General
CCHD: Social Purpose Enterprises
Catholic Campaign for Human Development Economic Development Initiatives -- Social Purpose Initiatives
REDF, formerly known as the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund, defines a social purpose enterprise as a revenue-generating venture founded by a nonprofit to create jobs or training opportunities for very low-income individuals, while simultaneously operating with reference to the financial bottom-line.
Social Purpose Enterprises focus on the development of a business that has an integral, on-the-job training component that opens up the possibility of placement in other mainstream businesses once workers have acquired certain skills. Economic Development Institutions that organize community members experiencing multiple barriers to employment may develop these businesses in order to create jobs and promote participatory control and decision-making.