Addressing Poverty Through Social Enterprise

Abstract

Four non-profit leaders and one community poverty expert participated in semistructured interviews focused on poverty and social enterprise. Their answers elucidate perceived causes of poverty in the United States and offer a clear role of the non-profit social enterprise in facilitating "stabilizing services" and "propelling forces" that help to reduce poverty. While social enterprises should be related to their organization's mission, inherited resources prove a powerful exception to the rule. Lastly, this research proposes proactive roles for business, government, and the public in supporting social enterprises.