By Emily Winslow, JVA Social Enterprise Intern 

JVA is proud to be a part of a network of changemakers—around the world and in our local Denver communities. For quite some time, social entrepreneurship has been a growing trend for both nonprofit and for-profit businesses, proving that one does not need to choose profit over purpose in business practices.

We are also seeing that social entrepreneurship is not limited by age.

In fact, the millennial generation is leading the social entrepreneurship movement in many ways. The importance of promoting social good in our communities is an important tenet of the millennial generation, which is now driving the market toward social entrepreneurship business practices, as seen in Forbes magazine’s recent inclusion of a new “social entrepreneur” industry category in their annual profile “30 Under 30,” which highlights the success of individuals under the age of 30. Social entrepreneurship has caused a paradigm shift in the millennial generation, and this new way of thinking is becoming the “lemonade stand” of 2013.

From selling Girl Scout cookies to contributing to campaigns against bullying, social entrepreneurship practices do not seem as daunting when you are a kid. Not only do you have resources as well as support from family and friends, you also learn how to be creative with and stretch a dollar.  This is best demonstrated in this month’s spotlight—the young entrepreneurs at the Young Americans Center for Financial Education in Denver. In the Young Entrepreneur program, children as young as 7 and up to age 18 learn the nuts and bolts of entrepreneurship through classes and workshops designed to help kids start and maintain active businesses.  Through promoting financial skills through real world applications with social missions at a young age, the Young Americans Center for Financial Education has served over 500,000 youths in Colorado.

In the same token, organizations like DoSomething.org provide another great example of how millennials can use social entrepreneurial tools to make a distinct impact on important social issues through national campaigns that speak to their generation. By using crowdfunding models, anyone can fund these endeavors and community projects by using social media and technology for good.

The millennial generation’s unique stamp on the world of social entrepreneurship can be explored in the following links as well:

• Ignite Good: Competition of over 200 young leaders from around the U.S. to win one of 10 Millennial Impact Scholarships (a grant of $10,000) to promote large scale public service projects among the under 30

• How Millennials are Shaping the Future: Melissa Richer’s Huffington Post piece on millennials driving social entrepreneurship and technology in the sector

Is your organization capturing the passion and energy of the younger generation to enhance your initiatives? If not, how can you leverage the millennial generation’s innovation and drive in this sector to invigorate your social enterprise initiatives?

Emily is currently a M.A. candidate in the International Development program at the University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies.