The article presents the genesis of the concept of “social entrepreneurship”. Speaking about social entrepreneurship, we must remember that its basis lies in the traditional business environment, and the ancestors were outstanding innovators of his time, who introduced ideas of social responsibility in conjunction with businesses in practice. These include Montessori, M. Yang and M. Yunus. The study presents terminological apparatus of foreign schools, for which social entrepreneurship have innovative entrepreneurial efforts to solve the social problems. Understanding identifies the main difference between social entrepreneurship from other kinds of social activities, which is carried out by commercial and non-profit organizations. Russian scientists have identified social entrepreneurship as a business activity aimed at mitigating or solving social problems, which are characterized by the following features: social impact, innovation, self-sufficiency and financial stability, scalability and replicability, entrepreneurial approach. The study outlines key Russian and foreign funds supporting social entrepreneurship, and gives the examples of Kaliningrad regional organizations that operate within the framework of social entrepreneurship.