Social enterprise is a powerful business model to tackle the challenges our economy and communities are facing today. Buy Social Canada sees the movement for social enterprise growing steadily as more people acknowledge that the future of business is social enterprise.

As part of the 2024 Buy Social Canada social enterprise re-certification process, we asked our Certified Social Enterprises to share updates and stories about their business and mission outcomes and impacts. We heard from 106 respondents, representing 123 Buy Social Canada Certified Social Enterprises operating across Canada.

The responses from the social enterprise re-certification survey reinforce the value of the social enterprise business model. The combined gross revenues from respondents in 2023 was over $4.7 billion. Respondents also employ over 9,400 people, and 73% of enterprises who responded say their financial health is breaking even or better.

Survey responses show us that social enterprises create inclusive employment opportunities that improve people’s lives; they divert waste from landfills; they create more inclusive and just communities; and they are changing the shape of the marketplace in Canada to put people and planet before shareholder wealth.

Read the Sell with Impact 2023 Snapshot to see data and stories about the current state of the Canadian social enterprise sector, and learn how you can get involved.

Want a more in-depth analysis of the sector? Read our 2022 Sell with Impact report.

Join us on September 10 at Marketplace Impact: Social Enterprise Forward to dive deeper into social enterprise conversations, hear from sector leaders and connect with peers at an engaging virtual event.