For me, social finance means investment capital for a worthy cause- that will improve the lives of those who need help, and ultimately benefit the communities these folks live in. Unlike private capital, social finance is not an end in and of itself but a means to achieving a social goal.

Social finance is a concept that gets little attention from policy-makers in Canada and this has, in my opinion, stunted its growth and potential. More on this below. So what are the current and most common practices?

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There is an increasing need for the non-profit sector in Canada to seek new innovative ways of accessing capital to meet their goals. But before we go in-depth on the emerging world of social finance, it’s important to explore the different types of financing that exist for an organization.

Financing is the money acquired to run an organization and achieve its mission. All types of organizations must make decisions around financing with respect to their business objectives, ability to secure alternative investment, risk tolerance, and other related factors. Although, financing options vary based on the organization’s legal structure there are typically three types of financing options available to non-profits or social enterprises: Grant Funding, Debt, and Equity.

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The Social Investment Organization is seeking proposals for a consulting assignment to conduct research into the creation of an investment offering to finance social enterprise in Ontario.

The goal of the project is to determine the requirements for financing social enterprises in Ontario, and to establish a province-wide or national investment offering that would provide financing to social enterprise initiatives.

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With Paul Martin's announcement of a new $50 million fund for Aboriginal social enterprise, more attention is being paid to the role that social enterprises may have in contributing to a better world, particularly for Canada's Aboriginal people.

Find out about award-winning Aboriginal social enterprise programs across Canada, how they are helping their communities, and what the future holds for this unique way of doing business.

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ACCESS Community Capital Fund

Development Manager

The ACCESS Community Capital Fund (ACCESS) assists small and emerging businesses gain access to financing when it is not available through conventional sources. ACCESS is a Canadian registered charity that operates a community loan fund through the provision of loan guarantees. The fund was created by investments from socially minded individuals, organizations and businesses. ACCESS has developed strong community partnerships and is seeking to expand its mandate across the greater Toronto area. For additional information please visit us at http://www.accessccf.com

Position:

Reporting to the volunteer Board of Directors of ACCESS, the Development Manager is responsible for expanding the geographic scope of ACCESS and the volume of community-based lending through the development of chapters in Toronto. The position will work closely with the key stakeholders of ACCESS, including community organizations and related agencies, fund investors and the committed team of ACCESS volunteers. Actively involved in all aspects of the daily operations of ACCESS, the Development Manager will be integral to delivering upon ACCESS’ key strategic goals in the area of microfinance

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