Key Principles of Social Enterprises: Has a clear goal as its core purpose

Social Impact and How to Measure It
Above all else, the goal of a social enterprise is to have a positive impact and do no harm. In order to demonstrate impact, it is critical to determine how to monitor, evaluate, and eventually measure the impact of a solution or product. This process is deeply rooted in listening to the enterprise’s customer base to understand in more detail what kind of impact is being made. While stories and anecdotal evidence are helpful in qualifying the impact of an enterprise, quantitative information presented through specific indicators can help to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the outcomes of the enterprise and therefore, the impact. By collecting the minimum amount of viable quantitative data and comparing it to the ultimate goal, impact is more readily measurable.
Examples of Impact Measurement
Adopting a Triple Bottom Line (TBL) - A TBL is a business framework comprising three components: social, environmental, and economic. Within each of those components is any number of quantifiable metrics that can demonstrate impact and a commitment to corporate social responsibility. If a company tracks and meets their goals in each of the three components, then they have satisfied their TBL.
Examples of TBL metrics
Case Studies
The businesses below are some examples of successful social enterprises that are addressing
urgent and ongoing challenges in their communities.
Quality Education and Gender Equality

Founders: Paul Skidmore and Stephanie Dobrowolski
Enterprise Name: Rising Academy Network
Website: Rising Academies
Location: Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana
Reach: Operating in three countries. Collaborating with partner organizations in 25 countries across Africa and South Asia
bOverview
Historically, schools across Africa have been challenged by low student enrollment, retention, and attendance, particularly in countries affected by conflict. Research shows that four out of five children across Africa are not mastering the basics at their respective levels of education. Rising Academy Network began as an initiative to provide emergency education to children pulled from school during the 2014 Ebola epidemic across parts of West Africa but has grown to become a model system for education in emerging contexts. Founders Paul Skidmore and Stephanie Dobrowolski first created a network of low-cost private schools in Freetown, Sierra Leone. In 2016, due to an innovative public-private partnership established by the government of Liberia, Rising Academy Network was granted the opportunity to operate five government schools. After four years of partnership with the Ministry of Education and an independent study measuring the impact of their work, the program has expanded to 95 schools and over 20,000 students. When Rising Academy Network students were shown to be learning faster than their peers in comparable schools, the organization underwent further expansion, with the acquisition of Omega Schools in Ghana. Rising responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by launching Rising On Air, a 20-week program that provides educators with ready-to-air radio scripts and SMS content developed from Rising Academy Network’s highly-structured curriculum. Rising On Air lessons focus on literacy and numeracy across grades K-12 and the program provides professional development content for teachers.
Social Impact
Rising Academy Network is a Certified B Corp business and has increased student learning at low cost to national governments. Rising On Air has broadcast lessons in 12 languages, reaching over 12 million students across 25 countries.
Financial model
Rising Academy Network operates low-cost private schools and provides education services to governments, NGOs and businesses.