Are there unethical sources of funding?

Perhaps just two sides of the same coin.

Photo by Pocky Lee on Unsplash

The social entrepreneurship sector continues to go from strength to strength as old capitalism loses it grip and individuals are looking at how they can make both a positive impact and a profit.

With this, we have seen a large amount of funding become available for the sector. There are local and national grants, EU funds, as well as funded schools and workshops.

Then come the programs from the corporate world. It could be a sponsorship, a partnership, or their own social entrepreneurship program, however when you look who the company is, sometimes people baulk.

This topic recently came up with some fellow entrepreneurs and here are the arguments we shared if you accept the funding.

Please note I am sharing all arguments, not necessarily mine!

It’s accepting greenwashing and similar

One argument is that by accepting the funds by these corporations, is essentially supporting their CSR efforts, which is some cases are deemed futile given what the company sells or the sector they work in.

As social enterprises, we should be leading the way by showing how impact is really done, and how it isn’t a matter of…