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Growing an ESE

Learn more about how to grow your ESE to new and sustainable heights!

Welcome to the pivotal stage of growing your Employment Social Enterprise (ESE), where your vision expands and the possibilities are boundless. This phase involves a strategic process of evaluating feasibility and crafting a comprehensive strategy for pursuing new avenues of expansion, each holding the potential to amplify your social impact.

Growing an ESE isn’t just about scaling up; it’s about making well-informed choices that align with your mission and values. These choices may include exploring new business lines, launching innovative products, diversifying your sales channels, establishing partnerships with government agencies, or expanding your reach into new geographical areas.

A thoughtfully developed growth plan is your compass in this journey. It empowers you to allocate your limited resources optimally, ensuring they are directed toward the most promising initiatives. It also equips you to analyze growth options from various angles, considering social, financial, operational, and organizational aspects. Importantly, it enables you to effectively communicate the rationale behind your growth decisions to key stakeholders, including your dedicated employees, board members, and valued funders.

In this section of our website, our comprehensive resources will equip you with the knowledge and tools to assess the requirements for your growth journey, from personnel and equipment to facilities, all while carefully considering the potential impact on your current operations.We understand that growth can be both exhilarating and challenging, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Welcome to the world of expanding possibilities and deepening impact. Your journey to grow your Employment Social Enterprise is not just about doing more; it’s about doing more with purpose. Together, we’ll continue to shape a brighter future for your organization and the communities it serves. Get ready to embark on this exciting adventure of growth and positive change.

Resources For Your Journey

Showing 1 to 10 of 77 posts
14 minutes | Raising Capital & Fundraising | Grow a Social Enterprise, Manage a Social Enterprise

Annual Giving Overview

The strategic purpose of annual giving is to activate generosity through compelling content. Annual giving is probably the most common strategy in fundraising.
5 minutes | Leadership & Talent | Grow a Social Enterprise, Manage a Social Enterprise

Board Composition Survey Template

Part of effective board governance is to keep in mind the expertise, skills and demographics that you ideally wish to have represented on our board, and then surveying board membership to identify gaps that may be targeted for future board recruitment. This sample survey breaks down board composition by: professional expertise, areas of influence, and demographic information.
6 minutes | Leadership & Talent | Grow a Social Enterprise, Manage a Social Enterprise

Board vs. Staff Responsibilities Chart & Tools Checklist

This chart provides a quick break down of what management/the exec team at an ESE should be responsible for and what the board is responsible for. The checklist lists tools you can use to clarify roles, responsibilities and processes related to governance.
Employee Success Program, Leadership & Talent | Grow a Social Enterprise, Manage a Social Enterprise

Continuing Education Series: Building Trauma-Informed Workplaces- Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care

Attendees will learn about the core principles of TIC, understand its relevance in ESE settings, and explore practical strategies for integrating TIC into their work. The goal is to equip attendees with foundational knowledge of TIC to enhance their ability to support individuals who have experienced trauma, fostering more supportive and effective work environments.
Employee Success Program, Leadership & Talent | Grow a Social Enterprise, Manage a Social Enterprise

Continuing Education Series: Building Trauma-Informed Workplaces- Programming Impacts & Practical Tools for Thriving at Work

Throughout  Hopeworks' two sessions, they detail the difference between becoming a “trauma-aware” organization (one that does the same things it always did but uses the language of trauma to describe it in new ways) and an actually trauma-informed organization (one in which outcomes and performance are radically different from using trauma informed tools).
Employee Success Program, Leadership & Talent | Grow a Social Enterprise, Manage a Social Enterprise

Continuing Education Series: Building Trauma-Informed Workplaces- Trauma Informed De-escalation

Attendees will explore how understanding and applying TIC principles can transform their approach to managing conflict, particularly when working with individuals who have experienced trauma. By recognizing the signs of trauma and responding with empathy, participants will learn how to prevent escalation and foster a sense of safety and trust in high-stress situations.
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