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SVP's 2011 “Chew on This” program kicked off in January with Gerrad Oishi.  Eighteen partners and their guests learned about Social Enterprise - the spectrum between business and non-profit organizations.  Between these two extremes there is a growing number of organizations with the ability to earn revenue (or supplement their operating costs) while providing a clear social benefit. The examples of Social Enterprise discussed were:

• Ethnicity Catering - Staffed by new immigrants, Ethnicity Catering specializes in ethnic menus. While the business generates some revenue to sustain the program, the key benefit is that it provides new immigrants with an opportunity to improve their English, gain confidence working outside the home and improve qualifications for future employment.

• Women in Need Society (WINS) Baler Project – A SVP sponsored initiative, this project entails purchasing a clothing baler.  WINS often receives clothing donations that are not suitable for resale. These are sold as rags to a wholesaler, but if the rags are bundled prior to sale, the profit is multiplied by several times. The payout on this project is very short and the extra revenue will allow WINS to provide 5 more families per month with basic provisions. 

• Immigrant Access Funds – These are micro loans that are provided to new immigrants with professional designations so they can afford the sitting fees, travel costs and/or time off work to prepare for Canadian Equivalency Exams.  The loans are provided by private citizens in Alberta.  Despite their low default rates, they are unattractive to the banking industry due to the loan term.  Allowing newcomers to practice in their given field has the added benefit of quickly addressing labour shortages (i.e. physicians) and allows immigrants to provide for their families rather than depend on social assistance.

SVP is particularly well positioned to assist non-profits think like a business and embrace the Social Enterprise model.
Thanks to Thiloma and Grant Hofer for hosting the group.