Training Workshops
Training Vouchers: Grantees will be provided with one grant funded voucher from CSED to cover participation in any or all Training Workshop. Grantees are encouraged to participate in all Workshops and may only apply for Technical Assistance in an area of business if they have completed the corresponding Workshop – including Workshops held during the Kickoff event.
Vouchers hold no cash value and are not transferable.
Makeup sessions for organizations unable to participate in scheduled workshops are not available.
Kickoff Event
& Cohort Orientation
September 16-17, Lansing
Workshops
3 hours each, Virtual
The Kickoff event is limited to one attendee per grantee organization, sessions may not be divided between different individuals across the two days.
Entrepreneurial Readiness
Facilitated by Global Entrepreneurship Business Lab
In this session, participants will explore what it takes to successfully launch and sustain a social enterprise. This session covers the key elements of assessing personal and organizational readiness, including skills, resources, market fit, and team dynamics. Through practical exercises and self-assessment tools, attendees will gain insights into their strengths and areas for development, ensuring they are well-prepared for the journey ahead. By the end, participants will have a clear understanding of their readiness to move forward with confidence and purpose in their enterprise journey.
Business Plan Development
Facilitated by Global Entrepreneurship Business Lab
This training guides participants through the core components of crafting a compelling and effective business plan for their social enterprise. Designed to translate mission into actionable strategy, the session covers sections such as defining objectives, outlining operational strategies, financial projections, and more — creating a roadmap for growth. Participants will leave with a framework to communicate their vision and drive their enterprise forward with clarity and purpose.
Legal Foundations for Launching Your Social Enterprise
Facilitated by Shonna L. Hawkins
Thinking about launching a business that makes a difference? In this interactive session, you will learn the legal musts- 1) choosing the right business structure, 2) filing the right paperwork, and 3) protecting your mission so you can start strong and stay on track.
Best Practices in Disability Hiring for Employment Related Social Enterprises
Facilitated by Todd Culver, Incompass Michigan
Incompass Michigan is the statewide network for comprehensive human service providers, working together to develop independence and achieve inclusive communities. Securing and maintaining meaningful employment for individuals with disabilities is a core service provided by our members. This session will focus on how social enterprises can implement best practices to attract and retain talented individuals with disabilities, while advancing their social mission.
How to Conduct a Feasibility Assessment
Facilitated by Global Entrepreneurship Business Lab
This training empowers participants to evaluate the viability of their social enterprise ideas through a structured feasibility assessment, incorporating key elements of market research. Participants will learn how to analyze market demand, understand customer needs, evaluate competitors, and assess operational requirements. By examining potential risks and opportunities, the session equips participants with a comprehensive framework to make informed decisions, reduce risks, and lay a solid foundation for launching or growing a successful social enterprise.
Grantee organizations may choose to send different team members to each virtual workshop, but attendance is limited to one attendee per organization.
Business modeling for a New Social Enterprise
October 9, 2025 • 1:00-4:00 • virtual
Facilitated by Global Entrepreneurship Business Lab
Explore the essential elements of building a successful business model tailored for social enterprises. This session covers how to design a model that aligns mission-driven goals with sustainable revenue streams, helping participants structure a foundation for long-term impact. Attendees will gain practical tools and insights into identifying key resources and value propositions, empowering them to create a social enterprise that is both impactful and viable.
Branding for Social Enterprises
October 22, 2025 • 9:00-Noon • virtual
Facilitated by Carmen Dahlberg
In this interactive and personalized workshop, we will work together to identify the essential elements of your social enterprise's brand. Through a series of exercises, we will create a customizable branding guide that will serve as a guidepost for all of your social enterprise's communications.
Marketing for Social Enterprises
November 12, 2025 • 9:00-Noon • virtual
Facilitated by Carmen Dahlberg
Great social enterprise marketing weaves impact into everything. Together, we will identify your social enterprise's audiences and marketing channels and create a strategy that is creative, cohesive, and well-communicated. You will leave with a roadmap for growing your organization and better communicating your vision to stakeholders.
Pitching Your Social Enterprise Vision
November 19, 2025 • 9:00-Noon • virtual
Facilitated by Carmen Dahlberg
In this workshop, learn how to distill your big vision into a succinct pitch that captures the attention of funders, customers, and beneficiaries. Using effective public speaking, communication, psychology, and sales tools, we will create a personalized script for a video pitch and templates for adapting your pitch to different audiences and circumstances.
Strategic Planning
February 4, 2026 • 1:00-4:00 • virtual
Facilitated by Global Entrepreneurship Business Lab
In this session, participants will learn tools and insights to develop a focused and actionable strategic plan for their social enterprise. By aligning mission-driven objectives with clear strategies, the session covers critical areas such as setting goals, identifying key resources, risk assessment, and measuring impact. Participants will have a blueprint to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and ensure their social enterprise is primed for sustainable growth and meaningful impact.
Reporting and Recording Metrics
February 11, 2026 • 1:00-4:00 • virtual
Facilitated by Global Entrepreneurship Business Lab
Participants will gain the skills needed to measure, record, and report essential metrics that highlight the impact of their social enterprise. This session dives into data collection methods, key performance indicators, and effective tracking tools, with a focus on leveraging metrics for marketing, funding applications, and continuous improvement. By the end, attendees will have a practical approach to capturing meaningful data that supports internal growth, strengthens external credibility, and reinforces their enterprise's mission and sustainability.
Funding Due Diligence Preparation
February 17, 2026 • 1:00-4:00 • virtual
Facilitated by Facilitated by Gringas Global
Designed for For-Profit Impact Enterprises and Non-Profits with an Earned Revenue Model
Learn how to effectively communicate your business AND its impact to investors
Gain clarity around your primary customer & your primary beneficiary
Gain Business Impact Intelligence
Stand out from the crowd as you learn how to communicate your business in a consistent, templated manner that is digestible to investors & outside frameworks
Natural Data Diagnostics
Learn how to map your impact to different frameworks
Install time & money saving practices
Closing Event Celebration and Cohort Pitches
March 12, 2026 • Lansing