Social entrepreneurship is a specific form of entrepreneurship which has lately gained momentum in advanced and growing economies of the world. It has interesting features since it combines social, economic and environmental sustainability, thus contributing to the prosperity of society. As such, it has been recognized by the European Union, which stimulates and encourages the development of social entrepreneurship through its various operational programmes. Social entrepreneurship is specific because it represents a link between the private and the public sector ; it is led by entrepreneurial principles (risk- taking, innovating, creating something new...), but it also brings benefit to the society. The determinant of social entrepreneurship in private sector creates possibilities for spreading and implementation of the programme of the organization which are important for accomplishing the mission. The concept of social entrepreneurship refers to marginalized groups or individuals with fewer opportunities. This form of entrepreneurship is not new in Croatia ; it has only started drawing more attention. Social entrepreneurship in Croatia is known under the term 'societal entrepreneurship'. The aim of this paper is to review the development of social entrepreneurship in Croatia and in general because it might represent an exclusive solution for improving the quality of life in times of globalization. The stipulated issues imposed the objective of the research, which focuses on the analysis of social entrepreneurship in Croatia using the case study method which was conducted on a sample of five relevant cases from practice. The goal was to realize to which extent it had fulfilled its purpose and justified its existence. The research will confirm whether social entrepreneurship can function in all sectors and whether certain activities are suitable to be called social, non-profit and socially responsible at all. Can certain activities with non-profit and social character be denominated as entrepreneurship and classified into this category, or are they purely humanitarian activities which are contradictory to the concept of entrepreneurship.