The selection of a legal structure for a social enterprise should be informed by vision, mission, business strategy, and other management considerations. Choosing a structure that does not support these factors can be detrimental to an organization, so it is essential to seek expert legal advice before incorporating or selecting a legal structure for a social enterprise. However, sometimes, business models can adapt over time, unforeseen circumstances can arise, and change can become necessary.

The pandemic has had devastating impacts on the nonprofit sector as a whole, especially on the financial stability of many nonprofit and charitable organizations. With increased demands for services, and funding from donations and government sources drying up, what can nonprofit organizations do to remain sustainable?  One option is to consider social enterprise.

While the world economy is facing unprecedented challenges, and the unemployment rate in Canada and many other countries is soaring, there are still reasons to be hopeful ... I suggest that this is a time in which nonprofit and charitable organizations can also pivot their operations and explore opportunities to diversify their revenue sources.