How Do Religious and Secular Social entrepreneurs’ Identities Trigger Their Prosocial Motivations, Actions, and Processes?

This study examined how religious and secular social entrepreneurs’ (SEs) social and perceived role identities shape their prosocial motivations and resource mobilization strategies. The findings revealed that religious SEs were motivated by strong in-group commitment, viewing their role as a sacred calling and seeing God as an active, transcendent stakeholder. They employed a communal-personal others orientation, characterized by a community-driven logic. Conversely, secular SEs were motivated by universal social justice values and a self-chosen calling. They employed a communal-impersonal others orientation, with a strong emphasis on mission-driven logic. These findings clarify theoretical links between SE identities, prosocial motivations, and behaviors.