A critical mass of organizations is gathering within, or transitioning toward, the emerging Fourth Sector. But this activity is sustained mostly by the support infrastructure of the public, private, and social sectors. In order for Fourth Sector organizations to thrive and grow, there is a clear need (as well as a market opportunity) to develop a supportive ecosystem that is tailored particularly to their needs. This includes elements like capital markets, common standards, legal and tax structures, support services, measurement and reporting protocols, and education and training.
The Fourth Sector Network (FSN) has been formed to accelerate the development of such an ecosystem. It is a cross-sectoral, cross-disciplinary enabling network of individuals and organizations who through their work contribute to the advancement of the Fourth Sector in a variety of ways, including:
- Connecting and engaging stakeholders of the Fourth Sector
- Studying and learning about the emerging Fourth Sector
- Educating and informing stakeholders and the general public
- Supporting and empowering Fourth Sector participants
- Supporting transitioning organizations in other sectors
FSN initially came together in spring 1999 as a small but diverse group of organizations in North Carolina's Research Triangle area. It has since grown to a distributed network of participants who are unified around a shared vision of healthy, sustainable communities achieved through the advancement of Fourth Sector principles. One of the significant magnets that has drawn together FSN participants is that the Fourth Sector allows their organizational interests and personal passions to be aligned with the interest of the community at large. This means that by orienting themselves individually and organizationally toward the Fourth Sector, participants can maximize their own quality of life while maximizing their organization's success and their community's health.
FSN's roles are to:
- identify, differentiate and connect the fragmented activity that is currently taking place in the emerging Fourth Sector,
- develop a coherent "operating system" that enables organizations that support Fourth Sector activity to leverage and coordinate their efforts, and
- facilitate effective engagement and connection between Fourth Sector organizations and their stakeholders (i.e. government, consumers, workforce, suppliers, investors, etc.).
FSN is currently undertaking an organizational development process that will expand the network and enable a wider group of consituents to engage in the Fourth Sector's advancement. Please click here if you would like to be a part of this process.