Beyond Profit is currently hosting a discussion forum on SocialEdge.org focused on hybrid and dual structures for social enterprise. Come join the conversation, or read the comments and questions already on the table.
Why are we talking about hybrid structures? The desire to combine social and commercial in the pursuit of an outcome has led to creative ways to structure an enterprise—often known as a hybrid model or dual structure, because it combines a nonprofit arm with a for-profit arm.
While hybrid structures are innovative, they are, in essence, stopgap measures to get around the fact that in most countries, there is no legal label that meets the needs of an entity that exists to provide social good and yet makes a profit. Is splitting a venture into for-profit and non-profit actually just a crafty way of getting around the fact that your venture is NOT economically self-sufficient? Is it truly possible for a profit-making company to separate itself from its nonprofit counterpart?Could the creation of new legal structures actually slow down real large-scale change in mainstream business?
Join us on SocialEdge to explore these questions about hybrid and dual structures over the next few weeks.
kawser Said,
January 20, 2010 @ 1:04 pm
social non-profit commercial system is possible and viable. look towards Bangladesh and its scheme of micro credit. you will get the answer.