Social investment

Social investment for international development

CAF Venturesome's research, with the LSE, focuses on the role of social investment for small and medium international development organisations using case studies from the organisations focusing on education in Sub-Saharan Africa.

CAF Venturesome Impact Report 2018

The latest facts and figures to demonstrate the impact CAF Venturesome has had since its 2002 launch and compelling case studies from just a handful of our clients.

The changing need for repayable finance in the charity sector 2014

We discuss how charities expect their borrowing needs to change over the next five years.

Returns policy 2014: what the next decade holds for social investment

This 2014 report outlines our views on the key issues affecting the social investment market in the UK over the coming decade.

Unlocking the power of creative capitalism through social investment 2013

Our research into corporate attitudes, motivations and barriers to investing in the social investment market.

Funding good outcomes 2012; social investment to support payment by results

In this report, we draw on the recent experience of our social investment arm CAF Venturesome and warn that the way payment by results is being implemented threatens to exclude charity and social enterprise expertise.

Keystone Performance Survey 2011, CAF Venturesome Results

In 2010 CAF Venturesome took part in the first ever benchmarked social investment investee perception survey, run by Keystone.

The Impact Investor's Handbook 2011 - lessons from Microfinance

This CAF Venturesome handbook provides a roadmap for both policy-makers and impact investors for catalysing a robust social investment market.

CAF Social Impact Fund full year report 2011

We launched the CAF Social Impact Fund in July 2011 and since then contributors to the Fund have enabled us to help a wide range of charities. Read our first full year report.

Financing the Big Society 2010 - why social investment matters

Social investment can play a key role in transforming the UK into a Big Society. This 2010 CAF Venturesome paper outlines the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Three models of social enterprise, part one 2008

This CAF Venturesome paper provides a conceptual framework for understanding the business models which underlie “social enterprises”.

A practitioner's guide to the Social Investment Market 2008

This 2008/ Venturesome report looks at the barriers to and opportunities for future development of the social investment market, in the context of the market's recent rapid growth.

Venturesome 2008 CEO Roundtable 2 - Charities and Marketing

This 2008 report looks at the challenges associated with marketing which arose from our second roundtable of Venturesome investees.

Venturesome 2008 CEO Roundtable 1 – Enterprising Charities

This paper summarises a discussion with a group of Venturesome investees who are seeking to make the transition from grants to trading income.

Social Enterprise in practice 2008

This report presents the experience of five prominent social enterprises with strong connections to voluntary and community action.

Venturesome's approach to assessing social impact 2008

When considering potential investments, Venturesome is seeking to understand the current social impact of the organisation and how financially risky any potential investment might be.