FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Assembly & Packaging What is a social enterprise?

Auto Repair and Sales Any organization or venture that advances a social mission
Childcare through earned income strategies. The Social Enterprise Alliance
Construction is the only member organization to bring together the diverse
Consulting community of social enterprises.
Curriculum Sales
What kinds of organizations are members?
Distribution & Shipping
Social enterprise encompasses both nonprofit organizations and
Document Management for-profit businesses. Our members represent the full breadth of
Educational Services social missions — from arts to environment, healthcare to hous-
Facilities Management ing, and all forms of human services.
& Maintenance
Food Services & Catering What types of strategies are members using?
Housing Social enterprising strategies include but are not limited to pro-
Hazardous Materials grams, subsidiaries, partnerships, franchises, joint ventures and
Abatement stand alone businesses. SEA members operate a tremendous
diversity of ventures including those listed left.
Join the largest network of nonprofits and Hotel Operations
Landscape Services
LOOKING FOR RESOURCES TO
businesses working together to create earned income Laundry Services
Manufacturing
Must we already be operating a venture to join?
No. SEA helps move social mission-based organizations along BUILD A REVENUE STREAM
ventures that are changing the world. a continuum, from just beginning to think about earned income FOR YOUR MISSION?
Printing
strategies, to launching and operating a venture, to leading a
Rentals and real estate well-established enterprise with a significant revenue stream.
Retail and thrift stores
Technology Innovation What are the membership dues & how do I join?
Temporary Staffing The easiest way to join is using our online application, which
provides a detailed list of membership levels from students to
large organizations. Most of our members join at the Enterpriser
level for $350 per year, which extends full member benefits to
all employees. A printable application is available upon request.

Accelerating social change through entrepreneurial, earned income strategies.

Learn more at www.se-alliance.org or call 1-888-294-5984.

Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper using soy inks.


We needed to network with
others who understand both
the mission and the business
of running a social enterprise.
We joined SEA to meet peers
who offer a shoulder to
lean on and ideas to try.
—Alison Riback, Executive VP
MISSION: To help nonprofit shelters, facilities
and housing providers access low and no-cost
building materials.
MARKET: In addition to accepting donations
of surplus building materials, and diverting
materials from landfills through its
deconstruction and recycling programs,
Materials Matter sustains its operation
through a home improvement outlet where
low-income families and nonprofits get an
additional 20% off the pricing.
Our membership in SEA has
been tremendously valuable.
We’ve made a number
of important connections
through our link with SEA,
that we wouldn’t have
gotten anywhere else.
—Enrique Balaguer, CEO
MISSION: To change the way low income
households learn about and enroll in the
public benefit programs they need to be
healthy, productive, and secure.
MARKET: RealBenefits offers innovative
web-based technology to healthcare
providers, government, and human service
organizations. In three years of operation
in two states, 96,000 families have been
connected to over $370 million in benefits
such as Medicaid and Food Stamps.
Through SEA I’ve met so
many people who have been
sounding boards for issues that
have come up, important
issues that are unique to
social enterprise, such as
alternative legal structures.
—Dave Wunderlin, CEO
MISSION: To promote the growth,
development and independence of people
with disabilities through programs of
education, rehabilitation & work opportunity.
MARKET: Northwest Center uses revenue
from the 17 businesses it owns and runs
to sustain its operations while providing
valuable training and job placements for its
clients. Since 1965, the Center has grown
to become the largest community service
center in the Pacific Northwest.

SEA offers resources to help you SEA provides tools to SEA creates opportunities to
EARN MORE MISSION NETWORK & GROW LEAD THE MOVEMENT

PLANNING TOOLS PARTNERSHIPS NETWORKING EDUCATION & EVENTS ANNUAL CONFERENCE ADVOCACY

Use your member discount to purchase
Business Plan Pro Software, custom-
designed for social enterprise.
Visit the Knowledge Center to read case
studies and articles on social enterprise.
Find a consultant who can help you
plan your venture or develop additional
ventures in the Consultant Directory.
Get ideas for funding your startup
in the online Funding Directory.
Receive pro bono legal advice from Lex
Mundi, the world’s leading association
of independent law firms.
Create a free listing on our partner site
Fundraisers.com, where consumers can
shop for your products or services.
Distinguish yourself with the
SEA member logo on your Web site
and publications.
Use the online npEnterprise Forum to get
tips and advice from other practitioners
Network year-round by meeting other
practitioners from the Member Directory.
Solve day-to-day problems using
our “Ask the Expert” service.
Post job openings and access the
archives of The Enterprising Voice,
our monthly newsletter.
Check out our Knowledge Center
for resources on social enterprise.
Get training in earned income
strategies by searching our online
directory of Learning Opportunities.
Learn about the latest strategies
through discounted publications.
Find and submit events on topics
of interest in the Event Calendar.
Attend the largest educational and
community-building event in the field,
our annual Social Enterprise Summit.
Choose from 50 informative sessions
on earned income strategies and meet
successful social enterprise practitioners.
Enjoy registration discounts and
special access to early registration.
Nonprofit members are invited to exhibit for
free at the Social Enterprise Marketplace.
Get involved in advancing the
national agenda for social enterprise
by taking a leadership role on an
SEA Member Committee.
Already an accomplished presenter?
Add your name to our new social
enterprise Speaker Directory.
Help us educate funders and lenders
about the needs of social enterprise.