Welcome

Accelerating a more caring economy by educating, incubating, and investing

"Growing Mission-Driven Ventures"

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Attend our events

Social Enterprise 2025

Social Enterprise Chicago and the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation invite you to attend, Social Enterprise 2025. Social Enterprise 2025 will bring together thought leaders, policymakers, and practitioners from various sectors to discuss innovative approaches to economic development, social impact, and sustainable business models. Come hear about ways to unlock insights for scaling your enterprise while staying true to your mission. Join us at the University of Illinois-Chicago Student Center, 750 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60607 and collaborate with like-minded changemakers to discover strategies for sustainable impact.

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What We Do

Growing Mission-Driven Ventures

Social Enterprise Chicago is a new, independent not-for-profit organization that builds on the extraordinary legacy of Social Enterprise Alliance’s Chicago chapter. A convener, a collaborator, and a catalyst, Social Enterprise Chicago leverages its thought leadership to empower Chicago area for-profit, nonprofit and hybrid ventures that rely on earned-revenue strategies to advance positive social change.

Social Enterprise Certificate

Among Social Enterprise Chicago’s early initiatives is the Social Enterprise Certificate program co-developed with the University of Illinois at Chicago. Launched in Spring 2019, the program bought together social entrepreneurs, current UIC business students, and socially impactful leaders, from the community and beyond, in a highly successful 16-week program.

Collaboration

SocEntChi looks to partner with other organizations that align with the vision of advancing social enterprise initiatives throughout the Chicago area and beyond. This includes, but is not limited to, co-hosting events, delivering workshops, publishing content, advancing social policy, funding, and investment opportunities.

About SocEntCHI

Our Experience

SEA-Chicago was structured as a regional chapter or affiliate of the Social Enterprise Alliance, a national nonprofit corporation. The decision to establish an independent legal entity was motivated by a desire for greater autonomy and self-governance on the part of local social enterprise advocates.

SEA-Chicago has been among the most vibrant of the Social Enterprise Alliance’s regional chapters, with nearly 100 active members representing metropolitan Chicago’s diverse and thriving social enterprise ecosystem. SEA-Chicago hosted the national Social Enterprise Summit in 2019.

Social Enterprise Chicago is a new, independent not-for-profit organization that builds on the extraordinary legacy of Social Enterprise Alliance’s Chicago chapter. A convener, a collaborator and a catalyst, Social Enterprise Chicago leverages its thought leadership to empower Chicago-area for-profit, nonprofit and hybrid ventures that rely on earned-revenue strategies to advance positive social change.

Decision to Establish an Independent Legal Entity

At its November 19, 2020 meeting, the board of directors of the Social Enterprise Alliance - Chicago Chapter (SEA-Chicago) approved the following resolution:

The board of directors resolves to establish a new nonprofit, tax-exempt entity ...and agrees in principle to work collaboratively with SEA-National to the extent practicable.

who we are

Our Approach

Vision Statement

Harnessing the power of enterprise to foster positive social, economic, and environmental change.

Theory of Change

Social Enterprise Chicago believes that social ventures can play a productive role in advancing positive social, economic, and environmental change by:

deploying strategies that seek to maximize social, economic, and environmental benefit in the way they conduct business;
harnessing growing consumer consciousness about and preferences for businesses that act fairly, humanely, and sustainably;
creating ethical buying options for consumers that reflect their values;
promoting corporate practices and policies that are accountable to all stakeholders; and,
expanding the ethical use of, and access to, technology.

core values

Our Approach

Community - We believe in the power of social entrepreneurs and other partners to make positive social and environmental change and we celebrate the camaraderie and collective impact of the evolving social impact community.

Equity - We believe social enterprise can expand opportunity and create greater equity and inclusion for all people including those facing racial, economic, and social exclusion and oppression.

Innovation - We seek to accelerate social and environmental progress through creative, market-based approaches to address the unmet needs of society.

Integrity - We promote the highest standards of accountability and transparency in the social enterprise field to honor and build public trust in social ventures.

Sustainability - We seek to promote environmental sustainability, reduce global warming and mitigate the effects of climate change through the concerted efforts of social ventures.

Welcome

Accelerating a more caring economy by educating, incubating, and investing

our mission

It’s almost here!

It’s a wrap!

Attend our events

Social Enterprise 2025

For events Get Tickets Here

What We Do

Growing Mission-Driven Ventures

Social Enterprise Certificate

Collaboration

Help Our Cause

About SocEntCHI

Our Experience

who we are

Our Approach

Our Approach

Our Approach

core values

Our Approach

Our Approach

We are currently accepting applications to join our board

Welcome

Accelerating a more caring economy by educating, incubating, and investing

our mission

It’s almost here!

It’s a wrap!

Attend our events

Social Enterprise 2025

For events Get Tickets Here

What We Do

Growing Mission-Driven Ventures

Social Enterprise Certificate

Collaboration

Help Our Cause

About SocEntCHI

Our Experience

who we are

Our Approach

Our Approach

Our Approach

core values

Our Approach

Our Approach

We are currently accepting applications to join our board

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