Abstract

Before we implement social enterprises, it is key to understand the end goal: sustainability. This paper returns to practice and considers this within the unique, global case of community-based organizations known as Sport for Development and Social Change (S4SC). Conceptualizations of ‘sustainability’ are diverse and sometimes incoherent. In particular in community-based organizations, it is a challenge when funders, policymakers, industry, and community may not share the same conceptualization. For example, community organization operators and researchers may use the word but miss its rhetorical resonance. This leads to potential differences in understanding the needs, barriers, and opportunities available to community-based organizations to reach their sustainability options. Rather than impose assumptions regarding organizational sustainability options, barriers, and facilitators, this study asks the field of S4SC what sustainability means because they are experts on the topic. When an organization, rather than a top-down institution, use the term sustainability, what are they really saying? Fourth Generation Evaluation (4GE), a methodology that puts the study end-user at the core of the investigation, is used to frame this study. We document the process to interpret a conceptual framework for sustainability following insights gained from interaction with the study end-users. We identify the applicability and usability of this conceptualization and a framework to better understand the parameters, facilitators, and barriers to the sustainability options of community-based organizations. This paper evidences the interplay of the essential conditions community-based organizations need to empower their communities and enable the right conditions for the social mission to sustain itself.

Presenters

Alex Richmond
Doctoral Candidate; Social Enterprise Project Manager, School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia

Details

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Theme

2021 Special Focus—Sport and Society in Crisis

KEYWORDS

Fourth Generation Evaluation, Sustainability, Social Enterprise, Sport for Development

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