The purpose of the IISE is to inspire, educate, and equip generations of positive social change agents with the tools they need to create economically sustainable social enterprises.
Social Enterprise As a Social Business Intervention
What is a social entrepreneurship?
“Social Entrepreneurship: A Practical Introduction” defines social entrepreneurship as the process of using commercial business techniques to generate revenue that is used to combat social problems. The term social enterprise refers to the organizations engaging in the process of combating social problems using entrepreneurial activity. These organizations can be for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations, or a combination of both organizational structures.
An example of a social enterprise is Newman’s Own, which sells beverages, mints, and salad dressing and donates all of its profits to different health-based charities through its nonprofit organization - The Newman’s Own Foundation. There are many ways to design social enterprises. IISE teaches you how through books, training, retreats, and workshops.
Figure Source: “Social Entrepreneurship: A Practical Introduction” by Dr. Rasheda L. Weaver
The Biden-Harris Administration’s Global Leaders – African Descent Social Entrepreneurship Network
As a result of the impact of my work globally, I was invited to join the Biden-Harris Administration’s Global Leaders – African Descent Social Entrepreneurship Network in March 2023!
I am one of 100 social entrepreneurs (only 25 from the United States) to launch this global network spanning of leaders of African Descent from 25 countries.
This is an exchange program and a challenge where Americans in the network team up with leaders of African descent from other nations to create innovations and social enterprises that advance economic and social prosperity in the United States, their home countries, and beyond.
Thank you to the Department of State for sponsoring this program and to World Learning for graciously leading it. Their investment into the International Institute for Social Entrepreneurship speaks volumes about the quality, reach, and promise of the work IISE is doing.
Offerings
Social entrepreneurship is a journey with different stepping stones. IISE offers different services that inspire, educate, and equip social entrepreneurs at different stages of their journey.
Books
My first book “Social Entrepreneurship: A Practical Introduction” is now available globally!
Being a former university professor, I wrote “Social Entrepreneurship: A Practical Introduction” to be used in and out of the classroom. It is written in an inspirational and general format, but its contents grant you an overview of the growing field of social entrepreneurship. It’s a short read and guide. Each chapter can be read in isolation for targeted information or you can read the whole book from cover to cover.
Are you a faculty member? Request a faculty partner packet.
My second book “Make Money and Do Good With It: A 5-Step Roadmap” will be published in 2025. This book is written for a general audience and is meant to be a one-stop shop for launching a social enterprise for your unique lifestyle goals.
Training
Experience the Social Enterprise Bootcamp!
The “Ready, Set, Launch: Social Enterprise Bootcamp” is a 5-step social entrepreneurship bootcamp that equips participants with the tools needed to design and launch a social venture.
This bootcamp is available LIVE online and we also have an online course that you can take at your leisure. In the past, we have hosted the bootcamp in person but IISE now offers an online bootcamp.
Curriculum: 5-Step Roadmap To Sustainable Social Entrepreneurship
Step 1: Defining Your Vision – Using Your Gifts to Create Your Dream Life!
Step 2: Financial Planning for Your Business and Life
Step 3: Customer Discovery
Step 4: Asset Mapping and Action Planning
Step 5: 90-Day Action Plan
Bootcamp Testimonials
Curated Coaching for Social Entrepreneurs
Curated Coaching for the Social Entrepreneurship Journey
I have studied over 1,000 social enterprises and have found 4 major phases of their social entrepreneurship journey. I TRANSFORMED my findings into a stage-based curated coaching program where I guide social entrepreneurs throughout their journey.
Stage 1: Potential Social Entrepreneur ( aspiring social entrepreneur with a great vision, but has not taken action yet).
Stage 2: Nascent Social Entrepreneur (seed-stage social entrepreneur that is actively setting up their social enterprise).
Stage 3: Owner/ Manager Social Entrepreneur (early-stage social entrepreneur that has been operating for 1-3 years and is regularly generating revenue)
Stage 4: Established Visionary Social Entrepreneur (in business more than 3.5 years and making well over six figures and may be making seven figures annually).
Learn More
New to social entrepreneurship? Watch me explain it on the news!
New to WSED? Watch the overview!
“Revolutionaries and heroes never
left it up to the system to fix or create the solution.
They become the solution”
- Lalah Delia
Terms and Conditions
The International Institute for Social Entrepreneurship (IISE) by Weaver’s Social Enterprise Directory, Inc. is a Benefit Corporation (a for-profit social business) that aims to advance the social enterprise sector by educating and equipping people with knowledge, resources, and opportunities related to social entrepreneurship.
IISE strives to provide the best service for its customers, while also recognizing the depth of work that it takes to build the intellectual products that we offer and their easily consumable nature. Coaching sessions purchased may be refunded for the full amount within one week of purchase. Digital products such as databases, workshops, bootcamps, and resources are non-refundable. IISE does not offer discounts on any product or service.