Why Social Entrepreneurship Is a Reliable Business Model That Can Help Religious Organizations Sustain and Grow Their Good Works?

In monasteries, an important and quiet kind of work takes place every day — prayer, spiritual support, caring for others, crafting things with love, and helping those in need. All of this is a true expression of service. Yet today’s challenges, especially economic ones, often make the leaders of religious organizations consider how to ensure the sustainability of these efforts without losing their deeper meaning.

More and more, social entrepreneurship is being discussed as a response to this question. The term can raise concerns: “Should a monastery really be doing business?”, “Will this devalue our service?”, “What if no one buys what we’ve given away for free for years?” These questions are entirely natural.

However, social entrepreneurship is not just a blend of goodwill and business. It is a full-fledged business model centered around people, community, and service. Unlike traditional businesses, a social enterprise’s goal is not only to make a profit, but also to address a specific social issue or support a vital mission. Profit here is not the end goal, but a means to grow and strengthen the service. That’s why this model resonates so strongly with religious organizations — it allows good deeds to flourish sustainably without abandoning their spiritual calling.

A monastery that makes candles, bakes bread, dries herbs, holds spiritual and educational gatherings for youth, or supports the needy is already creating valuable products or services. But without a systematic approach, such efforts can quickly exhaust their resources. A business model provides a way to look at these activities holistically: What are the costs? Where do resources come from? What exactly does the community offer? Who needs it? And how can we reach more people?

In other words, it’s not about changing the mission — it’s about changing the approach. In the past, a monastery might produce 500 candles and donate them for free to hospitals. But over the years, it became harder to sustain this production. By selling some of the candles online or through a parish shop, the monastery could raise funds to produce 1,000 candles, half of which would still be donated to those in need. In this way, the spirit of giving is not lost — it gains new foundations.

A business model adapted to the needs of a monastic community is not the commercialization of service. It is a way to ensure its sustainability. Clearly defined goals, a solid understanding of the value of the product or service, and simple cost calculations — all of this helps make decisions that support the community without conflicting with its vocation.

Moreover, social entrepreneurship often helps bring new people into the shared mission — not just customers, but also volunteers, young people, and partners. It opens up new opportunities to expand impact and deepen one’s mission in the world.

In many European countries, monastic communities are already actively implementing social enterprises. For example, in one Bavarian monastery, the monks switched to organic farming, later opening a bakery, a butcher’s shop, and a restaurant. They also opened a guest house and a bookstore, and their activities contribute to the local economy and sustainable agriculture in the region. Another example is a Benedictine monastery in Hesse that engages in various crafts and sells products through a monastery shop. This provides financial support for the community and helps preserve traditional skills.

Similar initiatives are beginning to develop in Ukraine as well. A vivid example is the story of the sisters serving at the monastery in Hoshiv. They are developing a social enterprise and use the proceeds to work with children, adults, and families, as well as to help people in crisis situations. The Sisters of the Holy Family Monastery offer various types of pasta made from durum wheat, produced in-house.

If your community is seeking a way to make its initiatives more sustainable — you are not alone on this path. Today, there are organizations that respectfully acknowledge the spiritual nature of your calling and help religious communities explore the potential of social entrepreneurship. We can support you in shaping your idea, developing a business model, finding resources, and building a team — step by step, at a pace that is right for your organization.

This isn’t about abandoning tradition or commercializing service. It’s about wise development that allows you to serve longer, deeper, and more sustainably. The path is not an easy one, but it is entirely possible — and we are here to walk it with you.