A study on the benefits of transforming non-profits into social enterprises

: the case of Re-food

Abstract

There are countless social initiatives dedicated to addressing and tackling different issues of the contemporaneous society. Many of these projects are effectively conducted by traditional non-profits. However, the achievements of more recent hybrid ventures have raised doubts about which type of organizations are better prepared to sustain the growth of social innovations over time. The following dissertation presents the Re-food Movement – under the format of a Case Study –, a non-profit and 100% volunteer initiative that operates across Portugal in order to eliminate food waste and end hunger. Since its beginning, in 2011, it has experienced great success and a strong expansion, which in turn has generated many challenges. In light of the above, a set of teaching questions is suggested in order to guide in-class discussion about the possibility, advantages and disadvantages of Re-food becoming a social enterprise. Finally, the main findings, limitations and suggestions of further research are described at the end of the thesis.

Date of Award	19 May 2016
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Susana Frazão Ferreira Fernandes Pinheiro (Supervisor)