Executive Summary

Social enterprises are emerging as powerful political actors in the sustainability landscape, transforming from mission-driven businesses into influential policy advocates. Recent research reveals that 76% of social enterprises engage in sociocultural advocacy and 62% participate in policy advocacy across health, education, and environmental domains. With approximately 10 million social enterprises globally generating $2 trillion in annual revenues—more than the telecommunications or apparel industries—these organizations are reshaping how sustainability policy is developed and implemented.

This guide explores how social enterprises adopt political dimensions to influence legislation and norms, examines successful advocacy campaigns like Too Good To Go's coalition for mandatory food waste reporting, and provides actionable strategies for corporations seeking to partner with social enterprises on policy initiatives. For organizations navigating complex sustainability challenges, understanding and leveraging the advocacy capabilities of social enterprises represents a strategic opportunity to amplify impact while building stakeholder credibility.

The Political Awakening of Social Enterprises

Beyond Business: Social Enterprises as Policy Influencers

Social enterprises have traditionally been recognized for their innovative market-based approaches to social problems. However, research published in the Journal of Management Studies reveals a phenomenon that has been largely overlooked: most social enterprises proactively engage in advocacy activities aimed at influencing public policy, legislation, societal norms, attitudes, and behaviors.

This political dimension represents a fundamental evolution in how social enterprises create impact. Rather than limiting themselves to direct service provision, these organizations are "working upstream" to address the systemic causes of the problems they tackle. Survey data from 718 social enterprises across seven countries and six problem domains demonstrates that advocacy is not limited to organizations that self-identify as advocacy groups but is widespread across the sector.

Council Fire recognizes this evolution as central to achieving transformative sustainability outcomes. Our approach to stakeholder-centered planning emphasizes that lasting change requires both direct action and systemic policy reform. We work with organizations to develop comprehensive strategies that combine operational improvements with strategic advocacy efforts, ensuring that sustainability initiatives create ripples of change throughout entire industries and policy environments.

Two Forms of Advocacy: Policy and Sociocultural

Social enterprises engage in two distinct but complementary forms of advocacy:

Policy Advocacy targets formal institutions and legislation. This includes lobbying for regulatory changes, participating in policy consultations, and working directly with government officials to shape laws and regulations. On average, 62% of social enterprises engage in policy advocacy, working to create enabling frameworks that support their missions while removing barriers to systemic change.

Sociocultural Advocacy aims to influence societal norms, attitudes, and behaviors. This work focuses on shifting public opinion, changing consumer behavior, and challenging entrenched cultural practices that perpetuate social or environmental problems. 76% of social enterprises participate in sociocultural advocacy, recognizing that sustainable change requires both regulatory reform and cultural transformation.

The most effective social enterprises integrate both forms of advocacy into their work. They understand that changing laws without shifting public attitudes creates enforcement challenges, while changing attitudes without regulatory support limits the pace and scale of transformation.

Case Study: Too Good To Go's Coalition for Mandatory Food Waste Reporting

Building a Cross-Sector Coalition

Too Good To Go, the social impact company behind the world's largest marketplace for surplus food, demonstrates how strategic coalition-building can drive significant policy change. In March 2024, Too Good To Go led a coalition with over 30 prominent signatories from the UK's food, retail, and manufacturing sectors—including Aldi, Marks & Spencer, Lidl, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose, Danone, Nestle, and Innocent Drinks—calling for mandatory public food waste reporting.

The coalition's advocacy was grounded in compelling data: more than a third of all food produced globally goes to waste, contributing 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and costing the UK economy £21.8 billion annually. By partnering with the British Retail Consortium, Too Good To Go amplified their voice and created a unified front that policymakers couldn't ignore.

"The stark reality is that a staggering 40% of all food produced globally goes to waste," said Jamie Crummie, co-founder of Too Good To Go. "In 2024 there is no room for half-hearted measures or commitments a decade away. The Government has an opportunity to lead the way in the fight against food waste by introducing mandatory food waste reporting."

Strategic Elements of Success

The Too Good To Go campaign succeeded because it incorporated several strategic elements:

1. Evidence-Based Arguments: The coalition presented clear economic and environmental data demonstrating the cost of inaction versus the benefits of mandatory reporting.

2. Broad Stakeholder Engagement: By bringing together retailers, manufacturers, and social enterprises, the coalition demonstrated that the policy had broad industry support beyond just advocacy groups.

3. Clear Policy Recommendations: Rather than general complaints, the coalition proposed specific, actionable policy solutions that government could implement.

4. Sustained Engagement: Following multiple rounds of government consultation and data collection through 2024, Too Good To Go maintained persistent engagement with policymakers across electoral changes.

5. Alignment with Government Priorities: The campaign strategically aligned their recommendations with Secretary of State Steve Reed's stated priority of creating a zero waste economy.

This example illustrates how social enterprises can move beyond traditional corporate social responsibility to become strategic policy advocates. Council Fire works with organizations to develop similar multi-stakeholder advocacy strategies, leveraging our expertise in cross-sector collaboration and policy engagement to amplify impact across systems.

Why Social Enterprises Engage in Policy Advocacy: Key Drivers

Market-Level Factors

Research identifies several market-level factors that drive social enterprises to engage in advocacy:

Declining Public Spending: Social enterprises are more likely to engage in sociocultural advocacy when there has been a decline in public spending within their problem domains. Reduced governmental support prompts these organizations to step up their efforts to influence norms and public opinion to secure resources and support for their causes.

Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape within "markets for public purpose"—social spaces where various actors address social problems—influences advocacy engagement. Social enterprises often compete with nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and private businesses. They are more likely to engage in sociocultural advocacy when they face competition from nonprofit organizations and less likely to engage in policy advocacy when they face competition from traditional businesses.

Ecosystem Development: In many jurisdictions, less than 10% have dedicated governmental units or departments to support social entrepreneurship. This absence of supportive infrastructure drives social enterprises to engage in advocacy to create the enabling conditions they need to thrive.

Organizational-Level Factors

Beyond market conditions, organizational characteristics significantly influence advocacy engagement:

Legal Form: The legal structure a social enterprise chooses affects its advocacy capacity and priorities. Organizations structured as cooperatives or community interest companies often have advocacy built into their governance models.

Income Sources: Social enterprises that receive government funding are more likely to engage in both policy and sociocultural advocacy. Government income serves as a signaling function, providing legitimacy and access to policymakers that might otherwise be difficult for smaller organizations to achieve.

Collaborative Engagement: Social enterprises that actively collaborate with other organizations—including traditional businesses, nonprofits, and government entities—develop stronger advocacy capabilities through shared resources, knowledge exchange, and collective voice amplification.

Council Fire's approach to climate resilience and sustainable business strategy recognizes these dynamics. We help organizations understand how their competitive environment, funding structures, and collaborative networks influence their capacity for effective advocacy. By mapping these factors, we enable clients to identify strategic opportunities for policy engagement that align with their operational capabilities and stakeholder relationships.

Strategies Social Enterprises Use to Drive Policy Change

1. Building Strategic Coalitions

Coalition-building stands as one of the most powerful strategies for policy influence. The British Council's Social Enterprise Coalition (BSEC), launched in 2016, demonstrates this approach. Composed of 15 leading social enterprise organizations including Social Enterprise UK, Social Value UK, UnLtd, and Ashoka UK, BSEC works together to promote the interests and needs of social enterprises across policy, research, education, and international development.

Effective coalitions provide several strategic advantages:

• Amplified Voice: Coalitions can amplify the voice and visibility of social enterprises, advocate for their interests, and influence policy and decision makers with greater impact than individual organizations.

• Resource Pooling: By working together, social enterprises can leverage the strengths and resources of coalition members, creating synergies that enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability.

• Enhanced Credibility: A coalition holds greater sway in advocacy efforts, able to push for policy changes or raise public awareness more effectively than individual organizations.

• Cross-Sector Legitimacy: Coalitions that include traditional businesses alongside social enterprises demonstrate broad stakeholder support, making policy recommendations more politically palatable.

Council Fire specializes in facilitating these types of radical partnerships across sectors. Our stakeholder-centered approach helps identify aligned actors, establish shared goals, and navigate the complex dynamics that emerge when diverse organizations collaborate on advocacy initiatives.

2. Engaging Policymakers Directly

Successful social enterprises develop sophisticated strategies for direct policymaker engagement:

Mapping Stakeholders: The first step involves identifying and prioritizing key stakeholders and decision-makers. This requires mapping out the most relevant and influential people or organizations, understanding their roles, interests, and needs.

Providing Evidence: Policymakers respond to data-driven arguments. Social enterprises that generate evidence through research, pilot projects, and impact measurement create compelling cases for policy change. BRAC, one of the world's largest social enterprises, uses its motto "scale-up by influence" to describe how evidence generation drives policy advocacy.

Offering Solutions, Not Just Problems: Rather than simply highlighting issues, effective advocacy presents actionable policy solutions. Social enterprises that demonstrate practical, tested approaches to addressing social problems give policymakers politically viable options for action.

Sustained Engagement: Policy change rarely happens quickly. Successful social enterprises maintain continuous engagement with policymakers through exposure visits, best practice demonstrations, and ongoing consultation.

Leveraging Government Relationships: Social enterprises with government funding or contracts often use these relationships strategically to gain access to policy discussions and demonstrate the viability of their approaches at scale.

These strategies align closely with Council Fire's methodology for policy and stakeholder engagement. We work with organizations to develop comprehensive advocacy plans that combine evidence generation, stakeholder mapping, and sustained engagement strategies tailored to specific policy contexts.

3. Raising Public Awareness and Shifting Norms

Sociocultural advocacy—changing hearts and minds—often precedes or accompanies policy advocacy. Social enterprises employ several strategies:

Storytelling and Media Engagement: Effective social enterprises use compelling narratives to connect emotional resonance with factual evidence. They engage media strategically to amplify their message and build public support for policy change.

Consumer Education: Organizations like Fairphone use their products as education tools, making tangible the complex issues around ethical supply chains and sustainable technology. Each phone sold becomes a conversation starter about industry practices.

Community Mobilization: Social enterprises engage communities directly through workshops, participatory design processes, and grassroots organizing to build movements around their causes.

Platform Building: Many successful social enterprises create platforms that enable broader participation in advocacy. Too Good To Go's app doesn't just reduce food waste—it creates a community of 7.8 million users worldwide who become advocates for food waste reduction.

Demonstrating Alternatives: By proving that alternative business models are viable, social enterprises challenge dominant narratives about what's possible. Fairphone's existence demonstrates that ethical electronics are achievable, influencing industry giants and consumer expectations alike.

Council Fire's expertise in sustainability communication and stakeholder engagement helps organizations develop these public-facing advocacy capabilities. We understand that effective sociocultural change requires coordinated messaging across multiple channels, authentic community engagement, and the ability to translate complex policy issues into compelling narratives.

The Benefits for Corporations Partnering with Social Enterprises on Advocacy

Enhanced Credibility and Authenticity

In an era where 70% of consumers are motivated to purchase from companies committed to making the world better, and 64% of repeat customers say they interact with brands due to shared values, partnerships with social enterprises provide corporations with authentic sustainability credibility that pure marketing cannot achieve.

Corporate partnerships with social enterprises for advocacy offer several credibility benefits:

Third-Party Validation: When corporations partner with respected social enterprises on policy initiatives, it signals genuine commitment beyond greenwashing. The Rise Ahead Pledge, signed by 25 organizations including SAP, Microsoft, and major banks, demonstrates how corporate commitment to social enterprises enhances brand reputation.

Access to Grassroots Networks: Social enterprises often have deep community connections that corporations lack. These relationships provide authentic channels for stakeholder engagement and help corporations understand on-the-ground realities that inform effective policy positions.

Protection Against Criticism: Companies partnering with established social enterprises on advocacy can deflect accusations of self-serving lobbying. The presence of mission-driven organizations in advocacy coalitions demonstrates that policy recommendations serve broader social good rather than narrow corporate interests.

Superior Stakeholder Engagement

Research from the World Economic Forum identifies stakeholder engagement as one of five key areas where corporations derive value from social enterprise partnerships:

Employee Engagement: Employees are more likely to feel proud and motivated to work for companies demonstrating commitment to social responsibility. Partnerships with social enterprises on advocacy create tangible examples of corporate values in action.

Investor Confidence: Institutional investors increasingly evaluate corporate sustainability performance, including policy engagement. Strategic advocacy partnerships demonstrate proactive risk management and alignment with long-term value creation.

Customer Loyalty: The NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business found that sustainability-marketed products were responsible for more than half of the growth in consumer-packaged goods from 2015-2019. Authentic advocacy partnerships strengthen these market positions.

Regulatory Relationships: Joint advocacy with social enterprises can improve corporate relationships with regulators. Rather than appearing as self-interested lobbyists, corporations participating in broader coalitions demonstrate commitment to collaborative problem-solving.

Council Fire helps corporations leverage these stakeholder benefits through strategic partnership design. Our corporate sustainability services include stakeholder mapping, partnership facilitation, and engagement strategy development that maximizes the credibility and relationship benefits of social enterprise collaboration.

Innovation and Market Intelligence

Partnerships with social enterprises on policy advocacy provide corporations with valuable strategic intelligence:

Early Warning System: Social enterprises embedded in communities on the ground detect emerging social and environmental challenges before they become regulatory or reputational crises. Policy advocacy partnerships create channels for this intelligence to reach corporate decision-makers.

Policy Foresight: Working alongside social enterprises in advocacy helps corporations understand the direction of regulatory evolution. Companies participating in the Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship gain insights into policy trends that inform strategic planning.

Innovation Opportunities: Social enterprises test innovative approaches that corporations can later scale. Advocacy partnerships expose corporations to these innovations while building relationships that facilitate future commercialization.

Risk Mitigation and Competitive Advantage

Strategic advocacy partnerships help corporations manage multiple forms of risk:

Supply Chain Resilience: Environmental risks such as climate change and water scarcity threaten agricultural production and other supply chains. Social enterprises working on these issues provide corporations with practical solutions while advocacy efforts address systemic vulnerabilities.

Regulatory Compliance: Proactive policy engagement helps companies shape regulations rather than simply reacting to them. Corporations working with social enterprises on advocacy can help ensure regulations are practical and achievable.

Competitive Differentiation: As 77% of consumers say they're motivated to purchase from companies committed to making the world better, corporations with authentic advocacy partnerships differentiate themselves from competitors engaged in superficial sustainability theater.

Practical Guide: Identifying Aligned Social Ventures for Policy Campaigns

Step 1: Define Your Policy Objectives

Before identifying partners, corporations must clarify their advocacy goals:

Issue Identification: What specific policy challenges or opportunities align with your business strategy and sustainability commitments? Council Fire's stakeholder-centered planning process helps organizations identify policy priorities that serve both business and societal interests.

Geographic Scope: Policy advocacy operates at different levels—local, regional, national, or international. Defining the relevant jurisdiction helps narrow the field of potential partners.

Timeline and Resources: Policy change requires sustained commitment. Corporations should realistically assess their capacity for long-term advocacy before initiating partnerships.

Desired Outcomes: Are you seeking specific regulatory changes, shifts in industry standards, increased funding for public programs, or broader cultural change? Clear objectives guide partner selection.

Step 2: Map the Social Enterprise Landscape

With approximately 10 million social enterprises operating globally, systematic mapping is essential:

Utilize Existing Networks: Organizations like the Schwab Foundation's Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship, Ashoka, Catalyst 2030, and regional social enterprise associations maintain databases of vetted organizations.

Assess Track Records: Look for social enterprises with demonstrated advocacy success. Research which organizations have influenced policy in your issue area and examine their strategies and relationships.

Evaluate Stakeholder Networks: The most valuable social enterprise partners have strong relationships with policymakers, community organizations, and other key stakeholders. These networks amplify advocacy efforts.

Consider Complementary Capabilities: Identify organizations whose capabilities complement your own. Some social enterprises excel at grassroots mobilization, others at policy analysis, and still others at media engagement.

Council Fire leverages our extensive network across government, foundations, NGOs, and social enterprises to help clients identify and evaluate potential advocacy partners. Our experience facilitating cross-sector collaboration enables efficient partner matching that accelerates campaign development.

Step 3: Assess Values Alignment

Successful advocacy partnerships require genuine alignment beyond surface compatibility:

Mission Alignment: Ensure the potential partner's mission and values align with your organization's objectives and ethical standards. This alignment facilitates cohesive and effective partnership.

Understand Motivation: For partners with social alignment, understand their motivation for supporting your mission and how embedded that support is in their organization. Is their support directly related to their business, or subject to change based on shifting priorities?

Cultural Compatibility: The big challenge is alignment of culture between partners. Social enterprises committed to consultative decision-making may have different operational rhythms than corporations focused on rapid execution.

Transparency Assessment: Investigate the social enterprise's governance, funding sources, and decision-making processes. Organizations maintaining public performance numbers, reviews, and diversity metrics demonstrate the transparency essential for authentic partnership.

Avoid "Purpose-Washing": Be wary of organizations engaging in superficial sustainability efforts. Look for social enterprises with certification (B Corp, Benefit Corporation) or third-party validation of their social impact.

Step 4: Evaluate Advocacy Capacity and Approach

Not all social enterprises engage in policy advocacy or do so effectively:

Advocacy Track Record: Review the organization's history of policy engagement. Have they successfully influenced legislation, participated in policy consultations, or shifted public opinion on key issues?

Coalition Experience: Social enterprises with experience in coalition-building bring valuable skills in stakeholder coordination, consensus-building, and collective action.

Communication Capabilities: Assess the organization's ability to communicate complex issues effectively. Strong social enterprises use storytelling, media engagement, and digital platforms to amplify their advocacy messages.

Policy Expertise: Some social enterprises employ policy specialists or partner with policy think tanks. Organizations that generate evidence through research and impact measurement create more compelling advocacy cases.

Strategic Versus Reactive: The best partners take strategic approaches to advocacy, identifying leverage points and developing multi-year campaigns, rather than simply reacting to immediate threats or opportunities.

Step 5: Structure the Partnership

Successful advocacy partnerships require clear structures and expectations:

Define Roles and Contributions: Establish what each partner brings to the advocacy effort—funding, expertise, networks, communications channels, grassroots capacity, or policy access.

Establish Decision-Making Processes: Agree on how campaign strategies, messaging, and tactics will be decided. Clear governance prevents conflicts and ensures efficient execution.

Set Measurement Framework: Define success metrics for the advocacy campaign. Beyond policy outcomes, measure stakeholder engagement, media reach, and public awareness shifts.

Protect Independence: Ensure partnership structures preserve the social enterprise's independence and credibility. Over-identification with corporate partners can undermine the authenticity that makes social enterprises valuable advocacy partners.

Plan for Long-Term Engagement: Policy change rarely happens quickly. Structure partnerships with sufficient duration and flexibility to pursue sustained campaigns.

Develop Exit Strategies: Define conditions under which either partner can exit the collaboration while protecting ongoing advocacy work.

Council Fire specializes in designing and facilitating these partnership structures. Our experience with complex multi-stakeholder initiatives enables us to help clients develop governance frameworks that balance corporate and social enterprise needs while maximizing advocacy effectiveness.

Tips for Structuring Effective Policy Campaigns

1. Build Campaigns on Solid Evidence

Successful policy campaigns require compelling data and research:

Quantify the Problem: Use clear statistics that demonstrate the scale and urgency of the issue. Too Good To Go's campaign cited that food waste contributes 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and costs the UK economy £21.8 billion annually.

Demonstrate Solutions: Provide evidence that your proposed policy solution works. Pilot projects, case studies, and international comparisons show policymakers that recommendations are practical and achievable.

Calculate Economic Impact: Policymakers respond to fiscal arguments. Present cost-benefit analyses showing how proposed policies generate economic value or reduce costs.

Address Counterarguments: Anticipate opposition and prepare evidence-based responses. Comprehensive research prevents campaigns from being derailed by industry pushback or legitimate concerns.

Council Fire's expertise in impact measurement and program evaluation helps organizations develop the evidence base necessary for effective advocacy. We work with clients to design research that generates policy-relevant insights while demonstrating program effectiveness.

2. Create Broad, Diverse Coalitions

Coalition diversity enhances credibility and political viability:

Cross-Sector Representation: Include traditional businesses, social enterprises, NGOs, and community groups. Too Good To Go's coalition succeeded by bringing together major retailers with social impact organizations.

Geographic Diversity: When advocating for national policies, include organizations from multiple regions to demonstrate widespread support and minimize claims that proposals serve narrow regional interests.

Include Unlikely Allies: The most compelling coalitions include stakeholders not typically associated with the issue. Environmental regulation advocated by business associations carries more weight than when proposed only by environmental groups.

Engage Affected Communities: Include representatives of communities directly impacted by the problem and proposed solution. Their voices provide authenticity and moral authority to advocacy efforts.

Leverage Leadership: Involve credible business or civic leaders whose endorsements influence large numbers of others.

3. Develop Clear, Actionable Policy Asks

Effective campaigns present specific, implementable recommendations:

Specificity: Rather than general calls for action, propose concrete policy language, regulatory structures, or program designs. Too Good To Go didn't just call for food waste reduction—they specified mandatory public reporting requirements.

Feasibility: Ensure recommendations are politically and administratively achievable. Proposals should consider implementation costs, administrative capacity, and political constraints.

Phased Approaches: When comprehensive reform is unrealistic, propose staged implementation that allows for learning and adjustment. The UK's food waste regulations, for example, phase in requirements based on business size.

Alignment with Existing Priorities: Frame recommendations in terms of policymakers' stated goals and priorities. Too Good To Go aligned their campaign with the Secretary of State's zero waste economy commitment.

International Examples: Reference successful implementation in other jurisdictions to demonstrate that policies work in practice, not just theory.

4. Employ Multi-Channel Communication Strategies

Modern advocacy requires integrated communications across multiple platforms:

Traditional Media: Engage journalists to tell compelling stories about the issue and proposed solutions. Op-eds, press releases, and media events build public awareness.

Digital Advocacy: Use social media, email campaigns, and digital advertising to mobilize supporters and reach policymakers.

Grassroots Mobilization: Organize constituent contact with elected officials through petition drives, town halls, and direct lobbying. Policymakers respond to their constituents.

Thought Leadership: Publish research reports, white papers, and policy briefs that establish campaign partners as expert authorities on the issue.

Events and Demonstrations: Strategic events—conferences, forums, or demonstrations—create media opportunities and demonstrate public support.

5. Maintain Sustained Engagement

Policy change rarely happens quickly. Successful campaigns require patience and persistence:

Long-Term Commitment: Structure partnerships with sufficient duration to pursue multi-year campaigns. Quick wins are rare; sustained pressure creates change.

Relationship Building: Develop genuine relationships with policymakers and their staff through regular engagement, not just during campaign pushes.

Adapt to Political Changes: Be prepared to adjust strategies when electoral changes bring new policymakers. Too Good To Go maintained their campaign through government transitions.

Celebrate Incremental Progress: Recognize and publicize partial victories that build momentum toward ultimate goals.

Learn and Adjust: Regularly evaluate campaign effectiveness and adjust tactics based on what's working.

Council Fire brings deep experience in designing and managing these sustained advocacy campaigns. Our understanding of policy processes, stakeholder dynamics, and communication strategies helps clients navigate the long and complex path to policy change.

Additional Examples: Social Enterprises Driving Policy Change

Fairphone: Transforming Electronics Industry Standards

Fairphone, a Netherlands-based social enterprise, started as a campaign to raise awareness about conflict minerals in electronics but evolved into a comprehensive advocacy organization working to transform industry practices.

Policy Advocacy: Fairphone lobbies for stricter regulations on conflict minerals and advocates for right-to-repair legislation. Their advocacy has influenced industry giants and policymakers to adopt fairer, more sustainable practices.

Sociocultural Advocacy: By producing an actual product rather than just an awareness campaign, Fairphone promotes consumer awareness about ethical consumption and challenges consumer habits that favor new technology over repairability.

Advocacy Approach: Fairphone uses its open-design platform to engage stakeholders—designers, creatives, experts, and consumers—in the process of making phones based on fair principles. This participatory approach builds a movement around their cause while demonstrating that ethical electronics are achievable.

Impact: Fairphone's work has improved working conditions for miners and factory workers, increased the use of fair-trade and recycled materials, and extended product lifespans to combat e-waste across the industry.

BRAC: Scale-Up Through Influence

BRAC, one of the world's largest social enterprises and NGOs, demonstrates how organizations can combine direct service delivery with extensive policy advocacy.

Policy Influence: BRAC's work to influence national policies on poverty alleviation, education reform, and societal norms related to gender equality has led to significant changes in public policy, benefiting millions of people in Bangladesh and other countries where they operate.

Advocacy Methodology: BRAC's approach centers on "scale-up by influence", which involves:

• Generating evidence through policy research and piloting solutions

• Creating alliances through consultation and partnership

• Disseminating policy briefs and knowledge products to substantiate findings

• Mobilizing government and stakeholders through exposure visits and continuous engagement

Strategic Positioning: By providing microfinance, education, and health services at scale, BRAC demonstrates the viability of approaches they advocate for government adoption, giving policymakers confidence that recommendations are practical.

Impact: BRAC's policy advocacy has influenced education systems, microfinance regulations, and gender equality initiatives across multiple countries, demonstrating how evidence-based advocacy by service-providing social enterprises can drive systemic change.

The Broader Landscape

Survey data from 718 social enterprises across seven countries reveals that advocacy is not limited to a few high-profile organizations but is widespread across all problem domains including health, education, and the environment. From Fairphone advocating for ethical supply chains in electronics to organizations working with street vendors or waste pickers to formalize informal economic activity, social enterprises across sectors recognize that sustainable solutions require both direct action and systemic policy change.

The Growing Policy Recognition of Social Enterprise

Policymakers worldwide are increasingly recognizing social enterprises as critical actors in achieving sustainable development goals:

United Nations: The UN General Assembly adopted a Resolution on the Social and Solidarity Economy recognizing its contribution toward sustainable development.

International Labour Organization: The ILO's resolution on Decent Work and the Social and Solidarity Economy affirms social enterprises' role in creating quality employment.

OECD: The OECD's recommendation on the Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Innovation provides member countries with guidance on supporting the sector.

European Union: The EU's Action Plan on the Social Economy sets out measures to support social enterprises across member states.

United States: The Biden-Harris Administration released its National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste in June 2024, coordinating efforts between USDA, EPA, and FDA to support prevention and recycling initiatives that social enterprises lead.

State and Local Levels: Twenty-two U.S. states proposed 85 pieces of food waste-related legislation in 2024, many influenced by social enterprise advocacy efforts.

This growing policy recognition creates opportunities for corporations partnering with social enterprises on advocacy. As approximately 10 million social enterprises collectively generate $2 trillion in annual revenues, policymakers increasingly view them as essential economic actors rather than marginal charity organizations.

How Council Fire Enables Effective Policy Advocacy Partnerships

Council Fire serves as a strategic bridge between corporations, social enterprises, and policy systems. Our unique position as a global change agency specializing in sustainability strategy, climate resilience, and stakeholder engagement enables us to facilitate the complex partnerships necessary for effective policy advocacy.

Our Approach: Radical Partnership for Systems Change

We bring together diverse stakeholders—governments, foundations, NGOs, corporations, and social enterprises—to develop comprehensive strategies that combine operational improvements with policy advocacy. Our stakeholder-centered planning process ensures that advocacy efforts reflect the needs and priorities of all affected parties while advancing shared sustainability goals.

Coalition Design and Facilitation: Drawing on our extensive network and experience with cross-sector collaboration, we identify potential partners, facilitate relationship building, and design governance structures that enable effective collective action. We understand the different cultures, capabilities, and constraints of various organizational types, allowing us to bridge divides that often prevent effective coalition formation.

Evidence Generation and Policy Analysis: Our team combines technical expertise with policy knowledge to develop the evidence base necessary for effective advocacy. We help organizations design research, measure impact, and translate findings into policy-relevant recommendations that resonate with decision-makers.

Strategic Communication: Our communication capabilities help advocacy campaigns reach multiple audiences—from policymakers to media to grassroots supporters. We develop integrated communication strategies that amplify advocacy messages while maintaining authenticity and credibility.

Policy Navigation: Understanding policy processes is essential for effective advocacy. We help clients navigate the complexities of governmental decision-making, identify leverage points, and develop strategies appropriate to different political contexts.

Building Institutional Capacity for Advocacy

Many organizations lack internal capacity for effective policy engagement. Council Fire helps build this capacity through:

Training and Skill Development: We equip client teams with advocacy skills—from stakeholder mapping to coalition management to policy analysis.

Network Development: Our extensive relationships across government, philanthropy, social enterprise, and corporate sectors create opportunities for client organizations to develop their own advocacy networks.

Strategic Planning: We work with organizations to develop long-term advocacy strategies that align with business objectives while advancing sustainability goals.

Measurement and Learning: Our impact measurement frameworks help organizations track advocacy progress, learn from experience, and demonstrate value to stakeholders.

Case Application: Bringing It All Together

When corporations engage Council Fire to support policy advocacy initiatives, we:

1. Assess the Landscape: Map the policy environment, identify key stakeholders, and analyze opportunities for strategic intervention.

2. Design the Partnership: Facilitate connections with appropriate social enterprises, NGOs, and other coalition members. Develop governance structures that balance diverse interests while maintaining focus on shared goals.

3. Build the Evidence Base: Support research and pilot projects that demonstrate the viability of proposed policy solutions.

4. Develop Campaign Strategy: Create comprehensive advocacy plans that integrate direct policy engagement, public awareness campaigns, and grassroots mobilization.

5. Facilitate Implementation: Coordinate coalition activities, manage stakeholder relationships, and adapt strategies based on evolving political dynamics.

6. Measure and Communicate Impact: Track advocacy progress, document outcomes, and help organizations communicate their policy influence to stakeholders.

This comprehensive approach reflects our understanding that effective policy advocacy requires technical expertise, strategic communication, stakeholder coordination, and sustained engagement—all areas where Council Fire excels.

Frequently Asked Questions: Social Enterprises and Policy Advocacy

What are social enterprises and how do they differ from traditional nonprofits?

Social enterprises are organizations that use market-based activity to pursue their social mission, combining elements of both business and charitable organizations. Unlike traditional nonprofits that rely primarily on donations and grants, social enterprises generate revenue through commercial activities. Unlike traditional businesses that prioritize financial returns, social enterprises place social and environmental value creation at the center of their mission, typically reinvesting profits back into their work.

How common is policy advocacy among social enterprises?

Policy advocacy is surprisingly widespread among social enterprises. Research reveals that 76% of social enterprises engage in sociocultural advocacy and 62% participate in policy advocacy, making advocacy activities nearly universal across the sector rather than limited to specialized advocacy organizations.

What are the main factors that drive social enterprises to engage in advocacy?

Several factors influence advocacy engagement: declining public spending in their problem domains prompts social enterprises to influence norms and mobilize resources; competitive landscapes within "markets for public purpose" affect advocacy strategies; and organizational characteristics including legal form, income sources, and collaborative relationships shape advocacy capacity. Social enterprises also engage in advocacy when regulatory frameworks are absent or inadequate to support their work.

How can corporations identify reputable social enterprises for advocacy partnerships?

Corporations should utilize existing networks like the Schwab Foundation's Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship, Ashoka, and Catalyst 2030 to access vetted organizations. Assessment should include reviewing track records of policy influence, evaluating stakeholder networks, ensuring values alignment, and confirming advocacy capabilities. Organizations like Council Fire with extensive networks across sectors can facilitate efficient partner identification.

What are the risks corporations face when partnering with social enterprises on advocacy?

Key risks include misalignment of values or priorities, reputational damage if the social enterprise becomes controversial, partnership structures that compromise the social enterprise's independence and credibility, and resource commitments to advocacy campaigns that don't achieve desired outcomes. These risks can be mitigated through careful due diligence, clear governance structures, and partnership agreements that preserve each organization's independence.

How do policy advocacy partnerships differ from traditional corporate social responsibility?

Traditional CSR often involves one-way charitable giving or isolated community programs. Policy advocacy partnerships represent a shift toward recognizing social innovation as a significant opportunity for corporate strategy—a two-way relationship where corporations and social enterprises collaborate to address systemic barriers to sustainability. These partnerships go beyond compliance or reputation management to actively shape the regulatory and market environments in which companies operate.

What resources do corporations typically contribute to advocacy partnerships?

Corporate contributions to advocacy partnerships include financial resources for campaign activities, employee expertise through pro bono consulting, access to communications channels and marketing platforms, relationships with policymakers and industry associations, data and research capabilities, and technology and digital infrastructure. The most valuable partnerships involve multiple forms of engagement rather than just financial support.

How long do policy advocacy campaigns typically take?

Policy change rarely happens quickly. Most successful advocacy campaigns require sustained engagement over multiple years. Factors affecting timeline include the complexity of the policy issue, political dynamics, the strength of opposition, coalition size and cohesion, and the quality of evidence supporting proposed changes. Organizations should structure partnerships with multi-year horizons and build in flexibility to adapt to changing political circumstances.

How can corporations measure the success of advocacy partnerships?

Success metrics should include both process and outcome measures. Process metrics might track stakeholder engagement levels, media coverage, coalition size and diversity, and policymaker interactions. Outcome metrics assess actual policy changes, shifts in public opinion, changes in industry practices, and the social and environmental impact of policy reforms. Effective measurement frameworks balance short-term indicators of progress with longer-term assessments of systemic change.

What sectors are most active in social enterprise policy advocacy?

Policy advocacy occurs across all problem domains, including health, education, environment, economic development, and social justice. Environmental and sustainability issues see particularly high levels of social enterprise advocacy given the urgency of climate change and the inadequacy of existing policy frameworks. Food systems, renewable energy, circular economy, sustainable transportation, and natural resource management are areas where social enterprises are especially active in policy engagement.

How do social enterprise advocacy strategies differ across different political systems?

Advocacy strategies must adapt to different political contexts. In parliamentary systems, coalitions often focus on engaging with party leadership and committee members who influence legislative agendas. In federal systems, advocacy may need to occur simultaneously at national, state, and local levels. In systems with strong bureaucratic influence, engaging with ministry officials and regulatory agencies becomes crucial. Social enterprises operating internationally must develop advocacy capabilities appropriate to each jurisdiction.

What role do foundations play in supporting social enterprise policy advocacy?

Foundations provide crucial support for advocacy activities through funding for research and evidence generation, support for coalition-building and network development, convening stakeholders to build consensus, and legitimacy that helps advocacy campaigns gain traction with policymakers. Foundations like the Schwab Foundation, Gates Foundation, and regional community foundations actively support social enterprise advocacy as part of their broader sustainability and development strategies.

How can smaller companies engage in policy advocacy partnerships with social enterprises?

Smaller companies bring valuable assets to advocacy partnerships beyond just financial resources: specialized technical expertise, agility to test innovative approaches, authentic community relationships, and ability to tell compelling stories about on-the-ground implementation. Small and medium enterprises can engage through regional coalitions, industry associations, collaborative funding mechanisms, and providing in-kind support such as office space or technical services. Organizations like Council Fire help smaller companies identify appropriate advocacy opportunities and structure partnerships that maximize limited resources.

What legal or regulatory considerations affect corporate involvement in policy advocacy?

Corporate advocacy activities are subject to lobbying regulations that vary by jurisdiction, requiring registration and reporting in many cases. Companies must ensure advocacy partnerships don't create conflicts with existing business relationships or regulatory commitments. Tax implications can arise when corporations fund advocacy activities of nonprofit social enterprises. Antitrust considerations may apply when industry competitors collaborate on advocacy. Securities regulations may require disclosure of advocacy positions on material issues. Organizations should consult legal counsel when structuring advocacy partnerships.

How do consumer expectations influence corporate decisions to engage in policy advocacy?

Modern consumers increasingly expect companies to take positions on social and environmental issues. 70% of consumers are motivated to purchase from companies committed to making the world better, and 64% of repeat customers say they interact with brands due to shared values. This creates both opportunity and risk: authentic policy advocacy partnerships enhance brand value, while perceived insincerity or "purpose-washing" damages reputation. Companies must balance stakeholder expectations with genuine commitment to avoid accusations of greenwashing.

What role does data and evidence play in successful policy advocacy?

Evidence-based advocacy is essential for credibility and effectiveness. Policymakers require data demonstrating problem scale, solution efficacy, economic impact, and implementation feasibility. Social enterprises that generate evidence through research, pilot projects, and rigorous impact measurement create more compelling cases for policy change. Organizations like BRAC have built their advocacy influence on systematic evidence generation, demonstrating approaches at scale before advocating for government adoption.

How can Council Fire help organizations develop and implement policy advocacy strategies?

Council Fire combines technical expertise, strategic communication capabilities, and extensive stakeholder networks to support effective policy advocacy. We facilitate coalition formation, develop evidence-based advocacy strategies, navigate complex policy processes, and build organizational capacity for sustained engagement. Our experience working across government, foundation, NGO, and corporate sectors enables us to bridge divides and create the radical partnerships necessary for transformative policy change. We help organizations translate sustainability commitments into strategic policy engagement that drives measurable impact.

Conclusion: From Action to Advocacy—The Evolution of Corporate Sustainability

The rise of social enterprises as policy advocates represents a fundamental shift in how sustainability transformation occurs. With 10 million social enterprises globally creating over 200 million jobs and generating $2 trillion in annual revenues, these organizations have moved from the margins to the mainstream, demonstrating that business models prioritizing social and environmental value are not only viable but increasingly essential.

For corporations navigating accelerating sustainability pressures—from climate disclosure requirements to supply chain transparency mandates to stakeholder expectations for authentic impact—partnerships with social enterprises on policy advocacy offer strategic advantages beyond traditional CSR. These collaborations provide credibility, stakeholder engagement, regulatory intelligence, and competitive differentiation while addressing the systemic barriers that individual companies cannot overcome alone.

The examples of Too Good To Go mobilizing major retailers around food waste policy, Fairphone transforming electronics industry standards, and BRAC influencing national development policies across multiple countries demonstrate that social enterprises possess unique capabilities for driving policy change—capabilities that corporations can leverage through strategic partnership.

However, effective advocacy partnerships require more than good intentions. They demand careful partner selection, values alignment, clear governance structures, sustained commitment, and strategic coordination across complex stakeholder landscapes. Organizations need partners who understand both the technical dimensions of sustainability challenges and the political dynamics of policy change.

This is where Council Fire's unique capabilities become invaluable. As a global change agency specializing in sustainability strategy, climate resilience, and stakeholder engagement, we bring together the technical expertise, policy knowledge, and relationship networks necessary to facilitate transformative advocacy partnerships. Our commitment to radical partnership and stakeholder-centered planning means we don't just connect organizations—we design and support the collaborative processes that enable diverse actors to achieve shared goals.

Whether you're a corporation seeking to amplify sustainability impact through strategic advocacy, a social enterprise looking to build coalitions for policy change, or a foundation wanting to support systemic transformation, Council Fire can help you navigate the complex terrain of policy advocacy. We translate sustainability commitments into strategic action, build coalitions that drive change, and help organizations develop the long-term capabilities necessary for sustained policy engagement.

The climate crisis, biodiversity collapse, and social inequity challenges we face require more than incremental improvements to business-as-usual. They demand systemic transformation—new policies, new norms, new ways of organizing economic activity. Social enterprises are leading this transformation, and corporations that partner strategically with them will not only contribute to urgent sustainability goals but position themselves for success in the economy that emerges.

Ready to explore how policy advocacy partnerships can advance your sustainability strategy? Contact Council Fire to discuss how we can help you identify aligned social enterprise partners, design effective advocacy campaigns, and build the capabilities necessary for sustained policy engagement. Together, we can move from sustainability pledges to systemic change—from action to advocacy to transformation.

Council Fire is a global change agency that helps governments, foundations, NGOs, and visionary companies work at the intersection of sustainability, justice, and economic transformation. We don't just write reports—we move ideas to action, translate big visions into system-level results, and help organizations build a more resilient, just, and regenerative future. Learn more at councilfire.com.