What is a “Mission”

“Social Entrepreneurship” is defined by Wikipedia as entrepreneurs that develop, fund and implement solutions to social, cultural, or environmental issues.

Becoming an Accredited Social Entrepreneur requires the invention or development of an idea, along with planning and execution. A key test is “Did you ‘see’ the need?”  Might you be considered a founder or co-founder if this were a business? A second requirement is leadership. Did you have executive-level management authority in the implementation of the idea?

Fundraising alone does not qualify for a SErtified Certificate even though money can deliver wonderful philanthropic benefits and even though fundraising can be challenging.  Fundraising alone, particularly when done online with easy-to-use crowdfunding sites, does not demonstrate the complete entrepreneurial skill set and level of effort needed for the creation, planning and implementation of a solution that is analogous to starting a new business.
It is not necessary to raise money in order to earn a SErtified Certificate because donations of labor and supplies can be used to execute on Missions.

ActivityUS IRS 501c FundraisingPersonal Cause FundraisingGreat Work!Eligible for SErtified Certificate
Ran a marathon and raised $20,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
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Invented and implemented a 1 mile fun-run for elementary students in a local park that raised $8,950 for a local school
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Raised $21,000 for Room-to-Read which builds libraries for girls in developing countries
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No
Identified a village that needed a library, applied for a grant from Room-to-Read, and led the building of the libraryNoNo
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Used a crowdfunding site to raise $20,000 for friends and family whose homes were devastated by a typhoonNo
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No
Organized a team of 25 volunteers that traveled overseas to help reconstruct homes after a typhoonNoNo
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Applied for and received a $2,000 grant for an Internet uplink and built a WiFi network for a remote African village
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Created a mobile app routinely used by over 100 children with ADD to read specialized books.
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