What is Social Entrepreneurship?

Social entrepreneurship aims to solve social problems by developing a service, product, or model. Social enterprises can generate income and profits to achieve their social goals; however, unlike commercial enterprises, dividends are not distributed. They use the profits they make as reinvestment to achieve their goals. Social enterprises are based on permanent social impact, sustainability, and solidarity, not competition.

Why Social Entrepreneurship?

Creates social benefit,
Strengthens social capital,
Creates innovative and sustainable business models,
Supports the use of technology and innovation,
Increases employment,
Considers values such as environmental protection, equality, and social inclusion.

What is an Example of Social Enterprise?

A foundation with an economic enterprise that provides micro-credit to people who have difficulty in accessing finance
An enterprise established for the purpose of employing persons with disabilities
A company that produces products in the field of renewable energy and invests with its profits in the production and use of clean energy in developing regions
A non-profit education cooperative established by parents to provide education to their children.

What Is Not an Example of Social Enterprise?

A company that allocates some of its annual profits to social responsibility projects
A rehabilitation center that distributes its profits to its shareholders and provides services for the disabled.
An association or foundation that collects donations for disadvantaged groups
A women's cooperative established with the aim of earning a high income for its members.

There are different types of structures within the social innovation and social entrepreneurship ecosystem. These structures interact with each other and perform different functions within the ecosystem. A social enterprise in Türkiye might be:

An association, foundation, or their economic enterprise,
A cooperative,
A private company, or
A combination of the above