I am participating on a panel this afternoon at the ReVisioning Value 2010 Conference in Portland, Oregon, discussing legal entities for innovation.  Among the alternative ways you may structure a social venture:

• within an existing nonprofit.
• as an affiliate/subsidiary (nonprofit or for-profit) of an existing nonprofit.
• as an independent nonprofit.
• as a fiscally sponsored project of an existing nonprofit.
• as an independent traditional business entity.
• as a certified B Corporation.
• as an independent L3C.
• as an independent benefit corporation.
• as a joint venture between a nonprofit and for-profit.

Remember:  don't let form dictate function; function should dictate the form.

You may download the complete PowerPoint presentation by clicking the following link:  
Download ReVV2010 – Legal Entities.