Better Society Capital’s Post

Great work from the team at Access - The Foundation for Social Investment - Seb Elsworth MBE Chloe Stables Mel Palmer The recently published impact report is well worth a read, particularly for charitable (and other) investors interested in aligning investment portfolios with their mission / values.

Despite the ongoing economic uncertainty, Access's endowment continues to prove that financial returns and social impact can go hand in hand. In 2023, 35% of Access's endowment was directly invested in UK-based charities and social enterprises, with 53% of the portfolio allocated to organizations driving social impact. ▶️ Access’s portfolio in 2023 outperformed market benchmarks in a challenging macroeconomic environment. ▶️ Social and environmental impact includes support for individuals with learning disabilities, social housing management, and renewable energy generation for UK homes. ▶️ Our “total impact” approach demonstrates how capital can be aligned with mission-driven outcomes - proving that it's possible to generate positive change and market returns simultaneously. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eNp9yB2d #ImpactInvesting #SocialImpact #SustainableFinance #UKCharities #SocialEnterprise #InvestmentStrategy

Access - The Foundation for Social Investment latest annual report shares how we’ve been able to align our mission with management of the endowment, optimising for risk, return and impact. It can be done!! (Despite the few managers who told us otherwise back in the dark days of a decade ago, I’d like to think it’d be different now, but then again…) #socialinvesting #impactinvesting

This is really useful and important as an approach and experience of how to do it and actually to it - great endowment investing for impact

It's a while since I've worked directly in social investment but my interest and belief in its potential in the right circumstances continues. This is a great, concise summary of key considerations from Good Finance UK . It looks really useful for any organisation wanting to develop their understanding, and includes my favourite addition, some real-world examples 🙂 https://lnkd.in/e3qCqjqN Thanks Eastside People for sharing. #socialinvestment #funding #socialimpact #charity #socialenterprise

Pathway Fund’s pleased to be able to announce that it will be launching a brand new Cost of Living Support Programme. We’re delighted to be partnering with Access - The Foundation for Social Investment, Inclusive North (previously known as Lancashire BME Network), and Do it Now Now, in offering and delivering this Programme. This an exciting new initiative which will see over £1,000,000 in #capital deployed, to the benefit of 31 #BlackandEthnicMinoritised-led #charities and #socialenterprises. This comes after Do it Now Now’s #CostofLiving Report, which found that some 66% of #BlackandEthnicMinoritised-led organisations feel that the cost of living crisis still stops them from delivering for their #communities. That research also found that 9 in 10 Black and Ethnic Minoritised-led enterprises are concerned about the ongoing cost of living crisis. This programme, in response to that, will offer three types of #grants: Enterprise #Development Grants (up to £15K) – for charities and enterprises at earlier stages of developing their #enterprise models –  #Investment Readiness Grants (up to £30K) – focused on those charities and enterprises that have established trading models but require additional support – and Blended Grants (up to £40K) – for larger organisations where the grants are blended with #loans from social co-investors. Significantly, this programme is funded by the #DormantAssetsScheme – which puts forgotten money to better use, rather than gathering dust in inactive accounts. We’re delighted that this money is being channelled into #BlackandEthnicallyMinoritised communities – and look forward to the Programme’s opening. Read the full release, with quotes from our partners’ representatives Seb Elsworth MBE, CEO at Access - The Foundation for Social Investment, Bayo Adelaja MBE, CEO, Do it Now Now, and Naz Zaman JP MCMI, CEO, Inclusive North (previously known as Lancashire BME Network), here: https://lnkd.in/gWaPn5Gd #socialinvestment #costofliving #drivingracialequality

IMPACT FUNDS - Save the Children Global Ventures is reimagining philanthropy by targeting $1 billion in innovative impact funding—showing how private-sector techniques can radically transform the nonprofit sector. CEO Paul Ronalds argues that impact investing doesn't always have to mean sacrificing returns. The organization’s innovative approach, which includes integrating children's rights into investment decisions, could change how we think about charity financing forever. But it's not without risk—Ronalds acknowledges some investments will fail. The boldness? It’s a move designed to create long-term, self-sustaining funds for global child welfare. Can charity and investment co-exist? Ronalds is betting on it. Read more on how Save the Children Global Ventures is flipping the script on impact investing. https://lnkd.in/em3e-vvK Euronews #equities #impactinvesting #socialimpact #venturephilanthropy #charityfinance #sustainableinvesting #globaldevelopment #childrensrights #philanthropy #socialentrepreneurship #financialinnovation #globalimpact #savethechildren #impactfunds #education #health #social #investors #investing

£87.5 million coming out of hiding and into the open! Breaking News on the Dormant Assets Scheme The UK Government has reconfirmed the allocation of funds from the Dormant Asset Scheme to social investment. Over the next four years, trading charities, social enterprises, co-operatives and other forms of community enterprise will benefit from £87.5 million from the Dormant Asset Scheme. Dormant assets are financial assets left untouched for long periods. Led by the financial services industry and backed by the government, the Dormant Assets Scheme aims to reunite people with these lost funds. Where this is not possible, money is transferred to the Dormant Assets Scheme to be distributed to important social and environmental initiatives. Examples of funded projects from previous releases of money range from a social enterprise which intercepts wasted food to provide affordable meals in Sheffield, a Southend-based enterprise that has transformed a disused unit in a shopping centre into a vibrant community hub and a Manchester-based arts programme helping neurodivergent young people access careers in the creative sectors. Full details here:- https://lnkd.in/emkTTH5p #dormantassets

Has your charity or social enterprise considered social investment as part of its funding strategy?🤷♀️ At this time of financial uncertainty, charities that are facing more competition for funding, and reduced access to funding opportunities, are diversifying income streams and considering a variety of financing options to help ensure their organisation’s sustainability. ⚖️ In our latest article Suzanne Waggett, Chief Investment Officer at Fredericks Foundation shares an insight into social investing and why charities might consider social investment. Fredericks Foundation offers expert advice and flexible finance to social enterprises and charities, helping them to realise their full potential and scale. Read the article 👉https://ow.ly/6HWn50RFxJT #CharityManagementMonth

Have you heard about our Collective Impact Fund? Through a democratized giving process, our Collective Impact Fund allows us to award small grants to social impact organizations with innovative solutions to health, economic, and racial inequities in the Denver Metro Area. How does it work? Organizations apply for funds through our regular programs application. Their applications are reviewed by our Community Review Committee composed of SVP Denver Partners, funders, social impact leaders, and community members. The Committee votes and selects 3-5 organizations to receive small unrestricted grants of up to $10,000. Here are some principles the Community Review Committee practices:  🌱 Community-centered approach 🌱Democratized process 🌱Trust-based philanthropy Here are the types of organizations the Fund supports organizations that meet the following:  🌱Have innovative solutions to health and economic inequities  🌱Have budgets under $3m 🌱Serve communities in the Denver Metro Area Learn more and donate to our Collective Impact Fund today: https://lnkd.in/gGRmDJNb