At Unity Effect, we were honoured to co-develop and implement the impact evaluation of "Envisioning an Inclusive Social Entrepreneurship Sector in Germany", a flagship initiative led by SEND e.V. and supported by Google.org’s Social Innovation Fund.
Using our Impact Garden methodology, we explored how inclusive funding structures, trust-based support, and systemic collaboration can empower founders from underserved communities. The report highlights key insights across three pathways of change — from support to empowerment, awareness to commitment, and networking to alliances — and offers clear recommendations for policymakers, funders, and support organisations. This work is a powerful example of how participatory, intersectional approaches can cultivate real systems change.
You can explore the full report here. Below, we’ve highlighted the key findings to give you a closer look at the impact in action.
You can also learn more about our work below:
In early 2022, Germany’s social entrepreneurship landscape took a significant step toward greater inclusion. The German Social Entrepreneurship Network (SEND e.V.) announced the launch of an important initiative supported by a €1.6 million grant from Google.org’s Social Innovation Fund. The goal: to reshape the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Germany by ensuring underserved communities, those historically excluded or marginalized, have equal access to resources, networks, and opportunities in social entrepreneurship.
Over the last 2.5 years, this initiative, anchored by the emp:our now programme, the Meta-Actor Network (MAN), and regional clusters, has engaged nearly 500 individuals through direct support, established partnerships, and seeded long-term systemic change. This blog post outlines the findings and learnings from the final report, “Envisioning an Inclusive Social Entrepreneurship Sector in Germany: A Journey to Impact.” It highlights both what happened and lays out what needs to happen next.
Use the table of contents below to guide your reading:
Central to the evaluation was Unity Effect’s Impact Garden framework. This Theory of Change model maps out how resources and activities, when structured intentionally, can lead to long-term, systemic transformation. The evaluation focused on three “pathways of change” that were co-developed between Unity Effect, SEND and the project partners:
From support to empowerment
Describing how the programme enabled founders from underserved communities to be empowered and successful long-term.
From awareness to commitment
Describing the steps for public institutions and organisations from the social entrepreneurship sector to strategically commit to inclusion.
From networking to alliances
Indicating how partnerships can be formed to advance the mission of an inclusive social entrepreneurship sector.
The evaluation process was deeply participatory. Workshops with stakeholders helped refine goals and indicators, while data collection included surveys with funding partners and entrepreneurs, SEND’s internal records, and additional literature.
Importantly, our approach emphasized intersectionality, the overlapping challenges faced by individuals across dimensions like race, gender, disability, and socioeconomic status.
The report’s insights come from multiple complementary sources:
In combination, these sources paint a data-rich, experience-based picture of what inclusive support looks like, and what stands in its way.
To make participation more meaningful for both funding partners and participants, we hosted a workshop to co-design the content of the final report. Together, we explored how the evaluation process and the final report can serve not just as documentation, but as opportunities for learning, visibility, and alignment with the funding partner’s mission.
Key Insight: Trust, safety, and flexible support structures are not optional, they are foundational.
Nearly 500 people from underserved communities took part in support programmes. From workshops and one-on-one coaching to open-access platforms, participants found a rare combination of safe(r) spaces and tailored support. This led to tangible outcomes: 192 participants moved toward launching social enterprises, and many gained critical funding or visibility.
But empowerment isn’t a one-time event. Financial insecurity remains a major barrier, as does fear or mistrust of institutions. Empowerment, then, must be continuous and systemic, with seed funding, longer support cycles, and peer mentorship woven into the model.
Key Insight: DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) isn’t a side goal, it’s an institutional responsibility.
Public events reached more than 2,300 attendees, while SEND’s social media outreach touched 92,000+ people. But perhaps more importantly, internal shifts occurred. Funding partners and SEND staff participated in DEIB training, adopted inclusive hiring practices, and integrated DEIB into their operational strategies.
This marks a pivot from performative awareness to operational commitment. As the report shows, diverse advisory boards, DEIB strategies, and inclusive hiring aren’t just good practices, they’re critical enablers of systemic change.
Key Insight: Lasting impact requires backbone organisations and intentional coalitions.
The initiative wasn’t just about individual enterprises. It focused on building regional clusters and a Meta-Actor Network, structures that foster collaboration between support organisations, government agencies, and grassroots initiatives.
Four of the five selected support projects were run by consortia, highlighting the power of partnership. Through over 68 coordination meetings, SEND enabled real-time support and alignment across diverse actors. This led to follow-up projects, policy influence, and a growing sense of shared ownership over inclusion.
The data is clear: inclusive social entrepreneurship in Germany is not just possible, it’s already underway. But this progress must be safeguarded and scaled. The final section of the report offers pointed recommendations for three key audiences.
1. Engage with and listen to founders from underserved communities
Listening to founders from underserved communities leads to more inclusive, relevant policies. Their insights challenge assumptions and foster authentic system change.
2. Establish support mechanisms for founders from underserved communities
Founders need support systems that reflect and adapt to their realities. Long-term impact comes from inclusive hiring, co-designed programmes, and networks that empower diverse entrepreneurs.
3. Implement an equitable financial strategy in policies
Financial tools must address the systemic barriers many founders face. Seed funding and long-term financial access reduce risk aversion and enable innovation.
1. Invest in Systemic Change
Investing with a long-term systems lens means embedding funding within ecosystems and supporting collaborative, policy-influencing work. Change comes from thoughtful planning and co-creation.
2. Money to the people
Unrestricted, trust-based, and direct funding works—especially for those traditionally excluded. It enables focus, innovation, and dignity.
3. Regenerative and participatory evaluation
Evaluation should fuel learning, regeneration, and real impact—not just reporting. Use systemic, participatory methods to evolve programmes and optimize funding.
1. Planning for connection and emergence
Programmes thrive when space is made for connection, flexibility, and shared ownership. Include time for dialogue and co-creation alongside structured learning.
2. The power of community and role models
Strong networks and visible role models boost confidence and belonging. Support systems should balance community-building with broader exposure.
3. Institutionalisation beyond the programme
Support doesn’t stop with the programme—embed diversity, equity, and inclusion into core structures. Link efforts to broader systems and partnerships.
This initiative, supported by Google.org’s Social Innovation Fund, has shown that Germany’s social entrepreneurship sector can be inclusive, dynamic, and forward-looking, if we collectively commit to changing the systemic conditions.
The question is no longer whether social enterprises led by people from underserved communities can succeed. They can. They are. The question now is: Will we, as a sector and society, create the structures to support them long-term?
Germany’s national strategy for social innovation is a step in the right direction. So is the funding mechanism “Nachhaltig Wirken.” But strategy and funding alone won’t shape an inclusive sector. That work begins and continues with people.
People like Raina Sun, who built a coaching business rooted in community. People like Genefer Baxter, whose platform, Aula Future, guides sustainable solution exploration, ideation, and development. And the countless others who are ready to lead but need a system that meets them where they are.
As the report urges: It’s time to stop asking underserved communities to fit into a system that wasn’t built for them, and start building a system with them.
The journey to inclusive impact has started. Let’s not lose momentum.
For more information or to collaborate on the next chapter, reach out to us or to SEND at info@send-ev.de.
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