Social Enterprise Incubation Program

Ohio CDC Association is pleased to offer a third cohort of the Social Enterprise Incubation Program (SEIP).

The Social Enterprise Incubation Program is an intensive eleven-month program consisting of rigorous training and tailored technical assistance for OCDCA nonprofit members while they create their own social enterprise from start to finish. OCDCA is pleased to partner with Cause Impact for this program.

The program started in December 2021 and concludes with a pitch competition where participating organizations can compete for prizes at the OCDCA Annual Conference in Cincinnati, September 2022. In 2021, $10,000 in cash prizes were awarded.

Congratulations to the four organizations selected to be in the third cohort:

Generation NOW, Cincinnati
Columbus Empowerment Corporation, Columbus
Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance, Akron
LSC Service Corporation & Barton Services Inc., Lakewood

If you have any questions, please contact Suzanne Parks at sparks@ohiocdc.org or (614) 461-6392 ex. 206.

Social Enterprise Incubation Program

Read below on our second cohort of the Social Enterprise Incubation Program, which lasted from 2020 - 2021.

In the second cohort, OCDCA improved upon our program based on findings from the first cohort. Instead, we have implemented an interview process at the beginning of the program, along with an application. From there, four organizations are selected and led through ten months of intensive technical assistance.

This all culminates in a pitch competition, which was held both in-person and virtually at our 2021 Annual Conference in Youngstown on October 6 at the DeYor Performing Arts Center. The participating OCDCA members were Pyramid CDC in Columbus, Rural Action in The Plains, and Youngstown CityScape. Some photos are below, which are taken by Varada Bhide.

Read below on our first cohort of the Social Enterprise Incubation Program, which lasted from 2018 - 2019.

Phase 1: Introduction Workshop (Completed October 25, 2018)

This first training provides an overview of social enterprises, including best practices, research regarding each attendee’s organizational core competencies, business plan creation, and marketing. It is required that each participating CDC send two staff members to the workshop. Each participant completes a self-assessment to gauge their organization’s readiness for running a social enterprise. Initiating any new program is not easy, but a social enterprise requires complete buy-in from the organization’s stakeholders as well as a considerable amount of time, planning, and resources. Social enterprise is not for everyone and this self-assessment tool will help guide CDCs to make a realistic decision concerning their goals and ability to continue into the SEIP.

Phase 2: Social Enterprise “Boot Camp” (Completed January 15-16, 2019)

In the month following the workshop, participants apply to enter the SEIP. It is required that an applicant organization must have had two staff members attend both workshops. This highly competitive process results in up to six organizations being selected to advance into the program. The selected CDCs then send two staff members to the SEIP’s Boot Camp. The Boot Camp is a 2-day intensive training focused specifically on devising a specific social enterprise for their organization.

Phase 3: Technical Assistance (Completed October 9, 2019)

This phase lasts up to one year, depending on the CDCs needs, during which the CDCs develop a business plan for their social enterprise with technical assistance from OCDCA. Phase 3 culminates in a “shark tank” showcase, where CDCs pitch their social enterprise plans to a room of potential investors. All participating organizations receive further feedback on their pitches and proposals after the showcase.

Applications have already been accepted for this cohort’s Phase 3. After a series of interviews, the participants have been selected. Phase 3 officially launched on February 26, 2019 and culminated on October 9, 2019 with the pitch competition at OCDCA’s 35th Annual Conference in Canton. StarkFresh was the winner of the pitch competition.

Phase 4: Investment & Start Up

Participants begin to execute their business plan and are eligible to receive startup investments for their social enterprise in the form of enterprise loans, grants, or organizational operating support. Funded CDCs start their social enterprise with continued technical assistance support from subject experts and program support through the OCDCA AmeriCorps VISTA program. No more than two organizations reach this phase in each cohort. For this cohort, StarkFresh received start-up funding.

Thank you to Bank of America for supporting this program!