Existing alongside the lucrative private sector and the public and parapublic sector, the “third sector” refers to not-for-profit organizations that seek to reconcile economic activities with social benefits. This third sector is important not only because it represents a significant portion of the work and organizations in our society, but also because it leads to social innovations and raises questions aimed squarely at the other two sectors. With themes ranging from governance to entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, management and economics, the following cases examine several organizations and public figures that “do things differently.” Great food for thought for your classroom discussions!
