Global Standards set by the Social Enterprise World Forum are relevant and useful for Australia too and are collectively embracing them:
- Purpose: Exists to solve a social and/or environmental problem;
- Operations: Prioritises purpose, people, and planet over profit in operational decisions;
- Revenue: Has a self-sustaining revenue model;
- Use of Surplus: Reinvests the majority of any surplus towards its purpose;
- Structure: Chooses legal structures and financing that protect and lock-in purpose long term.