Until very recently, popular belief held that business skills werenot needed at charitable organizations. No longer. Far frominterfering with an organization s ability to provide neededservices, techniques such as marketing, cash flow analysis,property management, and good use of technology all contribute to acharitable organization s mission capability. Unlike anot-for-profit that thinks of itself as a charity, the successfulnot-for-profit is really a mission-based business. In an era ofrapid change, increasing competition, and the need for moreaccountability to governments, foundations, insurers, and donors,knowing how to innovate, compete, and take reasonable risks onbehalf of the mission is critical. It is, in short, the era of thesocial entrepreneur. The skilled social entrepreneur has the ability to get the mostmission out of the resources at hand including traditional businesstechniques. Finally, here is a book that will help you learn theirtechniques. In Social Entrepreneurship, you will learn howsuccessful social entrepreneurs: * Focus on community wants and needs * Match those with core competencies to provide the qualityservices * Assess risk and gauge opportunity * Develop new project ideas and test their feasibility * Write a business plan * Project finances in the plan * Tap into new sources of funding * Develop the idea of social entrepreneurship throughout theorganization * Make sure that mission, not money, is the bottom line Also included are the seven essential steps of the not-for-profitbusiness development process, real-world case studies, samplebusiness plans, and a self-assessment process to determine if yourorganization is ready for social entrepreneurism. In addition toentrepreneurs, middle managers, policy setters, volunteers, and ahost of other important staff members will get value from themission-beneficial information in this book. Most important, SocialEntrepreneurship will help you to help your organization succeedand thrive and make your job more interesting and productive. Praise for Social Entrepreneurship The Art of Mission-Based Venture Development "A great read . . . contains both the theoretical underpinnings andpractical applications that those of us in nonprofit leadershipbadly need. I will share it with my management team and board."Joseph M. Hafey, President and CEO, Public Health Institute "A sound, practical guide for developing social entrepreneurs.Brinckerhoff makes taking mission-related business risks on behalfof the people served less risky with the step-by-step applicationof business ideas and techniques. Warnings, real-world examples,and hands-on advice keep the reader on track to sensible risktaking." Connie Kirk, President and CEO, Tommy Nobis Center "Peter C. Brinckerhoff s new and masterfully written book has a lotof practical information in it for any organization that wants tolearn how to become and stay entrepreneurial. Brinckerhoff providesthe right kind of information to any organization interested insucceeding in a highly competitive and service-oriented environment. . . [and] stresses the importance of an organization sencouraging innovation and risk only if it does not lose sight ofits core values, its strengths, and its mission. That is excellentadvice for any organization and for anyone who ventures intoentrepreneurial waters." Andrew H. Souerwine, PhD, EmeritusProfessor of Management and Organization The School of BusinessAdministration, University of Connecticut