Fourth sector

The Aspen Institute Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation (PSI) published a report on the Fourth Sector, "a new sector of organizations at the intersection of the public, private, and social sectors." These are organizations that integrate social missions with business practices, creating a new class of "for-benefit" organizations. The thesis of author Heerad Sabeti is that:

...a new class of organizations with the potential for generating immense economic, social, and environmental benefits is emerging--and this sector can be consciously developed and expanded through broad recognition and engagement.

He suggests a new supportive ecosystem for the Fourth Sector, including new kinds of financial markets, legal structures and regulation, tax policy, and assessment and reporting standards.

The Emerging Fourth Sector, Executive Summary (pdf, 15pp/804kB), Sept. 2009
    (Only the executive summary is currently available as a free download)