"Social Entrepreneurship Herald"

Social Entrepreneurship Herald

May 2025 Newsletter

"The Business of Kindness: Profitable Yet Purposeful.''

Dear Social Entrepreneurship Enthusiasts,

welcome to the May 2025 edition of The Social Entrepreneurship Herald! This month, we explore a theme that sits at the heart of every mission-driven venture, The Business of Kindness: Profitable Yet Purposeful.

In a world where conscious consumers, values-driven talent, and ethical leadership are shaping the future of business, we're seeing a powerful shift—where kindness is no longer just a personal virtue, but a strategic advantage. This edition dives into the art and science of blending heart with hustle, and why businesses rooted in empathy, integrity, and community are not only surviving but thriving.

Featured article, “Balancing Profit and Purpose: Lessons from Leading Social Entrepreneurs,” spotlights the trailblazers who are challenging traditional business norms and redefining success through impact, innovation, and inclusivity. These stories aren’t just inspiring, they’re roadmaps for building companies that care and compete.

As always, we’re here to spark ideas, celebrate changemakers, and remind you that doing good is good business.

Let’s build better—together.

Balancing Profit and Purpose: Lessons from Leading Social Entrepreneurs🌍💡✨

In a business world often driven by quarterly earnings and rapid growth, a new kind of entrepreneur is redefining what success looks like. These pioneers aren’t just chasing profit—they’re building companies rooted in values, vision, and long-term impact. They are social entrepreneurs, and they are showing us that doing well and doing good are not mutually exclusive—but deeply interconnected.

Balancing profit and purpose isn’t just a slogan. It is a mindset, a business model, and a movement. From Patagonia’s environmental activism to TOMS’ one-for-one giving model, leading social enterprises are reshaping the landscape of capitalism. So how are they doing it—and what can we learn from them?

Purpose as the Business North Star.

Successful social entrepreneurs don’t treat purpose as an afterthought or a marketing angle—it’s woven into the DNA of their companies. Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, famously declared, “We're in business to save our home planet.” That mission influences every decision, from product design to supply chain choices.

Similarly, Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Laureate and founder of Grameen Bank, pioneered microfinance to empower women and lift entire communities out of poverty. For him, the business wasn’t just about offering loans—it was about changing lives.

Lesson: your purpose isn’t just a brand statement—it’s a strategic compass. Define it clearly, and let it guide your operations, partnerships, and growth.

Profits Fuel the Mission.

One of the biggest myths in social entrepreneurship is that purpose-driven businesses must sacrifice financial success. In reality, profitability isn’t the enemy of impact—it’s the engine. Warby Parker, for instance, a company that sells stylish eyewear at affordable prices donates a pair for every pair sold. Their model is not only sustainable, but scalable, proving that values-driven businesses can compete—and win—in mainstream markets.

Tony’s Chocolonely, a Dutch chocolate company, is committed to 100% slave-free chocolate. With bold storytelling, radical transparency, and a deep commitment to fair trade, Tony’s has become a market leader, showing how purpose can drive brand loyalty and business growth.

Lesson: treat profit as a tool—not the goal. Financial health allows you to scale your mission and reinvest in the communities and causes you care about.

Transparency Builds Trust.

In the age of conscious consumerism, transparency is the new currency. Today’s customers and employees want to know where their money is going, how products are made, and what a brand truly stands for. Social entrepreneurs including Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS, and Ruth Ann Harnisch, founder of The Harnisch Foundation, have built trust through honest storytelling, open metrics, and vulnerability about what’s working—and what’s not.

Being transparent doesn’t mean being perfect. It means being accountable, showing progress, and inviting others into the journey.

Lesson: build trust through radical honesty. Share your impact metrics, your challenges, and your values openly.

Community as Co-Creators.

One of the defining traits of successful social enterprises is how they engage their communities not just as consumers, but as co-creators of change. Brands such as Allbirds and Ben & Jerry’s involve customers, employees, and partners in decision-making, activism, and innovation. These companies understand that purpose isn’t just declared—it’s lived together.

Lesson: foster deep relationships with your community. Create spaces for dialogue, feedback, and collaboration around your mission.

Long-Term Vision Over Short-Term Wins.

While traditional startups often focus on fast exits and explosive growth, social entrepreneurs think in decades, not quarters. Their success metrics include social return on investment, environmental regeneration, and cultural impact. They are playing the long game.

B Lab, the nonprofit behind B Corp Certification, has become a leader for this kind of thinking, offering a framework for businesses that prioritize people and planet alongside profit.

Lesson: build for legacy, not just liquidity. Align your business with long-term systems change, not short-term gains.

The Future is Purpose-Driven.

As global challenges including climate change, inequality, and social justice come into sharper focus, the demand for businesses that care is only growing. The next generation of entrepreneurs, employees, and consumers want more than products—they want purpose.

Balancing profit and purpose isn’t easy. It requires courage, creativity, and a commitment to values over vanity. As the world’s leading social entrepreneurs show us, it’s not only possible—it’s powerful.

Let’s learn from their journeys, borrow their playbooks, and build businesses that leave the world better than we found it.

Upcoming Events📅:    

• 16 May

      Sommet de la Mesure d'Impact

      (Impact Measurement Summit) 

      - Paris, France      

• 21 May

      SEWF Policy Forum 

      - Online

• 21-22 May

      Upstream Festival 2025 

      - Rotterdam, Netherlands

• 22 May 

      Social Business Conference 

      - Lugano, Switzerland

• 22 May

      International expert seminar on 

      the development of the Social Economy 

      in Poland and Europe 

      - Warsaw, Poland

• 30-31 May

      Trento International Research Colloquium

      on Cooperatives, by EURICSE, ICA CCR, 

      EMES, CIRIEC and University of Trento 

      - Trento, Italy

News Briefs📰:

• On 5 May 2025, Social Services Europe (SSE), the European Council of Associations of General Interest (CEDAG), and Civil Society Europe (CSE) hosted a successful joint webinar focused on the European Cross-Border Associations (ECBA) Directive. The session provided national non-profit associations and social services with valuable insights into the potential benefits of the Directive, which aims to streamline cross-border activities and address key challenges in the European non-profit sector. Speakers including Mathieu de Poorter (CEDAG) and Matteo Vespa (CSE) discussed the Directive’s significance, the political issues at stake, and how associations can engage in the consultation process to influence future legislation. The webinar also featured an interactive Q&A, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas on how to navigate the evolving landscape of cross-border non-profit activities in Europe.

• The Metrics from the Ground Up 2025 conference, held in Nairobi from May 6-8, 2025, was a resounding success, bringing together global leaders to explore the latest advancements in impact measurement. The event featured interactive workshops on participatory evaluation, AI-driven insights, and ESG metrics, offering hands-on learning opportunities for participants to engage with cutting-edge tools and methodologies. Attendees, including investors, entrepreneur support organizations, and researchers, collaborated and shared expertise, making the conference a prime venue for advancing the field of impact measurement. The event also facilitated valuable networking, allowing participants to forge connections and partnerships that will drive the future of entrepreneurship ecosystems across sectors and geographies.

*OurBook Club📚:

This month, Social Entrepreneurship Herald recommends ‘’Do/Purpose/Why brands with a purpose do better and matter more’’ by David Hieatt — a concise, inspiring read that speaks directly to founders, changemakers, and brand-builders who believe business can be a force for good. Hieatt, founder of Hiut Denim and co-founder of The Do Lectures, strips back the noise to reveal timeless truths about storytelling, clarity, and staying true to your mission. Part manifesto, part creative fuel, this book is a reminder that when you lead with purpose, profit follows — not the other way around. It’s the perfect May read to reset your focus, reignite your passion, and realign your venture with what truly matters.

Thank you for being a part of the Social Entrepreneurship Research Institute community.

For those who have not yet joined us, please subscribe: 👇

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/social-entrepreneurshp-monthly-7156931971875586049/ 

To courageous purpose, meaningful progress, and the people changing the world—one venture at a time,

Dr. Agatha K. Rokicki, D.B.A., B.S.

© Social Entrepreneurship Research Institute.