At SEWF 2023 in Amsterdam an exciting new initiative was unveiled.
“As the custodian of ‘People and Planet First’, SEWF will be working hard to ensure that it supports our ecosystem building efforts and enables the increased visibility, reach and influence of the global social enterprise movement. But ‘People and Planet First’ belongs to everyone and it is our hope that all of you will soon breathe life and meaning into it, amplify it and make it part of your story. “ – Hélène Malandain, Chair, SEWF
More will be revealed soon.
Check out the wrap-up blog of the event here.
Nitpicky wording can distract from the big picture that Hélène mentions, to transition back to the essence of life on this planet - together.
Sometimes the social enterprise conundrum is finding the middle ground between non-profit and charity work vs profit-driven business.
First hearing about the “Profit First” approach highlights the dilemma of the importance of language around our impact and purpose-driven missions.
Profit First addresses small businesses and self-employed contractors who are forever bootstrapping and struggling. The advice to put one’s own profit aside first and then influence expenses and income is sound budget advice that many of our enabler hubs are applying and sharing as capability builders. But it doesn’t end there.
All the 3 P’s work together. People, Planet, Profit. But has profit become a dirty word? What determines the weight should be given to each P?
Then there are the slippery slopes of green and social washing. The definition is:
“When an organisation spends more time and money on marketing itself as environmentally (insert preferred virtue as adjective with a -y on the end) friendly than on actually minimising its environmental (insert virtue) impact”.
And emerging from various internet rabbit holes is more food for thought on the difference between “not-for-profit” and “non-profit” wording.
Until next time
Ngā mihi