Dowser - The Site for Solution Journalism

No field should be defined in the negative. Thus, we use terms like ‘non-profit’ and ‘non-governmental organization’ (NGO) sparingly. At Dowser, we try to be more precise.

• Social entrepreneurs: people who create or lead dynamic new social change organizations.

• Social enterprise: an organization that address social problems through a market-based approach. For example, a non-profit that generates earned income to advance its mission or a for-profit whose primary purpose is social change.

• Intrapreneur: someone who artfully advances a social change initiative within a company, government agency, university, foundation or other organization.

• Changemaker or change agent: broader, catch-all terms to describe people taking creative steps to solve social problems.

• Youth venturer: youths who create or lead social purpose organizations in their schools or communities.

• Encore career: period following formal retirement in which people in their late 50’s or older take up work as changemakers.

If you have any suggestions to add to this list, please let us know!