Scaling Catalyst Guide: Enabling Social Enterprises to Scale Their Impact

scale change seso guide

Scaling Catalyst Guide: supporting change of scale in the social economy 

TThe Scaling Catalyst Guide is a practical resource designed to help Social Economy Support Organisations strengthen their capacity to support social enterprises in scaling their impact.

Developed as part of the Scaling Catalyst project, the guide brings together research insights, practical tools, and case studies to support incubators, accelerators, networks, and foundations working across Europe.

Why this guide?

Across Europe, social enterprises are developing innovative solutions to major social and environmental challenges—from inclusive education and healthcare to climate action and community development.

👉 Yet many struggle to reach the scale needed to maximise their impact.

This guide helps address that challenge by clarifying what scaling means in the social economy:

  • Scaling is not limited to organisational growth
  • It primarily refers to increasing social impact
  • It can take multiple forms, including:

Who is this Scaling Catalyst guide for ?

The guide is designed for Social Economy Support Organisations (SESOs), including:

  • Incubators and accelerators
  • Social innovation networks
  • Foundations and funders
  • Organisations supporting social enterprises

What will you find in the guide ?

The guide combines research, field expertise and feedback from across Europe.

🔎 Key topics include :

  • Understanding the concept of scaling in the social economy
  • Identifying different strategies for scaling
  • Exploring the stages in the scaling journey
  • Anticipating risks and challenges
  • Designing effective scaling support programmes

Practical lessons for support organisations

The guide highlights several key levers for improving support programmes:

  • Be action-oriented (less theory, more practice)
  • Tailoring support to the stage and needs of entrepreneurs
  • Provide structured connections rather than a simple network
  • Offer a holistic approach combining several services

Inspiring case studies

The guide is based on examples from leading players in social innovation across Europe, such as :

  • Ashoka
  • FASE
  • Social Innovation Factory
  • Impact Shakers
  • Reach for Change
  • and ScaleChanger (of course ;))

These examples show how combining funding, expertise, networks, and peer learning can create effective scaling environments.

A collaborative European project

The guide was co-developed by the Scaling Catalyst project partners:

👉 With contributions from social enterprises and support organisations across Europe.

The Scaling Catalyst Project is a two-year initiative (2024-2026) funded by the European Union.

Its aim:
👉 to strengthen the capacity of support organisations to support the scaling up of social enterprises

The project also includes a self-assessment tool enabling organisations to measure their readiness and identify areas for improvement.

Discover the guide:

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scale change seso guide
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Frequently asked questions

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What does “scaling” mean?
Addressing a need more effectively and at greater scale: increasing the number of beneficiaries, improving quality, and/or influencing practices, standards, and public policies.
What are the common mistakes when scaling?
Underestimating and failing to anticipate the transformations that scaling requires—particularly in terms of people and team dynamics, governance, and the economic model. For funders, a common mistake is to support only the “visible” project, rather than investing in the underlying organisational structuring.
What types of funding are best suited to support scaling?
Multi-year, flexible funding focused on core operations and support functions (such as information systems, HR, management, and advocacy), complemented by tailored support.
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20 January 2026



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