Social Enterprise Alliance

What Social Enterprise Alliance does

Social Enterprise Alliance (SEA) is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership association founded in 1998 and headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. It serves a community of approximately 500 social enterprise practitioners, businesses, funders, and supporters, providing education, convening, and resources for the social enterprise sector. Its core products include a member directory, a funding database, a summit video library, a webinar archive, member tools, a podcast, a blog, and a People and Planet First verification program; an SEA Marketplace is forthcoming.

SEA's business model rests on a tiered revenue mix: individual membership dues priced at $150 per year, organizational memberships at higher tiers (not publicly disclosed), tax-deductible donations, and corporate sponsorships structured across Champion, Supporter, and Ally levels. The current named sponsor base includes Graze Inc. (Champion), GrantStation (Supporter), and CiTTA Partnership (Ally). SEA extends its reach and value proposition through an ecosystem of partnerships with People and Planet First (verification), Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF), Good Market, SAP Business Network, B Lab, and MovingWorlds, anchoring both domestic and international engagement for its members.

Name

Social Enterprise Alliance

Legal name

Social Enterprise Alliance, Inc.

Website

https://socialenterprise.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Social Enterprise Alliance is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1998 and headquartered in Nashville, TN, serving roughly 500 social enterprise practitioners and supporters through membership dues, education content, a verification program, and an upcoming marketplace.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Enterprise Trade Association Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Social Advocacy Organizations (813319)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Social Q&A & Knowledge Communities (BPAMABAI)

Keywords

• Social enterprise membership
• Nonprofit verification services
• Social procurement network
• Mission-driven business support
• Impact enterprise advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: SEA generates primary revenue through annual membership subscriptions. Individual memberships are priced at $150/year, providing access to resources, verification pathways, funding database, learning content, networking tools, and member communications. Membership tiers include Individual, Student, Organization, and Consulting Firm categories.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: SEA accepts tax-deductible charitable contributions from supporters. Registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Federal Tax ID: 74-2964255), donations fund programming, local chapter support, workshop scholarships, membership subsidies, and technology offerings. One-time and recurring donation options are available ($25, $50, $100, $200, or custom amounts).
3. Sponsorship Revenue: Corporate sponsors support SEA at multiple tiers (Champion, Supporter, Ally) with benefits including visibility, brand placement, and partnership access. Current sponsors include Graze Inc. (Champion), GrantStation (Supporter), and CiTTA Partnership (Ally).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Social Enterprise Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that supports U.S. social enterprises through annual membership subscriptions ($150/year for individuals), People and Planet First verification services, a GrantStation-powered funding database, member directory access, educational content (webinars, summit videos, podcast), and community networking via Slack and events. Founded in 1998, it serves as the U.S. anchor for the global social enterprise movement and an Official Verification Partner with People and Planet First.

Product overview

Social Enterprise Alliance (SEA) is a membership-based nonprofit organization operating as a single integrated platform rather than a modular product suite. The core offering is the SEA membership program ($150/year for individuals), which provides access to a suite of member-only resources including a Member Directory for networking and collaboration, a Funding Database powered by GrantStation ($699 value), Summit Videos, Webinar Archive, and Member Tools. Additional products include the Social Enterprise Alliance Podcast available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, the SEA Blog with articles on social enterprise topics, and the People and Planet First Verification service for which SEA serves as an Official Verification Partner. An upcoming SEA Marketplace will allow members to showcase products. The organization serves approximately 500 members including social enterprises, practitioners, and ecosystem supporters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SEA Membership Paid annual membership program with tiers for individuals ($150/year), students, organizations (sized 1-3 to 250+ employees), and consulting firms. Includes access to GrantStation funding database ($699 value), Summit recordings, member directory, discounted events and mentorship, Slack workspace access, podcast and blog content, and member newsletters.
• People and Planet First Verification Global verification system recognizing trusted country-based and global certifications for social enterprises. SEA serves as Official Verification Partner, providing verification in countries where certifications do not exist, allowing verified enterprises access to collective advocacy and social procurement resources.
• Member Directory Searchable online directory of SEA members with filtering capabilities by sector, state/territory, incorporation type, and third-party certifications.
• Funding Database Member-only comprehensive funding database powered by GrantStation (valued at $699), helping members find and apply for various types of grants and funding.
• Summit Videos Member-only access to recordings from SEA's annual summits, including Summit 2022 content and other archived presentations.
• Webinar Archive Member-only archive of past webinars, training sessions, Coffee Chats, and MasterClasses covering topics relevant to social enterprises.
• Social Enterprise Alliance Podcast Podcast series co-hosted by Board Chair David Gaines and Community Engagement Coordinator Lauren Dekleva, featuring social impact leaders and changemaking stories. Distributed on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
• SEA Blog Blog featuring articles on social enterprise topics, accessibility, environmental sustainability, impact storytelling, and social enterprise news. Some content is gated for members only.
• Member Tools Member-only resources, tools, and discounts available to SEA members.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500 members and growing
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• People and Planet FirstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEA is an Official Verification Partner with People and Planet First, a global movement banner uniting enterprises that prioritize people and planet over private profit. This partnership enables SEA to verify U.S. social enterprises against global standards, provide access to the Good Market platform, and connect members to worldwide networks for collective advocacy and social procurement opportunities.
• Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEWF is a global forum connecting social enterprise networks worldwide. SEA collaborates with SEWF on verification services, conference programming, and collective advocacy. SEA facilitates U.S. member participation in SEWF events and summits.
• Good MarketcoreTechnology or IntegrationGood Market provides the technology platform powering People and Planet First verification. SEA directs members to the Good Market platform for verification applications and maintains integration with their database of verified enterprises across 114 countries.
• Graze Inc.majorGTM or Marketing PartnerGraze Inc. (Champion Level Sponsor) develops autonomous commercial lawnmowers and positions itself as architects of progress. As Champion sponsor, Graze supports SEA's mission and receives prominent visibility on the website and at events. Their sponsorship also includes support for the Funding Database page.
• GrantStationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrantStation is a Supporter Level Sponsor providing comprehensive funding database access to SEA members (valued at $699). GrantStation benefits from visibility to SEA's membership base of social enterprises seeking grant funding opportunities.
• CiTTA PartnershipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCiTTA Partnership is an Ally Level Sponsor and a social impact consulting firm. Co-founded by Belinda Li, who also serves as SEA Board Vice Chair, CiTTA supports SEA's programming and receives sponsor visibility.
• SAP Business NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSAP Business Network is a global platform integrating with People and Planet First verification to provide visibility for verified enterprises. SEA members benefit from additional market visibility through this platform integration.
• MovingWorldsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMovingWorlds connects social enterprises with corporations, pro bono professionals, and resources through the TRANSFORM Support Hub (partnered with Unilever and SAP). They are an SEA member and partner company, promoting corporate-social enterprise partnerships and shared learning within the SEA community.
• B LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB Lab certifies B Corporations and has certified over 2,500 B Corps in the U.S. SEA and B Lab share aligned missions and member overlaps, with both organizations promoting business as a force for good. B Lab's higher standards launching in 2025 represent continued alignment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Echoing Green: Echoing Green provides fellowships and funding to emerging social entrepreneurs. Both organizations focus on catalyzing the next generation of social impact leaders and offer cohort-based community and resources to social entrepreneurs.
• Ashoka: Ashoka is a global network supporting social entrepreneurs through fellowships, with operations in the U.S. Both organizations serve social entrepreneurs with networking, resources, and visibility, though Ashoka focuses on individual changemakers while SEA serves enterprises.
• Net Impact: Net Impact is a membership-based community of students and professionals driving social and environmental impact. Both organizations operate membership models with chapter-based communities, learning resources, and career development offerings for purpose-driven individuals.
• 1% for the Planet: 1% for the Planet is a global network where businesses pledge 1% of sales to environmental causes, with verified certification and member networking. Both organizations provide certification pathways and member communities for purpose-driven businesses, with comparable revenue models based on membership and brand partnerships.
• Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF): SEWF is a global forum connecting social enterprise networks and is the parent organization behind People and Planet First verification. SEA is both a partner and a verified SEWF social enterprise, operating at the intersection of national and global social enterprise ecosystems.
• Good Market: Good Market provides the technology platform powering People and Planet First verification. SEA directs verification applications through Good Market's platform, making it a direct technology and verification partner.
• B Lab: B Lab certifies B Corporations globally, with over 2,500 certified in the U.S. Both SEA and B Lab serve as verification/certification bodies for mission-driven businesses and share member overlap, making B Lab the most directly comparable peer.
• Candid (formerly Foundation Center): Candid provides information tools and resources for the nonprofit and social sector, including funding databases. SEA partners with GrantStation for funding database access; Candid serves a similar information intermediary role in the social sector.

Broad incumbents

• Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship: The Schwab Foundation operates globally as a broader, well-funded platform for social entrepreneurs, partnering with the World Economic Forum. It serves as a larger incumbent in the social entrepreneurship support ecosystem where SEA operates domestically.
• Skoll Foundation: Skoll Foundation invests in and connects social entrepreneurs globally through grants, the Skoll Forum, and ecosystem partnerships. It is a broader, well-resourced incumbent operating in adjacent space to SEA's social enterprise support mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sealliance
• Facebookfacebook.com/5958024

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Social Enterprise Alliance