Venturesome
Venturesome is a social investment fund - a CAF initiative
launched in 2002.
We provide capital investment to charities and other social
purpose organisations. We recognise that capital investment is
necessary - for growth, covering cash flow difficulties or
weathering difficult periods - but difficult to access. Such
financial needs may fall outside the criteria of a grant maker, but
be too risky for a bank loan.
Venturesome fills this funding gap, providing capital investment
(in the form of underwriting, loans and equity-like investment)
tailored to suit the needs of individual organisations.
We are only able to invest in organisations that:
- are registered in the UK
- can clearly articulate their charitable purpose and social
impact (organisations do not have to be registered charities but do
need to be of charitable purpose)
- have at least one year's history of trading and/or
income
- are looking for between £20,000 and £350,000
- have a legal structure which allows them to take on debt /
equity funding
We learn from our practical work with charities and capture that
learning, sharing it with the emerging social market in order to
encourage greater access to capital investment.
Find out more
Charities >>
Investors >>
The wider
market >>
If you have a question about Venturesome, please contact us.
What is social investment?
Social investment is the use of money to achieve both a social
and financial return.
Social investment can range from making loans to charities to
buying shares in companies with a social mission, such as Cafe
Direct.
Social investment does not usually include giving grants or
donations, nor mainstream commercial loans.
Case study
Find
out how Venturesome helped the charity WebPlay in this case study
from the NCVO's Sustainable Funding Project.
Read the case study >>
Winner, Britain's Most
Innovative Charity, Third Sector Charity Awards 2007
Winner, Financial Services
Award, UK Charity Awards 2006