Social enterprise crowdfunding in an acute crisis

Abstract

<p>Social enterprises can play a pivotal role in mitigating the negative effects of major crises if these ventures are able to attract enough funding for their activities. Our research reflects on the experiences of a UK-based crowdfunding platform, <em>UpEffect,</em> to develop understanding of the key challenges for social enterprise crowdfunding at the time of COVID-19. Specially, we offer and synthesize three perspectives (social enterprises, funding crowd, and crowdfunding platforms) to illuminate key strategies that crowdfunding platforms, like <em>UpEffect</em>, can employ to support social enterprises in enacting solutions for COVID-19 affected people and communities.<br></p>