Key Stakeholders are those people and organizations that closely interact with your social enterprise, either because they will benefit from your social programs, they might pay for your products or services, or they might be donors, funders, and others who enter into a contractual relationship with you for your programs, products or services.
Beneficiaries: Beneficiaries are those stakeholders who will benefit from what your social enterprise offers, and who may not pay (or pay minimally) for those products or services. Provide all the detail you know about your beneficiaries. What are their goals? What are the challenges they face in achieving their goals? What do they need?
Customers: Customers are stakeholders who also benefit; however they pay for the products and services you offer. Who are your customers? what are their goals? What are the barriers they face? What do they need?
Funding Stakeholders: Those individuals or organizations that give you a source of income, such as donations, grants, awards, etc., are also key stakeholders of your social enterprise. Whilst in some cases, they may not directly benefit from the programs, products, or services you offer, they do benefit indirectly. In fact, most likely you will be assisting them in achieving their own social mission and goals. Who are your most important funders? Provide all the detail you know about your funders. Also, what are their goals? What are the barriers they face? What do they need?
Further Learning
Check out this resource for further learning:
“Listening to Those Who Matter Most, the Beneficiaries”, Fay Twersky,
Phil Buchanan & Valerie Threlfall, SSIR Spring 2013