Title: Social enterprise in community and economic development in the USA: theory, corporate form and purpose

Authors: Dennis R. Young

Addresses: Bernard B. and Eugenia A. Ramsey Professor of Private Enterprise, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302-3992, USA

Abstract: Social enterprises intended to contribute to community development in the USA engage in a variety of activities ranging from retail businesses to counselling services. These enterprises are structured in various ways, including direct programmes and for-profit subsidiaries of nonprofit organisations, and alliances among non-profits and business corporations. The various forms reflect a range of purposes, organisational identities, and entrepreneurial motivations. This paper grounds this spectrum in economic and organisational theory, and examines a sample of ventures, finding that they commonly take the form of initiatives by non-profit organisations, often rely on external collaborations, and are concerned with direct contributions to social mission as well as net revenue generation.

Keywords: community development; non-profit organisations; organisational identity; social enterprises; social entrepreneurship; economic development; USA; United States; economic theory; organisational theory; external collaboration; net revenue generation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2006.009877

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2006 Vol.6 No.3, pp.241 - 255

Published online: 21 May 2006 *

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