Grants

Where do Social Enterprises find finance?

In addition to equity contributed by the community, Social Enterprises raise their capital from a mixture of sources.

• Banks will provide loan funds to Social Enterprises on the same basis as they lend to the private sector. Some banks also have special programmes and products to support Social Enterprise. Several banks provide special packages to Credit Unions, while others offer special products for employee-owned businesses particularly ESOPs. Some banks also have staff that specialise in supporting community enterprises and/or co-operatives.
• A number of specialist social investment funds target Social Enterprises.
• If you are having problems obtaining finance for your Social Enterprise, contact your local Business Link for information on local loan funds and grants that may be available to assist you.