A Social Enterprise is a profit-making venture set-up to tackle a social need. Many commercial businesses might consider themselves to have a social objective, but a Social Enterprise is unique because their social purpose is central to what they are. Rather than maximising shareholder value, their aim is to generate profit to further their social purpose. Some commentators describe this as a 'not-for-profit' as their profits are not distributed to financial investors, this is a little misleading as it implies they are unbusiness like. It is better said that profits (or surpluses) of the business is used to support its social aim or that the business itself accomplishes the social aim through its operation.

SA Group Enterprises generates the major proportion of it's operating revenues from commercial activities. The balance is the form of a grants from Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) for providing support and training for people with a disability to work within our businesses which are called Australian Disability Enterprises (ADE).

We also receive grants from Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to support people who are Deaf or hearing impaired to prepare, find and maintain employment in the community.

Note that both grants are not business or wage subsidies, and are not restricted solely to non-government or charitable organisations, as the same grant is also open any entity commercial or otherwise to tender, provided they meet the requirements of the grant and quality assurance guidelines.