Inglés para el Emprendimiento Social

"theory of change"

A model explaining how an organisation's activities lead to desired social outcomes.

"Our theory of change shows how job training reduces long-term unemployment in the community."

"social impact"

The significant positive or negative effect an organisation has on the well-being of a community.

"We publish an annual report measuring the social impact of our clean-water initiative."

"mission drift"

The gradual shift away from an organisation's original social purpose, often caused by financial pressures.

"The board warned that accepting corporate sponsorships could lead to mission drift."

"double bottom line"

The principle of measuring both financial performance and social value creation.

"Our investors understand we operate on a double bottom line, not profit alone."

"beneficiary"

A person or group who directly receives the benefits of a social programme.

"We interviewed 200 beneficiaries to evaluate whether the housing programme met their needs."

"impact metrics"

Quantitative and qualitative indicators used to measure social outcomes.

"Strong impact metrics help donors understand exactly where their money goes."

"intended outcome"

The specific social change an organisation aims to achieve through its activities.

"The intended outcome of this literacy programme is to raise reading levels by two grades within one year."

"social return on investment (SROI)"

A framework for measuring the value created by social activities relative to resources invested.

"Our SROI analysis showed that every dollar spent generated seven dollars of social value."

"impact investing"

Investing with the intention of generating measurable social or environmental benefit alongside a financial return.

"Impact investing is attracting a new generation of investors who want their portfolios to reflect their values."

"grant writing"

The process of applying for funding from foundations or governments by submitting a formal proposal.

"She spent three months on grant writing to secure funding for the community garden project."

"venture philanthropy"

A high-engagement funding approach combining financial investment with capacity-building support for social enterprises.

"The foundation's venture philanthropy programme offered both seed capital and mentoring."

"revenue diversification"

The strategy of developing multiple income streams to reduce financial dependency on a single source.

"Revenue diversification protects the organisation when government grants are cut."

"blended finance"

The strategic use of development finance to mobilise additional private sector investment for sustainable development.

"Blended finance helped de-risk the project, attracting commercial banks that would otherwise stay away."

"social bond"

A fixed-income instrument used to raise capital for social projects with measurable outcomes.

"The city issued a social bond to fund affordable housing for low-income families."

"crowdfunding campaign"

An online fundraising effort that pools small contributions from a large number of people.

"Their crowdfunding campaign raised $80,000 from over 1,500 supporters in just three weeks."

"patient capital"

Long-term investment that accepts lower returns and a longer time horizon to support sustainable social enterprises.

"Patient capital is essential for social enterprises that need years to achieve scale."

"social enterprise"

A business that trades primarily for social or environmental purposes and reinvests profits toward its mission.

"The social enterprise employs people leaving homelessness and reinvests all profits into housing support."

"benefit corporation (B Corp)"

A for-profit company certified for meeting high standards of social and environmental performance and transparency.

"Becoming a B Corp signalled to customers that we hold ourselves to a higher standard."

"community interest company (CIC)"

A type of limited company designed for social enterprises that use their profits and assets for the public good.

"We registered as a community interest company so that our assets are permanently locked in for community benefit."

"cooperative model"

A member-owned and democratically governed business structure in which profits are shared among members.

"The worker cooperative model gave every employee an equal voice in major business decisions."

"hybrid organisation"

An entity that combines characteristics of both nonprofit and for-profit business models to achieve social goals.

"As a hybrid organisation, we generate earned income while pursuing a charitable mission."

"asset lock"

A legal provision ensuring that an organisation's assets are used for its social mission and cannot be distributed to private individuals.

"The asset lock reassures donors that the endowment will always serve the community."

"fiscal sponsorship"

An arrangement in which an established nonprofit provides legal and financial umbrella services to a new project.

"Fiscal sponsorship allowed the grassroots initiative to accept tax-deductible donations before incorporating."

"earned income strategy"

A plan for generating revenue through the sale of goods or services to reduce reliance on donations and grants.

"Their earned income strategy—selling reusable bags—now covers 40% of operating costs."

"community engagement"

The process of building ongoing relationships with community members to inform and shape programmes.

"Community engagement workshops revealed that residents needed childcare, not just job skills training."

"stakeholder mapping"

The process of identifying and analysing all parties who have an interest in or are affected by an organisation's activities.

"Stakeholder mapping helped us prioritise who to consult before launching the new service."

"co-design"

A participatory approach to designing products or services where end users are active partners in the creation process.

"Through co-design, the refugee community helped shape a language app that actually fits their daily lives."

"accountability framework"

A structured system of policies and practices ensuring an organisation answers to its beneficiaries and funders.

"The accountability framework includes quarterly reporting to the community advisory board."

"participatory budgeting"

A democratic process in which community members directly decide how to allocate part of a public or organisational budget.

"Participatory budgeting allowed local residents to direct $200,000 toward park improvements."

"grassroots movement"

A social change effort driven by ordinary community members rather than established institutions or wealthy donors.

"What started as a grassroots movement in one neighbourhood eventually influenced national policy."

"lived experience"

Personal, first-hand knowledge of a social issue, especially valued in designing services for affected communities.

"We deliberately recruit advisors with lived experience of homelessness to guide our strategy."

"social license to operate"

Ongoing community approval and acceptance of an organisation's activities in a given area.

"Without a genuine social license to operate, even well-funded programmes face resistance."

"scaling impact"

Expanding the reach and depth of a social intervention so that more people benefit from its outcomes.

"Our goal for year three is scaling impact from 500 to 5,000 families served annually."

"replication model"

A strategy for spreading a proven social programme to new locations, either by the original organisation or licensed partners.

"The replication model allows partner organisations in five cities to deliver our curriculum under the same brand."

"systems change"

Deep, durable shifts in the structures, policies, and mind-sets that underlie a persistent social problem.

"Distributing food parcels helps families today, but only systems change will end food insecurity."

"capacity building"

Strengthening the skills, knowledge, and resources of an organisation or community to achieve its goals more effectively.

"The foundation provided capacity building grants to help small charities improve their financial management."

"knowledge transfer"

The process of sharing expertise, best practices, and lessons learned between organisations or regions.

"Knowledge transfer workshops allowed our Kenya team to adapt the programme for the local context."

"proof of concept"

An early-stage demonstration that a social model or product can work as intended before full-scale investment.

"The six-month pilot served as a proof of concept that the mentoring approach reduces school dropout rates."

"strategic partnership"

A formal alliance between two or more organisations to achieve goals that neither could reach as effectively alone.

"A strategic partnership with the local university gave us access to research expertise and student volunteers."

"franchise model"

A growth strategy in which a social enterprise licenses its brand, systems, and methods to independent operators in new markets.

"Using a franchise model, the social bakery expanded to twelve cities while maintaining consistent quality standards."

"policy advocacy"

Efforts to influence public policy decisions in order to create structural change that benefits marginalised groups.

"The coalition's policy advocacy led to new regulations requiring living wages in public contracts."

"narrative change"

Shifting the dominant cultural story or framing around a social issue to build support for new solutions.

"Narrative change work reframed poverty as a systemic failure rather than a personal failing."

"coalition building"

The process of forming alliances among different organisations and groups to advance a shared social goal.

"Coalition building across sectors—health, education, and housing—gave the campaign greater political weight."

"evidence-based advocacy"

Using rigorous research data and evaluation findings to support arguments for policy change.

"Our evidence-based advocacy report persuaded the city council to fund early childhood intervention."

"public awareness campaign"

A coordinated effort to inform the general public about a social issue and motivate action or attitudinal change.

"The public awareness campaign doubled the number of people who sought mental health support."

"lobbying"

The act of attempting to influence decisions made by government officials or legislators on behalf of a particular cause.

"Within legal limits, the nonprofit engaged in lobbying to protect funding for rural health clinics."

"social norm change"

Deliberate efforts to shift widely held attitudes and behaviours in a community to support a more equitable society.

"Social norm change around domestic violence requires sustained community education over many years."

"power mapping"

An analytical tool that identifies key decision-makers whose support or opposition will determine a campaign's success.

"Power mapping revealed that the school principal was the critical gatekeeper for our programme to enter the district."