Resources
Social enterprises tend to be focused on their local communities. Supporting the establishment of communities of practice will help encourage social enterprises to connect and test their ideas and collaborate to develop innovative solutions to local problems.
Social Impact Marketplace
In order to expand social procurement in Saskatchewan, development of an online Social Impact Marketplace is underway.
Social Enterprise Certification
- Buy Social Canada provides Social Enterprise Certification for organizations that sell goods and services, and reinvest profits into their social mission.
- Buy and sell with impact and consider certifying today!
B Corp Certification
- B Corps or Beneficial Corporations are businesses that act in ways that benefit of society as a whole.
- The BDC is the certifying body for B Corps in Canada. Find out about the certification process here.
Tools
- Canadian Social Enterprise Guide This comprehensive resource is focused on supporting development of non-profit social enterprises.
- Community Economic Development Toolkit: Social Enterprises Developed by the US-based Community Action Partnership, it provides basic guidance on opportunity assessment and initial planning that is useful. Download it here.
- Social Business Model Canvas The Business Canvas approach to planning is a succinct and easy method to establish a roadmap for the organization. The Social Enterprise Institute has provided a Business Model Canvas tool that we feel will be valuable to new start-up
Social Finance
Affinity Credit Union
Among the business tools available through Affinity, you will find micro and community impact loans , funding opportunities and sponsorships.
Community Futures Saskatchewan
With 13 offices around the province, Community Futures offers local support, including advice and loans. The provincial site offers links to all the regions, plus general details.
Social Finance Fund
Funded by the Government of Canada, the capital flows from the Managers of the Social Finance Fund to social finance investors, through to social purpose organizations whose social impacts benefit communities across Canada.
Best Practices
Here are a few examples of social enterprises from across the country. They support their core mission by providing products and services in various sectors of the economy.
4VI, (formerly Tourism Vancouver Island) is a revenue-generating business that recently made the transition to a social enterprise model in order to ensure the generational well-being and prosperity of businesses, communities and residents of Vancouver Island.
Aangen is a not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to providing sustainable, solution-based responses to social injustices locally and globally. They raise funds for community service programs by selling farm products, and providing catering and cleaning services.
Atira Women’s Resource Society is a not-for-profit organization committed to the work of ending violence against women. They provide non-barrier housing and child care services.