Founding a social business - how 264.education can secure fundings by building a profitable business

Abstract

This thesis investigates how NGOs can secure, stabilize, and diversify their income streams through founding social businesses. On the real-life example of the German NGO 264.Education, a potential business model for sustainable hygiene products is developed, with all profits from the social business being reinvested into the NGO’s projects. Through additionally interviewing potential future customers who show general interest in the social business, six potential products, among them toilet paper, soap, and paper towels, are identified. This field lab provides a holistic market research, resulting in an executable action plan from business model ideation to the sale of first products.