Matthew Bishop and Michael Green have recently written an excellent article for the Innovations Journal titled "The Capital Curve for a Better World". The article is part of a volume prepared for the Tech4Society hosted in Hyderabad, India and offers compelling insights on social entrepreneurship and technology from leaders in the field (view the table of contents or full publication). Bishop and Green are also the authors of the recently-penned Philanthrocapitalist Manifesto, which proposes a number of 'radical' policy changes for the UK.

I recommend reading the entire article, as it spans important issues and opportunities around financing social innovation. There are several examples that illustrate the essential building blocks of a social capital market, and how they have - or can - be implemented successfully. A key theme is linking finance to the right kind of organization structure at the right time - and that this requires a more sophisticated understanding of social impact and metrics. On a related note, intermediary organizations can and should play a vital role in connecting demand and supply for social investment, but there is more work needed to build the right incentives and funding to establish and sustain these intermediaries.

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One of the signs that there’s more activity around social finance in the last few months is that there are more jobs available in this line of work.

Three great organizations – the MasterCard Foundation, the Community Power Fund, and the Centre for Sustainability and Social Innovation at UBC – are all hiring for a number of exciting positions.

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I was asked to contribute comments based on our experience at Access Community Capital Fund in providing loans to social enterprises but in the process I also hope to learn more about social finance.

First, a word about Access. We provide guarantees which enable loans to be made to individual entrepreneurs who would otherwise not qualify for credit. Our clients may be relative newcomers to Canada and can’t get credit from others because they don’t have a credit history or collateral, and may not be able to find a guarantor; or they may have a bad credit history which makes them ineligible for credit. We rely less than formal banks on an applicant’s credit history and collateral, and much more on the feasibility of their business plans and their personal drive, integrity and experience.

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Microfinance Funds Continue to Grow Despite the Crisis: As MFIs think about moving their funding "downstream", this recent report describes the tremendous rise in microfinance investment funds (MIVs).

Pushing the Boundaries on Mobile Banking and Microfinance: A fascinating paper, titled "M-Bureaus: M-Banking´s Next Killer Application?", explores the possibility of using mobile phone payment transaction history to determine credit information for customers at the bottom of the pyramid.

Raising Funds Online - What Microfinance Institutions Should Know: CGAP has released a focus note that highlights some important issues microfinance institutions (MFIs) may want to keep in mind before borrowing online.

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The Carleton Centre for Community Innovation (3ci) and Alterna Savings Credit Union are collaborating on a innovative study that will asses the impact of Alterna's Microloan Program in Toronto and Ottawa.

On April 24th, 3ci Chair, Edward Jackson and Alterna CSR Manager,  Susan Henry along with graduate student Michele Tarsilla presented  "Evaluating CSR in a Major Credit Union" at the Social Economy Symposium, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto.

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