Next in our series of Social Enterprise Stories we feature Christopher Brechlin. Chris is the Principal and Founder of Blueprint for a Dream, a Connecticut based corporation that uses data to give the Social Sector a fresh perspective on society’s most pressing issues. Their custom blueprints are a way to rethink the problem, reboot your project, and scale it to meet the needs of the greater community.In this interview we look at the social impact being created through the work of Blueprint for a Dream.

Why are you operating in Connecticut?

Connecticut is a state with great opportunity for social enterprise. There are powerful emerging support systems for social entrepreneurs and one of the oldest and most established philanthropic sectors in the US, that can eventually become a valuable partner in using commerce to have social and economic impact on the state, the country, or even the world.

Why did you decide to start a Social Enterprise?

I have an inherited entrepreneurial spirit, and I want to use that energy to pursue social impact. However, it is challenging to start and maintain a nonprofit. Social enterprise allows me to compete with a product or service, as well as the impact that it can have on the community.

What is the community you’re trying to have an impact in?

I work with the Social Sector: nonprofits, government agencies, and social enterprises.

How do you/will you achieve that impact?

Blueprint for a Dream uses data to rethink, reboot, scale social impact, by partnering with nonprofit, government, and business leaders. We design interactive web applications that serve as blueprints for community programs and help our partners plan for and communicate their impact.

How do you balance purpose and profit?

We work to reduce the cost of our services, making them more affordable to our partners who often have restrictive budgets. All of our revenue is used to meet our mission, which over time will save money by making community programs more efficient and sustainable.

What have been your biggest challenges thus far?

Designing an effective business model and learning to communicate what Blueprint for a Dream does have been the biggest challenges.

What is the most rewarding thing to you about operating a social enterprise?

The most rewarding part about operating a social enterprise is the opportunity to augment the good work that nonprofits are doing without competing with them for funding or resources.

Why do you want to incorporate as a benefit corporation?

Becoming a benefit corporation would allow me to legally protect my social mission, while remaining a for profit company. It also opens up new avenues for impact investment, talent, and clientele that traditional corporate structures do not.