English

Noun

social entrepreneurship ‎(uncountable)

1. The application of the principles of business entrepreneurship—including risk-taking and ingenuity—to social causes.
   • 1970, Study Group on an Institute for Applied Science and Social Change in a Rural Area, A National Rural Center: Applying Science to Improve the Quality of Rural Life, National Research Council (U.S.), Division of Behavioral Sciences, National Academy Press, page 40:

     Development of social entrepreneurship should be a prime objective of the National Rural Center and regional centers.

   • 1987, John Icki, “Structural Issues Related to Delivery Systems”, in Organizing for Effective Family Planning Programs, National Academy Press (Working Group on Family Planning Effectiveness), page 154:

     This social entrepreneurship has been particularly important in the expansion of traditional services by private associations, and in the introduction of community and commercially based distribution projects.

   • 2008, Marc Freedman, Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life, Westview Press, ISBN 9781586486341, page 174:

     Social entrepreneurship, once thought to be mainly the province of the young, turns out to be a path to vibrant encore careers for many people.

Related terms

• social entrepreneur