Social Innovation Exchange

Social finance institutions

There are also a range of organisations and institutions which are now catering to the specific needs of social enterprises and businesses with social and environmental goals.

Ethical banks

Ethical banks including Triodos Bank and the Co-operative bank in the UK, RSF Social Finance in the USA, GLS Bank in Germany, the Alternative Bank in...

Co-operative banks

Co-operative banks, including mutual savings banks, building societies, and savings and loan associations. These banks are owned by their members, and governed according to the principle...

Credit Unions

Credit Unions are a form of co-operative bank but are funded primarily by their members deposits and do not borrow externally. They are usually formed round...

Financial guarantee co-operatives

Financial guarantee co-operatives, such as the consorzi fidi in Italy, which have been developed to support the financing of co-operatives and other small and medium firms....

Socially motivated dis-intermediaries

Socially motivated dis-intermediaries such as Zopa that links together private investors and projects needing capital. In many cases investors are looking for projects that combine social...

Bank-based funding for social enterprises

Bank-based funding for social enterprises and not-for-profits including Banca Prossima in Italy which is part of the larger banking group Intesa San Paolo....

Business angels

Business angels provide finance for social ventures, often with advisory roles and sometimes supported by networks to link investors and potential projects....

Social wholesale banks

Social wholesale banks, as opposed to ‘retail’ banks, could play an important role in diversifying capital markets for social purpose organisations. They would provide a range...

eBays for social investment

eBays for social investment, for example, Clearly So, an online market place for social enterprises and lenders that takes a small margin on the financial transaction....