Social enterprise and nonprofit agencies in the 21st century: Can an agent operate a for-profit business to reduce dependance on traditional forms of nonprofit funding and remain true to the agency's mission

Traditional nonprofit funding includes donations from individuals, foundations and corporations, and from government grants. This paper offers a brief history of federally-funded workforce development programs. Support for such programs waxes and wanes with administration changes. In addition, frequent reauthorizations cause agencies to adjust their programming to fit the new focus.;Transitional Jobs (TJ) programs are a relatively new approach to preparing the hardest-to-employ for unsubsidized employment. Incorporating a social enterprise (a for-profit business operated by a nonprofit agency) into a TJ program can bring much needed financial stability while enhancing the T] program.;This paper highlights five TJ programs. Three of these use social enterprise as a way to diversify funding streams for the agency while offering real work and wages for the participants. All research supports the position that a nonprofit can operate a for-profit venture while remaining focused on the agency's mission.