In a world increasingly shaped by digital innovation, social enterprises must keep pace – not only to survive but to thrive and scale their impact. Marija Mazic, Senior Project Manager at Reach for Change, brings both experience and a fresh perspective to this conversation. Based in Croatia and working for a Swedish NGO with a global footprint, Marija recently shared her reflections on digital transformation in the context of the DiGiSEII project. Her insights offer a powerful lens on the opportunities and challenges that social enterprises face in the digital era.
Empowering Changemakers
Reach for Change is a nonprofit social enterprise support organisation, legally registered in Sweden but active across continents – from Sweden and Latvia to Ghana and Ethiopia. With a team of around 50, their mission is clear: support social entrepreneurs who are improving lives for future generations, particularly in areas like education, inequality, climate action, and job creation.
“We work a lot with inequality, climate change, poverty… just trying to make the world a better place through social entrepreneurship,” says Marija.
Lessons from the Digital Shift
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marija notes, was a major inflection point. It forced organisations everywhere to reassess their digital readiness.
“It invited us to do a little audit on where we are. You always feel like you’re keeping track… until something kicks you out of your everyday life.”
Digital tools – once “nice to have” – became lifelines. But they also exposed gaps in knowledge, readiness, and accessibility. Today, Reach for Change sees digitalisation as not just an operational upgrade but a strategic imperative. Their work often includes helping social entrepreneurs understand and integrate digital tools effectively, from basic cloud solutions like Google Suite and Microsoft Teams to advanced platforms built by EdTech and HealthTech ventures.
Bridging the Digital Divide
Social entrepreneurs supported by Reach for Change span a wide spectrum – some are digital natives; others are still learning the basics.
“One of the biggest struggles is not knowing what to prioritise,” Marija explains. “Everything seems important – social media, email, websites – and for small teams where everyone does everything, it can be overwhelming.”
The digital divide here is not just about access to tools but also knowledge and confidence. Tools for impact measurement, cash flow planning, and communications are often underutilised – not because they don’t exist, but because they’re not easily understood.
Best Practices and Innovative Tools
While many digital solutions already exist, their usability for social entrepreneurs remains a barrier. One promising development is an AI assistant co-developed by Reach for Change and partners in Sweden. This tool helps entrepreneurs build their Theory of Change and better measure impact – traditionally a complex and resource – heavy process.
“We have some strict guidelines internally around how AI should be used,” Marija notes, emphasising the importance of ethics in adoption.
Reach for Change also offers a comprehensive online toolkit for its entrepreneurs and partners with local IT experts who help build customised platforms – often pro bono. This collaborative model helps fill the organisation’s IT gap, as they currently operate without an internal IT department.
Looking Forward: Data, Ethics, and Ecosystems
Data collection and analysis play a crucial role at Reach for Change. From basic contact info for limited-access programs to robust due diligence and impact tracking for deeper engagements, data informs both strategy and support.
Yet challenges remain – especially around digital policy, infrastructure, and capacity building. With most systems cloud-based and external experts guiding tech development, there’s a growing need for internal digital governance and upskilling across the board.
Marija is optimistic that the DiGiSEII project will help further clarify these needs.
“One of the things that’s going to be very helpful is the results we’re going to get from DiGiSEII. We’ll understand how social entrepreneurs talk about digitalisation, where they place priorities… That’s going to be the biggest win.”
Conclusion: A Call for Targeted Support
Marija Mazic’s insights paint a vivid picture of the current digitalisation landscape in the social entrepreneurship sector. From the need to prioritise effectively to the power of pro bono tech partnerships, it’s clear that while digitalisation is no silver bullet, it’s a crucial enabler for social impact.
For organisations, funders, and policymakers, the takeaway is clear: digital support must be contextual, accessible, and strategic. It’s not just about tools – it’s about empowering people to use them meaningfully.
As Marija puts it, “Once you get going, things get easier. It’s just hard to know where to start.”
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the EUROPEAN INNOVATION COUNCIL AND SMES EXECUTIVE AGENCY (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor EISMEA can be held responsible for them.
