The Fourth Sector is a concept, and it is also a white paper.
The Concept
There are three main organizational sectors: public, private, and non-profit. They are converging: the public and non-profit sectors are focusing more on earned-income strategies and other business methods, while the private sector is coming under increasing pressure to be more socially and environmentally responsible. Meanwhile a whole new category of enterprises, called "social enterprises," is emerging that attempts to combine the best features of these organizational types by marrying business methods with a social purpose.
A Fourth Sector is emerging with social enterprises as early examples of the form. However, for a truly robust Fourth Sector to come into being, a "supportive ecosystem" is required that would make it easier for social enterprises and other Fourth Sector organizations to succeed, for instance by facilitating access to capital and providing favorable tax treatment.
The White Paper
The Aspen Institute has commissioned a white paper on the emerging Fourth Sector. It is being shepherded by the Fourth Sector Working Group. Carl Frankel has been helping to write this paper and is one of the lead authors.
Publication of this important and much-awaited paper is scheduled for 2008.