially conscious investors to screen investments. more