Skip to main content
A wide landscape showing red rock outcrops surrounded by green grasses and trees, with a shallow pool of water in the foreground reflecting the vegetation. The scene feels calm and expansive, highlighting the contrast between rocky terrain and lush growth.
Photo credits: Maria Fredericks, Kalumburu Photography Collective

Resource library

This library holds a chosen collection of useful tools, guides, and resources in the social enterprise sector. You can explore guides, articles, and more to support your journey. If you're starting a social enterprise, facing sector challenges, or looking into the impact economy, you’ll find something useful here.

decorative swirl

Suggest a new educational resource or update here to help keep this library useful.

60 results found
  • Cover of Green Collect's "The Circular Capability Toolkit for Social Enterprise," June 2026, with a photo of hands sorting items into a cardboard box.

    The Circular Capability Toolkit for Social Enterprise

    Guides

    The Circular Capability Toolkit is a practical guide for social enterprises wanting to adopt more circular economy practices in how they operate and make decisions. Built by practitioners, it offers ready-to-use tools covering procurement, waste, and asset management. It is useful for any social enterprise at any stage of their sustainability journey.

    The Circular Capability Toolkit for Social Enterprise
  • Orange cover with text “Development Impact & You – Practical tools for social innovation.”

    The DIY Toolkit

    Guides

    Nesta is an independent charity in the United Kingdom that supports new and better ways of solving problems. They created this toolkit to help people develop, adapt, or improve ideas that create positive impact. The toolkit includes 30 simple and practical tools that are easy to use and apply in real situations.

    The DIY Toolkit
  • Close-up of a hand using a fountain pen to write in cursive.

    The Governance of Social Enterprises: Managing your Organisation for Success

    Guides

    This guidebook, made by and for social entrepreneurs, covers building effective boards to balance social mission with financial goals. It includes advice on governance structures, board composition, recruitment, roles, and managing conflicts, highlighting how governance needs evolve as social enterprises grow.

    The Governance of Social Enterprises: Managing your Organisation for Success
  • Close-up of a person whisking eggs in a bowl on a kitchen counter, surrounded by eggshells and a towel.

    The Illustrated Guide to Participatory City

    Guides

    This guide introduces the Participatory City model, designed to create vibrant, inclusive neighbourhoods through active resident engagement in practical projects. It offers principles, methods, and insights for addressing social challenges and building community resilience, serving as a valuable resource for policymakers, community leaders, and organisations.

    The Illustrated Guide to Participatory City
  • Template of the Story Canvas by Digital Storytellers, featuring sections for audience, purpose, key messages, story, people and places, style and tone, campaign, call to action, outcomes, and indicators.

    The Story Canvas

    Guides

    Discover the Story Canvas—a practical tool to craft impactful, strategic stories tailored to your needs. Designed by Digital Storytellers, this downloadable canvas simplifies storytelling for nonprofits, social enterprises, and impact organisations. With step-by-step guidance and resources, it helps you create engaging stories that inspire action and advance your cause effectively.

    The Story Canvas
  • Abstract artwork with Reconciliation Australia and Community Truth-telling Pathways logos on a soft red background.

    Truth-Telling Resource Hub

    Guides
    First Nations

    This resource page from Reconciliation Australia shares learning materials about truth-telling in Australia. It includes guides, reports and videos that explain what truth-telling is and why it matters for reconciliation with First Nations peoples.

    Truth-Telling Resource Hub
  • Red and painted cover for “Using the Business Model Canvas for Social Enterprise Design.”

    Using the Business Model Canvas for Social Enterprise Design

    Guides

    This booklet looks beyond the Business Model Canvas as a general tool. It explains how Ingrid Burkett, an Australian social entrepreneur, adapts the Canvas for social enterprises. The booklet guides you step by step on how to use the Canvas to suit social purpose work.

    Using the Business Model Canvas for Social Enterprise Design
  • ventures at the helm

    Ventures at the Helm

    Guides

    This report is a practical guide to impact measurement and management. It explains how enterprises can build strong impact strategies and shows that different approaches are needed at different stages of growth. Rather than using one model for everyone, it encourages flexible, stage-based impact practices.

    Ventures at the Helm
  • A white truck travels along a dirt road through a vast Australian outback landscape, with red rock cliffs and scattered greenery under a bright blue sky.

    Wellbeing Matters Guide

    Guides

    The "Wellbeing Matters Guide" offers insights from social enterprise leaders, particularly in regional, rural, and remote areas. It provides resources to support leaders in enhancing their wellbeing and effectiveness by sharing real-life experiences.

    Wellbeing Matters Guide
  • Simple line illustration showing two sources flowing into an unlocked heart, symbolising opening access to shared value or resources.

    What is Steward-Ownership? The 2 principles of Steward-ownership

    Guides

    This website explores steward-ownership, a business model that protects purpose and independence. It separates control from profit so decisions stay with people committed to the mission, while profits are reinvested or used to support long-term impact.

    What is Steward-Ownership? The 2 principles of Steward-ownership

Do you know of a resource that could benefit the social enterprise sector?

Submit resource

Request now
Team portrait photos - contact us

We’d love to hear from you!

Reach out to one of our team members, and share input and ideas about how we can evolve Understorey.

Get in touch