Social Venture Development
Overview
This unit has a focus on entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship in a not for profit or for purpose business context. The aim of this unit is to develop students’ knowledge and ability to grow, lead and manage a business venture that addresses social and environmental challenges. The unit also explores new forms of funding such as crowdfunding, social finance and impact investment in addition to philanthropic, government grants and other fundraising activities. Finally, students will learn how to market as well as measure and communicate social impact to stakeholders, including social and philanthropic investors.
Requisites
01-June-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Apply fundamentals to the analysis, design and operation of a business model using appropriate social impact methods and tools
- Critically analyse models and frameworks for social venture development
- Critically evaluate traditional and innovative funding and financing models for social ventures
- Communicate proficiently in professional practice to a variety of audiences, function as an effective member or leader of a team
- Apply knowledge of research principles and methods to plan and execute a piece of independent research in social impact
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Class | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Online Lecture | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 9.50 | 12 weeks | 114 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literature Review | Individual | 20 - 40% | 1,2,5 |
| Project Report | Group | 60 - 80% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
- Starting and/or scaling a social venture – from ideas to action
- Social ventures and investment cycles
- Funding and financing social ventures – traditional forms of funding and financing
- Funding and financing social ventures – new forms of funding and financingÂ
- Marketing and social media
- Launching a social venture
- Measuring and communicating social impacts
- Research principles and methodologies
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.