Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) often face funding challenges, both in financing their programs and covering operational costs, including compensating dedicated human resources who work in alignment with the organization’s vision and mission. This book explores the journeys and experiences of ten CSOs who have bravely initiated and managed business ventures. These include: Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN), Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), Komunitas Ininnawa, Lembaga Pengembangan Teknologi Pedesaan (LPTP) Surakarta, Perkumpulan Desa Digital Terbuka (OpenDesa), Perkumpulan Komunitas Konservasi Indonesia (KKI) Warsi, Perkumpulan Telapak, PEKKA Lodan Doe, Yayasan Pengkajian dan Pengembangan Sosial (YPPS) Larantuka, and Yayasan Wangsakerta.
Each organization’s uniqueness is highlighted in Chapter 1, which explores their character, background, processes, and the key decisions that led them to innovate. The following chapters delve into the business models CSOs can adopt and the factors that influence their business decisions. These chapters broaden the understanding of business not merely as a profit-driven endeavor, but as a mission-driven journey, shaped by purpose, development processes, and values that guide CSOs in their ventures.
This book is intended to serve as a reference for CSOs planning to start a business or who are already running one and wish to expand. Beyond that, it aims to be a resource for everyone, offering a fresh perspective that business should not be solely about profit but also about courage to innovate, making breakthroughs, and creating solutions that are more inclusive for people and more sustainable for the planet.
