Social Ventures Archives - Centre for Social Innovation

Adopting Common Measures

Two people looking at a graphs on a piece of paper.

Unleash the impact of your social purpose enterprise

** This program has moved to Social Innovation Canada. For current information, please visit SICanada.org.

Are you interested in…

Clearly communicating your impact to partners, supporters, customers, and donors?
Broadcasting your impact goals and achievements across Canada and globally?
Aligning your impact with one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals (like Good Health and Well-being, Food Security, or Decent Work and Economic Growth)?

We can help you strengthen how you communicate your impact to your stakeholders.

As part of the Adopting Common Measures program, you will get:

One-on-one sessions to help kickstart your impact conversation
Facilitated workshops on the Common Foundation Approach to Impact Measurement
Access to a Community of Practice with similar organizations who want to know more about the benefits of tracking their impact and aligning their goals with the SDGs

Why is impact tracking important? What difference does it make?

Socially-minded customers, partners, supporters, and donors want to know about the impact the organizations they support are making. They will choose to support the businesses and organizations addressing causes they care about, with clear positive impacts.

By clearly communicate your impact, you’ll develop trust, momentum, and further escalate your growth with your supporters.

We can help you:

Track and measure your impact
Tell your impact story

Why align your work the Sustainable Development Goals?

Aligning with one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals shows you care about sustainable growth for future generations.

We can help you:

Track your progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals
Communicate the important difference these goals make to your stakeholders

Community of Practice

Take part in a nationwide discussion around how your organization can effectively track, measure and report progress towards your impact goals.

Through facilitated conversations, content expert presentations, peer-learning, resources and software, the community is there to support your work.

The Community of Practice is free to join and membership is open to Canadian organizations wanting to learn or improve their capacity in social impact measurement.

Members who complete all sessions will receive a Professional Development Certificate: Tracking Social Impact using Common Foundations. This certificate will confirm an understanding and application of the planning, measuring and reporting efforts of your impact.

Our Adopting Common Measures Community of Practice kicks off on Wednesday, January 19, 2022. The Community of Practice will meet every two weeks from January 19 to April 27 – 8 sessions in total.

Our current Community of Practice is at capacity. We will be running another Community of Practice in Fall 2022. Please fill out the form below to get notified when the registration opens, and to receive updates about other upcoming events.

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About Adopting Common Measures

Adopting Common Measures is a national three-year project that aims to support Social Purpose Organizations as they measure and track their impact towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Adopting Common Measures is being led by the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI), in partnership with Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet) and the Common Approach to Impact Measurement. This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Part of the CSI Educates Initiative

At CSI, we equip people, organizations, and systems with the skills, knowledge, and networks to evolve their leadership skills and entrepreneurial competencies. Learn more about our approach here.

Next Economy Conversations

Our monthly tête-à-tête with industry leaders

Around the world, there are movements calling for systems change: a world that is sustainable, equitable, and prosperous for all. But what will that world look like, specifically? How are we each going to play a role in defining those specifics? Next Economy Conversations, our newest event series, brings the people building systems-level solutions into conversation so we can answer those questions, and learn from their successes and failures.

Join us at the next Next Economy Conversation

January 18, 2024

USING YOUR VOICE: A WORKSHOP FOR BIPOC SPOKESPEOPLE WITH THE NOW GROUP

January 7, 2024

Renewal: an online micro retreat

December 11, 2023

Lunch and Learn: Understanding and Adapting Your Communication Style

learn more about our past guests

A group of people are seated and standing in a circle around Tara, Community Manager at CSI Annex. Event takes place on the ground floor of CSI Annex (720 Bathurst St).

Support Social Impact for Giving Tuesday 2023

November 22, 2023

Guides, Member Stories

Giving Tuesday encourages us to “give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. These are some of the CSI members participating in this year’s Giving Tuesday, how your donation will support their impact work, and more information on where to donate.

Canadian Connections team poses at the back of an empty truck

Chatting with Changemakers: Canadian Connections on Becoming a Charity

November 1, 2023

Member Stories

We take a deep dive into the differences between nonprofits and charitable organizations in Canada and look at it through the lens of CSI Member Canadian Connections, who recently transitioned from being a nonprofit to a registered charitable organization.

2023 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and the March for the Land

September 28, 2023

News

September 30 is Orange Shirt Day and Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It’s a day to honour the survivors and victims of the residential school system and reflect on the atrocities Canada committed against Indigenous Peoples.

A view of 720 Bathurst Street. It is a brick building, 5 storeys tall, and we are looking at the eastern facade, which faces Bathurst Street. The northern wall is covered in ivy.

Transforming CSI

September 27, 2023

News, Spaces

We have some big news! The world is changing and so must CSI! We told our members earlier today and now we want to tell you. CSI has made the decision to put 720 Bathurst up for sale and consolidate our operations into CSI Spadina.

CSI Spadina in the ground floor kitchen, looking out towards the lounge and meeting rooms. In the foreground is a kitchen counter, with waffles, toppings, and glasses of coffees and teas. In the background, CSI CEO Tonya Surman is speaking into a microphone on the left. In the middle and on the right, a variety of people stand and sit, listening to her speak.

Who Are Our Community Animators?

August 31, 2023

Member Stories, Programs

One of the keys to CSI's magic is our Community Animator Program (CAP) and, specifically, the Community Animators themselves! Through this program, we've worked with more than 1,000 exceptional individuals who have each brought a little something different, and a little sparkle, to our spaces. And we're so glad to have had them in our community, because we've learned that each and every one of them has some exceptional talents, skills, and experiences to offer the world!

Third floor lounge of CSI Spadina. In the foreground is a light blue loveseat sofa. In the background, we see two people working separately at coworking desks and tables. On the ceiling is a chandelier; to the right, a progress Pride flag.

What Pride Means to Us

June 28, 2023

Staff

The CSI staff team includes Pride veterans, newcomers, and everywhere in between! This year, as we celebrated Pride in our spaces and with our member community, we turned to our staff team to learn what Pride means to them. Some experienced it for the first time this year and were awash in the joy; others delighted in the fact that Pride remains such a fun celebration decades later. Others noted the increasing corporatization, which draws our attention away from the central premise of Pride - a protest.

Women HIV/AIDS Initiative on Collective Action and Community Change

May 17, 2023

Member Stories, Reports & Studies

CSI is many things - a coworking space, a non-profit organization, and a launchpad - but, first and foremost, we are a community. A community of innovators, of changemakers, of neighbours, of people putting people and planet first. And the awesome work that our members do, each and every day, never ceases to amaze us! So of course, we do our best to highlight our members whenever possible. Recently, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Molly Bannerman, Director of Women HIV/Aids Initiative (WHAI), a community-based response to HIV and AIDS among cis and trans women in Ontario. Below is an edited summary of our chat, where we discussed the work of WHAI and their latest Collective Action Community Change report.

Canadian Innovation Week 2023

May 12, 2023

Member Stories, Social Innovation

It's Canadian Innovation Week 2023! This year, we're celebrating with our members and highlighting the world changing work that they do. We're spotlighting just a few of our thousands of members here in the themes of Canadian Innovation Week 2023 - be sure to come by our spaces or join our community to meet the rest of our innovators!

Chatting with Changemakers: Climate Optimism with Andre Forsythe and Amer Jandali

April 28, 2023

Member Stories

Generally, when we see or hear media about climate change, we’re faced with images of destruction: natural disasters, crumbling infrastructure, rising global temperatures and falling levels of polar ice. And sadly, those are all realities - but there’s another reality, too. The communities coming together to envision, work for, and implement a better and brighter future. To close out Earth Month, we spoke to two people in our community about the role that connection, art, and joy play in the climate sector.

Part of the CSI Connects Initiative

CSI Connects helps you build the relationships and collaborations to make change happen. Come to learn, share, make friends and allies. It’s as much about learning as it is about fostering belonging, cohesion and community resilience.

Financialization of Housing

BECAUSE HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT

Housing is a home, the shelter, safety and comfort necessary for individuals and families to thrive, a human right, essential for social and economic wellbeing and one of the most powerful drivers of our economy. Currently, 1.7 million Canadians are in core housing need, and affordable housing is increasingly out of reach for many renters and first-time homebuyers.

The “Financialization of Housing” is a complex system of government policies, financial instruments, individual and corporate behaviors. It is often associated with structural market changes whereby housing is increasingly being treated as a commodity, a means of accumulating wealth, and as securities that are traded and sold on local and global markets. We define the concept of ‘financialization’ as the growing influence of financial instruments, institutions, and investors in local housing markets.

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CSI Institute has partnered with Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and MaRS on a social innovation lab to understand how the Financialization of Housing is impacting housing affordability in Canada, and support the goal of every Canadian having a home they can afford that meets their needs by 2030.

The partners wanted to understand how the Financialization of Housing, securitization and the associated shifts in real estate investment practices are impacting housing affordability.

Part of the CSI Solves Initiative

At CSI, we use labs, social R&D and prototypes that identify new and improved models that can transform existing paradigms and reveal market opportunities. Learn more about our approach here.

Social Entrepreneurship 101

Two middle-aged folks looking at a laptop

Are you looking to grow your entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial competencies to create positive impact and prepare for a fast-changing job market?

As the world looks to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, now is the time for the entrepreneurially-minded to step up to address pressing social and environmental challenges, and to develop the 21st century skills needed to succeed. CSI has teamed up with Alterna Savings to bring you Social Entrepreneurship 101: an 8-week, part-time online program that covers the foundations of social entrepreneurship, from making sure you’ve identified the right problem, to developing a solution, to turning your idea into a sustainable business model. If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, invest in your personal and professional growth, and turn your idea into impact, this is the right course for you!

Details

Develop a network of fellow change-makers through a series of 8 weekly 3-hour sessions. Our highly-engaging sessions meet virtually on Zoom and communicate in our Slack workspace to build a community of practice for our learning journey together. Each session includes activities, tools, case studies, breakout rooms, and cohort-wide discussions. Additionally, this course asks participants to complete 2-4 hours of Action Work outside of our live-sessions to begin putting your ideas into practice.

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participants reported that SE101 has been more impactful than other entrepreneurship programs they have taken

When and Where

Classes begin September 2021
Online: Zoom Classroom and Slack workspace

What You’ll Learn

Social Entrepreneurship 101 is an 8-week program delivered in two phases:

Phase 1 (Weeks 1-4): Explore your purpose as a social entrepreneur. Discover your problem space. Map opportunities for impact.

Together, we’ll begin with some of the big questions you may be asking yourself, such as:

I see so many urgent problems to solve. Which should I focus on specifically, and why?
There are so many things to do to get started. How do I prioritize?
What skills, knowledge, connections, and experience can I leverage to make an impact?
How do I move from idea to action?

Phase 2 (Weeks 4-8): Discover stakeholders. Build your business and financial models. Understand how to measure your impact. Explore funding options.

Questions answered during this phase include:

I have developed a clear idea of the impact that I want my enterprise to generate. How do I design my business to reach this impact?
How can I generate sustainable revenue (and profit) from my social enterprise?
What resources am I going to need to start my enterprise?
What funding models and options should I explore?

By the end of the 8 weeks, you’ll gain experience, confidence, and practice with core competencies in social entrepreneurship such as critical thinking, systems thinking, active listening, storytelling, decision-making, and business modelling.

What’s Included

In addition to the 8-week Social Entrepreneurship 101 online curriculum, participants will also gain access to online CSI community perks:

Invitations to ongoing CSI additional learning online workshops
Access to a SE101 community wide #Slack channel
Access to valuable tools, guides and worksheets for your future use

Who you’ll meet

You will connect with a cohort of changemakers who are similarly driven and committed to making an impact. SE 101 is open to everyone interested in making the world better through entrepreneurial thinking and approaches.

Social Entrepreneurship 101 was developed in partnership with experienced social entrepreneurs, coaches, facilitators, and educators, and based on the learnings from over 10 years of training social enterprises.

If you want to learn the fundamentals of creating a social enterprise, and ensure you make the right decisions and set the right priorities this course is for you!

The program was developed in partnership with experienced social entrepreneurs, coaches, facilitators, and educators, and based on the learnings of over a decade of training social enterprises.

You will feel more capable of driving your social enterprise idea forward with increased confidence. Come to connect with your peers and learn the building blocks of creating a viable social enterprise

PHASE 1: PROBLEM DISCOVERY, SOLUTIONS MAPPING, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPACT

Together, we’ll help answer some of the questions you may be asking yourself, such as:

I see so many problems. Which should I focus on specifically, and why?
Do I have the right skills and enough knowledge to do this?
How do I move from idea to action?
There are so many things to do to get started, how do I prioritize?

WEEK 1

Topic: What are my motivations for wanting to start a social enterprise?
Outcomes: I understand why starting my own social enterprise is a good fit for me.

WEEK 2

Topic: What problem am I passionate about finding a solution to and why?
Outcomes: I have a framework to help me learn more about the ecosystem in which my problem exists.

WEEK 3

Topic: Why are the current solutions to this problem not working?
Outcomes: I have learned techniques to help me connect with those affected by the problem so that I deeply understand what is not working and why.

WEEK 4

Topic: Identifying opportunities for impact (new solutions)
Outcomes: I know (or am closer to knowing) where I can start to focus the efforts of my enterprise and with whom so that I can generate real impact.

PHASE 2: STAKEHOLDER DISCOVERY, BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL MODELS, SOCIAL ENTERPRISE FUNDING OPTIONS AND EXPLORING ENTERPRISE IMPACT

Together, we’ll help answer some of the questions you may be asking yourself, such as:

I have developed a clear idea of the impact that I want my enterprise to generate, how do I design my enterprise to reach this impact?
How can I generate sustainable revenue (and profit) from my social enterprise?
How do I move from idea to action, what areas of my enterprise should I focus on building first?
What resources am I going to need to start my enterprise?
What funding models should I explore?

WEEK 5

Topic: What is the vision and impact goals for my enterprise and who are its stakeholders?
Outcomes: I have a first draft of my enterprise’s compelling vision statement and I know all of the stakeholders that I will need to engage with in order to start testing my ideas.

WEEK 6

Topic: What is a business model?
Outcomes: I can start to get creative in imagining how my enterprise could deliver and generate value in order to achieve impact.

WEEK 7

Topic: What resources will I need to start my enterprise?
Outcomes: I can do a basic financial model to determine what I will need in the short term to get my enterprise off the ground.

WEEK 8

Topic: How could I get my enterprise funded, what options are available and what should I focus on doing next?
Outcomes: I understand some of the funding options available and have a clear idea of what I should focus on next in order to get my enterprise off the ground.

Core Entrepreneurial Competencies You’ll Learn

You will leave this training with some core entrepreneurial competencies that will support you in building an inclusive, meaningful and impact-driven enterprise. These include:

Critical thinking (the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment)
Systems thinking (understanding the numerous factors that contribute to a problem you are wanting to solve)
Decision making (selecting the best course of action that will bring about authentic impact).
Listening (giving one’s attention in order to learn new things without bias or judgment)
Storytelling (crafting and telling stories to better understand the impact that you want to generate)
Business Modelling (how to design an enterprise)

Tools and Guides You’ll Use

Some of the tools and guides we will be using include: Impact Gaps Canvas, Flourishing Business Model Canvas, Research Plan Template, Research Findings Template, Theory of Change, Evaluating Opportunities Worksheet, Enterprise Golden Circle.

We are offering this program at the significantly reduced rate of $100+pay what you can (PWYC)*, discounted from $450. We are also offering five fully-funded scholarships. These scholarships are intended to unlock access, opportunity, and impact for program participants who may face financial constraints to their involvement. All applicants (CSI Members, Non-CSI members, DECAs and PECAs) are eligible to apply. Find details below!

Pricing table for January 2021 Social Entrepreneurship 101 cohort — COVID-19 Considerate Pricing Option 1: $100. Thanks to our sponsor, we’re offering this program at the greatly reduced rate of $100 + Pay What You Can. Regular course price and value at: $450 Option 2: +pwyc. If you are able to pay more than $100, the difference will go towards subsidizing spots for others who may not be able to afford it. Thanks for helping to pay it forward. Option 3: Scholarship. We’re offering five, fully-funded scholarships. Please see details below and apply if you could otherwise not afford to participate.

*Why PWYC? If you are able to pay more for this course than the $100 minimum, your contribution will help others access the program for whom the cost would otherwise be prohibitive. Thanks for helping pay it forward!

Scholarships

In an effort to reduce financial barriers to SE 101 program participation, we are delighted to offer five fully-funded participant scholarships sponsored by Alterna Savings and Credit Union. All applicants (CSI Members, Non-CSI members, DECAs and PECAs) are eligible to apply. Please note that scholarship recipients are expected to attend all 8 Social Entrepreneurship 101 Sessions (other than in extenuating circumstances). Scholarship recipients are also expected to complete all course surveys and commit to a post program interview for Alterna’s internal reporting use.

What are the learning outcomes of this course?

Our course curriculum and learning outcomes are available in the Program Overview tab!

How can I prepare for this course?

Once you complete your Eventbrite registration, we will send you a compilation of ‘Pre-Course Work’ materials that will help you prepare for the 8 weeks of course work to come. Make sure to take the time to complete the work and invest in your journey ahead. Pre-Course Work will include a personal and professional values evaluation, a written reflection of your story of self and entrepreneurial motivations, and pre-course research topics on Social Entrepreneurship.

Do I need to start with a clear business idea to participate?

No, it is not required that you have a clear business idea to participate in SE 101. In fact, many participants use the first 4 weeks of the program to further research and discover the full breadth of their business ideas and potential solutions within the current landscape.

How many hours a week outside the classroom should I be committing to classwork?

You will need to dedicate on average approximately 3 hours outside of class per week towards completing the work for the following class.

How do I maximize my learning in SE101?

It is important that you show up on-time and ready to engage with the material, facilitator and other participants, having already completed your out of class work.

As a perk to this course, you will receive a complimentary day pass to work from CSI Annex for the remainder of your workday. You’re also invited to connect with CSI members and community at Salad Club on Wednesdays after class. Use this time to get to know your fellow classmates and colleagues and further develop your network.

Will I have a working business model upon completion of SE101?

This 8-week course is dedicated to sharing the tools of how to build a successful social enterprise. Upon completion of SE101, you will have developed working models of your social enterprise that will help you to understand how to structure your business for success!

Will I have a completed business plan upon completion of SE101?

There is a wonderful amount of research and modelling that must be done prior to completing your first business plan. Once you complete SE 101, you will have the foundational pieces to begin putting together a successful business plan!

Entrepreneurship courses are being offered at many places. Why should I take this one with CSI?

The Centre for Social Innovation is a community, catalyst, and launch pad for social entrepreneurship and innovation. Accessing the entrepreneurial experience of facilitators, guest speakers, and the community at large offers a more meaningful opportunity for networking and deeper learning. SE101 also uniquely focuses both on personal and professional development.

What tools do I need to complete the course?

You will need a laptop/ computer and access to an internet connection to be able to download and read through weekly materials. It is suggested that you keep a detailed journal to track your weekly progress and enterprise research. Come to class prepared to capture information shared through worksheets and slide shows. Please also bring pen, scratch paper, and post-it notes for your in-class time.

What stage should my business be in to take this course?

This course offers the most value to entrepreneurs who are in the “Ideation” and “Discovery” phases of their businesses.

Ideation: Entrepreneur with an idea, initial market and technology exploration

Discovery: Value proposition established, testing ideas, proof of concept achieved, identifying customers

I do not have a particular business idea, but want to learn more about how to be a social entrepreneur. Is this course useful?

This course is extremely useful to individuals wishing to learn more about what it means to be a social entrepreneur. You will learn how to holistically understand the roles and driving motivations of a thriving social enterprise and what it means to generate meaningful entrepreneurial impact.

Many successful social entrepreneurs begin as socially and environmentally aware citizens who are passionate and in search of meaningful solutions to the communities they are a member of or intending to generate solutions for. This is a great opportunity to gain access to incredible tools and learnings towards those outcomes!

I currently work for a company and do not want to start my own enterprise. Is this course still useful?

Yes, it can be. If you are a part of a company where you want to generate impact for meaningful change, even within your own corporate culture, this is a great place to begin. SE101 gives you the opportunity to develop your storytelling skills, research abilities, and systems thinking approaches to understand and address complex challenges.

I have more questions, who should I contact?

Get in touch with the SE 101 course facilitator, Peggy Sue Deaven, at PeggySue[at]socialinnovation.ca.

“Ever wondered how to turn your professional and academic experience, personal values and ideas of social change and impact into action? This course is the place to start! You’ll be inspired and encouraged into action!” – Astrid Arumae – Réseau d’Entraide Covid-19 Help Hub – Montréal, QC

“Amazing course that allows all users to feel supported and comfortable sharing and encourages individual and group learning of self and business. You are thoroughly guided along a well lit path and emerge a stronger and more confident entrepreneur on the other side. Complete with resources and learning tools and a network of like minded business people that become friends.” – Tim O’Hara – Hulpr – Kingston, ON

“Social Entrepreneurship 101 has laid the groundwork for ongoing self development in an optimistic and promising realm. It has helped me begin to build the muscle of financial thinking and offered a vocabulary that honors both my values and my needs.” – Siddan Chandra – Kidocracy – Toronto, ON

“My experience in the SE101 course was awesome! I was able not only to learn new things but also to get outside of my comfort zone. This course allowed me to understand how to transform ideas into feasible projects. I would recommend this course to any person that is looking forward to building connections or that is also starting a new project and would like to share their ideas with others. This course was one of my highlights of the year 2020 amids the COVID-19 pandemic! This was an opportunity for me to get outside of Ecuador and learn with an international cohort from my house!” – Mateo Tobar – LAB-XXI – Ecuador

“Social Enterprise 101 is about more than the nuts and bolts of building your social enterprise – don’t be surprised if you find yourself (pleasantly) challenged to do a lot of looking inside yourself, understanding your story and seeing how that is a major lever to achieving your dreams.” – Lee Weiler – Edmonton, AB

“Social entrepreneurs are going to be essential to help author a new social contract and reset the economy. If you’re looking to make your mark on the universe, using business as a tool, SE 101 is a great place to start.” – Michael Szego – Third Party – Toronto, ON

“As SE 101’s instructor, Peggy’s consistent energy during weekly classes and proactive effort to keep attendees engaged was commendable! In terms of various topics covered, I felt that storytelling exercises sprinkled through the 8 weeks was a solid way to help build/hone this critical business skill. Other than that, my favorite course topics based on coverage and discussions were – Desk Research, Discovery Interviews, Gaps Canvas, Enterprise Golden Circle, FBCanvas, Business Models, and Financial Models. Behind-the-scenes, Peggy was always available to address queries, offer follow-up discussions and reviews, and go above and beyond my making introductions to other entrepreneurs (or aspiring ones) in the same ecosystem and creating a Slack channel specifically for the ecosystem I plan to be in. Keep up the good work!” – Vishal Asthana – Toronto, ON (CSI DECA)

“SE101 strikes a thoughtful balance between the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of social entrepreneurship. The deep knowledge of the facilitator and the thoughtful support and engagement with the other participants was invaluable. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in social entrepreneurship.” – Ashley Goff – Raising Giants – Edmonton, AB

“I started with a vague idea and throughout the SE101 course, it got more focussed and clear. I don’t know whether I’ll see my idea grow into a real social enterprise or a charity, but I’m committed to it becoming SOMETHING. It made me aware of opportunities for connection and collaboration with others that I probably wouldn’t have noticed. It gave me the confidence to talk about my idea in a short and snappy elevator pitch, and articulate a connection to my deepest values. I felt honoured to be with so many passionate, dedicated and visionary people developing their own ideas to make the world a better place.” – Edelweiss D’Andrea – Occupational Therapist – Ottawa, ON

“Ògo Tàwa Inc., would not have the successes that attract strategic alliances, partners, influencers, and funders towards our organization today without the help of Social Entrepreneurship 101, CSI staff, and my fellow Social Entrepreneurship 101 comrades. The Social Entrepreneurship 101 course is a game changer, a venture booster, the essential preparation and nurturing environment for any intelligent-minded, ambitious social entrepreneur. It is best in class. Take it from me, a Harvard trained professional, this course is of Ivy-League standard, with leadership training skills, hands-on interactive learning, and competitive edge to propel social entrepreneurs towards exponential business successes that solve society’s pressing problems while ferreting out rewarding financial resources. Overcome your business woes with this course! Guidance from Peggy Sue Deaven the CSI program facilitator is like having access to a business super-power! I really have been more impactful with her guidance.” – Khalidah Bello – Ògo Tàwa Inc. – Toronto, ON

Alterna is guided by a commitment to support the well-being of their members, employees and communities. They promote community economic development through micro-lending initiatives, financially literacy training, charitable activities and by continually strive to be transparent at every level of their operation. We are grateful to have their sponsorship for CSI’s Social Entrepreneurship 101 Program!

Roll up your sleeves, invest in your growth, and turn your idea into impact

SE101 student listening to a speaker. Photographer: Sammy Tangir

Coloured post-it notes layered on top of one another. Photographer: Sammy Tangir

SE101 students listening to Peggy Sue Deaven speak. Photographer: Sammy Tangir

SE101 student taking notes in class. Photographer: Sammy Tangir

Part of the CSI Educates Initiative

At CSI, we equip people, organizations, and systems with the skills, knowledge, and networks to evolve their leadership skills and entrepreneurial competencies. Learn more about our approach here.

CSI Coaches

Two smiling women, one pointing at a computer monitor to demonstrate something to the other

Mentorship for women entrepreneurs

Creating a resilient, sustainable social enterprise model involves community – not only those who support your business, but also those who support YOU, the entrepreneur. Through CSI Coaches, we offer one-on-one coaching to help you create long-lasting positive impact.

Whether you are looking to…

Develop and validate your business model;
Establish your value proposition;
Build a sustainable financial model;
Create an engaging and effective marketing strategy;
Fundraise or secure investment;
Hone your pitch and narrative;
Refine your leadership style;
Pivot or adapt your organization as the impact of COVID-19 continues to develop;

…or want support in starting or growing your venture, we can help!

CSI, in partnership with Lean4Flourishing and WOSEN, is offering social entrepreneurship coaching spots to 25 women-identified & gender non-binary social entrepreneurs that are creating social and/or environmental impact.

Through this program, we will match you with an expert coach to support you in navigating the challenges of social entrepreneurship.

Applications are now closed.

You will be assigned to a skilled and experienced social enterprise coach and you will receive five, 90-minute coaching sessions.

If you are selected for CSI Coaches, you will be matched with a highly skilled social enterprise coach. Our team of coaches have valuable experience in various aspects of social entrepreneurship in a variety of sectors and contexts – from building robust financial models to pitch deck presentations. Through our intake process you will be matched with a coach that is most aligned with your work and can provide the best support to you and your organization.

Applicant Requirements

You identify as a woman or gender non binary
Leading a social purpose business – that can be a charity, nonprofit, or social enterprise (Note: you do not have to be revenue-generating yet)
The social enterprise is at least 51% women or non binary owned or led.
Your social enterprise has a product or service that will create measurable positive impact in your community
You are motivated and receptive to learning, feedback, and new ideas
You want to be part of and contribute to an outstanding community of women
You reside within Central Ontario
You are at least 18 years old

Canadian citizenship is not required to participate in the Women Coaching Women Program.

Participant Commitment

Be able to commit to your assigned coaching sessions. If you have to cancel, please do so at least 48 hours in advance.

One-on-one coaching to help you create lasting impact

Photo credit: Christina Morillo on Pexels

About WOSEN

The Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network (WOSEN) offers a suite of programs for women interested in starting or growing their own ventures that seek to have a positive social, cultural or environmental impact through their operations, and/or the sale of their products or services.

Although collectively the term ‘women’ is used throughout this page, WOSEN is dedicated to equity and inclusion, and seeks to support women-identified and gender non-binary entrepreneurs from underserved and underrepresented communities. This includes Indigenous women, women in rural or remote regions, racialized women, newcomer women, LGBTQ2+, women with disabilities, and those who identify as gender non-binary.

WOSEN works to unleash the entrepreneurial energy and capacity of women who have solutions that put people and the planet first. Together, we are redesigning how business supports are provided so these entrepreneurs can build the skills, make the connections, and receive the coaching needed to achieve their missions.

See all the initiatives within the WOSEN program here!

Partners and Funders

WOSEN is funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. The Government of Canada is advancing gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and supporting women entrepreneurs through the new Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, announced in the Budget 2018. It is a $2-billion investment that seeks to double the number of women-owned businesses by 2025.

Fed Dev Ontario

Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network

Part of the CSI Educates Initiative

At CSI, we equip people, organizations, and systems with the skills, knowledge, and networks to evolve their leadership skills and entrepreneurial competencies. Learn more about our approach here.

WOSEN’s Investment Readiness Supports

As an entrepreneur it can be challenging to find and prepare for the right grant, loan, or investment opportunity.

We are here to help!

The Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network (WOSEN) is hosting Investment Readiness Supports for trans women, cis women, and Two-Spirit, non-binary, and genderqueer individuals who lead established social ventures, who have a defined capital need, and who are preparing for funding or investment in the coming year.

Registration is now closed.

Where

Meet us online: Zoom Classroom and on the Common Platform.

What You’ll Gain

As a participant, you’ll…

Improve your venture story and presentation
Get to know the funding landscape
Map out a clear and actionable funding and capital plan
Understand when a grant, a loan, or an investment is best for your venture
Prepare for current funding opportunities matched to your needs

What’s Included

Participate in one 3-hour program orientation where you will begin to develop your funding and capital plan for your venture.

You then can choose to participate in the following offerings:

Join a monthly workshop that dives deep into investment readiness with special guests and exercises that help you to develop a funding and capital plan
Meet with us one-to-one to review your plan, or your funding submissions
Participate in monthly peer circles where your peers share back valuable insights and peer support
Our team will research funding opportunities matched to your needs
Find funding and opportunity updates on The Common Platform

We aim to provide a tailored approach to meet the needs of your venture and industry.

Eligibility Criteria

You are a woman, Two-Spirit, non-binary or genderqueer individual
Founder or 51% ownership of a social purpose business – that can be a charity, non-profit, or social enterprise that is revenue-generating and has a defined social or environmental purpose
You must be…
- Generating earned revenue or seeking R&D investment into your product
- Incorporated as a for-profit, not-for-profit, cooperative, or charity
- Working full-time on the venture
- Seeking to raise capital for a defined purpose through a loan application, or a grant, or an equity raise over the next 12- 24 months, or seeking to receive COVID response supports

If you are thinking about this opportunity but are in an earlier stage of development, please look our WOSEN page for social venture start-up and growth programs that can help you get started on your business plan or support your business strategy.

Investment Readiness Supports is brought to you by the Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network (WOSEN), a collaboration with the Centre for Social Innovation, SVX, Pillar Nonprofit Network and the NORDIK Institute. Funding isprovided through the Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy, Canada.

About WOSEN

WOSEN is dedicated to equity and inclusion, and the term “women” is used collectively throughout this page. We serve trans and cis women, and our programming is inclusive of Two-Spirit, non-binary, and genderqueer individuals. We prioritize those from underserved and underrepresented communities, including Indigenous folks, folks in rural or remote regions, racialized folks, newcomer folks, LGBTQ2+, and folks with disabilities.

Our programming works to unleash the entrepreneurial energy and capacity of women who have solutions that put people and the planet first. Together, we are redesigning how business supports are provided so these entrepreneurs can build the skills, make the connections, and receive the coaching needed to achieve their missions.

See all the programs within the WOSEN initiative here!

Partners and Funders

Fed Dev Ontario

Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network

Part of the CSI Invests Initiative

At CSI we take on early experiments to invest, incubate, fund and finance the Next Economy. Learn more about our approach here.

WOSEN’s Grow Program

Smiling woman about to draw on whiteboard

Do you want to move your business forward with confidence?

Are you looking to build traction, expand your partnership and network opportunities, and develop yourself further as a social entrepreneur?

We’re here to help!

CSI and the Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network (WOSEN) have designed a twenty-week program to support a cohort of ten women social entrepreneurs as they build, refine, and test their business models, and learn new skills to help them succeed. We serve trans and cis women, and programming is inclusive of Two-Spirit, non-binary, and genderqueer individuals.

You will collaborate with a supportive community of facilitators, experts, coaches, and a cohort of peers as you explore two main themes throughout the program: 1) business model development and 2) leadership. We will support you through an immersive learning journey with a hands-on, practical approach to refining and validating your business model. You will engage in focused research to identify the key market gaps you want to address and conduct interviews with potential clients and partners to help you validate your business model and test critical assumptions.

Our team will support you in developing emergent strategies to refine and differentiate your product or service based on your research insights. You will gain leadership skills and competencies required to better understand your market and build your business strategy with intention and impact. Participation is free, we take no equity, and your intellectual property remains your own!

Applications for Grow cohort are now closed.

INDIVIDUAL COACHING

PEER ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS

ONLINE WORKSHOPS AND EXPERT SESSIONS

TOOLS AND RESOURCES

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND FREE CSI MEMBERSHIP