Evaluating the donor: enterprise relationship in a not-for-profit social entrepreneurship venture

This research encompasses an exciting journey in social entrepreneurship. Based on a comprehensive study of a not-for-profit business enterprise dependent on social capital, the three phase model of entrepreneurship (Greve and Salaff 2003) was employed to recognize comparative stages for developing social trust, an important indicator of social capital. Data from historically documented day to day diary records and in-depth interviews were examined and evaluated by 'N.Vivo' content analysis, with the purpose of achieving profitability in the 'third sector' . Results demonstrated the influence of social trust on sustainability and entrepreneurial growth; with specific emphasis on the donor - enterprise alliance, a dominant control factor.