DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE INFORMATION SOCIETY ON THE EXAMPLE OF SAINT-PETERSBURG

Purpose of the study: Identification of the prospects for the social entrepreneurship expansion in the sphere of social-oriented not-for-profit organizations using the example of St. Petersburg. The object of study: social-oriented not-for-profit organizations. The subject of research: social entrepreneurship in the field of social not-for-profit organizations. The scientists and practitioner can use these findings for the development of this activity type. Methodology: The research methods used in this study are survey, qualitative analysis of documents and ground theory. We use the author’s questionnaire. It presented in the Appendix to this article. We use a statistical method for processing nominal data with the aid of SPSS. Main Findings: The study revealed that social-oriented not-for-profit organizations and government social agencies work with the same social groups and offer similar services. Therefore, to increase the competitiveness of not-for-profit organizations, these organizations should provide services at a high client-oriented level. We found that because of the lack of permanent sources of funding, the problem of fundraising exists. Applications of this study: The results of the current study are applicable for improvement of commercial and social practices of social-oriented not-for-profit organizations, in the expansion of services for the additional professional education of such organizations’ personnel, in the development of practices in fundraising and crowdsourcing, in improving applications for grant support from the state, in the diversification of services. Novelty/Originality of this study: We revealed that social-oriented not-for-profit organizations and state social agencies work with the same social groups and offer similar services; we found that the problem of fundraising becomes a priority for this organizations; personnel in these organizations has different education; the representatives of not-for-profit organizations understand the purposes of social entrepreneurship.