How for-profit businesses and NGOs can
reduce their distance and cooperate
 For-profit
businesses and NGOs operate in
different sectors with hardly any meeting
points
 CSR?
 Donations?
 POWER
INEQUALITY
 Business
is business
 Market rulez
 NGOs are needy, low-status, charitable
organizations with philantropic ambitions
 Business
is evil
 Market is evil
 For profits exploit employees/environment
 Cooperations
 NGOs
based on needs
need
-
Income
New connections
Acknowledgment /respectable status
Sensitive social environment
-
BUT WHAT MIGHT BUSINESSES NEED?
-
 NEED:
A
better image
 Bigger market
 Affordable services
 Cost reduction
 FOR-PROFITS
SEEK:
Economically sound solutions
Socially sound solutions
 NGOs
SEEK:
Solutions in line with their mission
Marketable and profitable solutions (which
enable them to build connections in the
entire society thus promoting their aims and
causes)
 Austrian
So-Pro initiative (Soziale Produziert)
 Products
produced by social enterprises
 Production spares resources, as it is
produced:
Locally
 By local partnerships
 By supported employment
 From waste materials

 Supporting
social enterprises’ appearance in
the market
 Preparing
 Finding
cooperation with for-profit actors
common opportunities for
cooperation
 Preparig
the international network
 Preparing
a European trademark (high
quality, economically and socially sustainable
product)
 Cooperation
with Danube Region Strategy

Industrial waste of a matress producing company is turned
into construction toy cubes by people employed by Caritas

Gardening jobs are done by mentally handicapped people
at a car dealership

Coffeepods from a cafeteria are turned into jewellery by
under-educated and drug-addicted young people

Bags are produced from waterproof textile banners
previously produced and used by an advertising agency
 BASIC
PRINCIPLES:
Environmental awareness
 Social responsibility
 Economic responsibility (reasonable wages,
free from tax evasion and corruption)

IT IS NOT:
- Donation / Charity / CSR
 It
accepts that market is profit-oriented
 It
accepts the basic principles how the
market works
 It
emphasizes responsibility and
sustainability: they are a priority for all
actors
 We
work as advisors with both parties



We build connections
We introduce the model
We explore opportunities
(with state sector actors cooperation is also
possible, local authorities, etc)
A much more gradual process
1.
Fundraising techniques (donations, volunteers, etc) – 1st stage of
social enterprises
2.
Finding services our products they can supply even if only temporarily
or seasonally – handicappes people making Christmas decorations –
how and where to sell it – involvement of professionals,eg.a designer –
2nd stage of social enterprises
3.
Services or products which are self-sustaining – environmentalist NGO
letting accommodation in a house in a forest – thus making it possible
for the activists to use it for free – market research, marketing,
business plan – all needed. -3rd stage of social enterprises
4.
Profitable product or service is developed and launched – a full scale
business by the NGO though the profit is used in order to help the
beneficiaries, the NGO’s target group – 4th stage of social enterprises