Introduction

Over the past few decades, the boundaries between the public (government), private (business), and social (non-profit/non-governmental) sectors have been blurring, while a new type of organization has been emerging. 4th Sector organizations are a new class of organization. They are driven by a social purpose, they are economically self-sustaining, and they seek to be socially, ethically, and environmentally responsible.

Like non-profits, 4th Sectors can organize in pursuit of a wide range of social missions. Like for-profits, 4th Sectors can generate a broad range of beneficial products and services that improve quality of life for consumers, create jobs, and contribute to the economy. 4th Sectors seek to maximize benefit to all stakeholders, and 100% of the economic "profits" they generate are invested to advance social purposes.

Because of their architecture, 4th Sectors can embody some of the best attributes of other organizational forms. They strive to be democratic, inclusive, open, transparent, accountable, effective, efficient, cooperative, and holistic.

4th Sectors represent a new paradigm in organizational design. At all levels, they aim to link two concepts which are held as a false dichotomy in other models: private interest and public benefit.

4th Sector Ventures LLC is a 4th Sector organization driven by social purpose and providing services for social need and for social change. This is our way of harnessing the vitality and promise of capitalism in a way that’s beneficial and fair to all served in communities across the country.