Social Impact Fund

Since its inception in 2012, the Social Impact Fund has unlocked the Foundation’s assets in order to create positive change in the community by providing loans to social enterprises and affordable housing projects.

As the Social Impact Fund grows and more loans go out into the community, the social returns of the Foundation’s assets also grow, while retaining a financial return.Our Social Impact Fund totals over $32M, and has invested in a variety of both affordable housing and social enterprise projects since its inception.

If you think the Social Impact Fund could help with your Social Enterprise or Affordable Housing Development, tell us about it today!


The Impact of the Fund

Impact Measure 2023 2014-2023
Number of Loans for Social Enterprise 1 11
$ Value of Loans for Social Enterprise $25,000 $2.3M
Number of Loans for Affordable Housing 7 23
$ Value of Loans for Affordable Housing $18.5M $39.5M
Affordable Housing Units Funded 245 1,145
Total Housing Units Funded 431 1,331

Latest Social Finance News

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Affordable Housing

London is in the midst of a housing crisis. Rents are skyrocketing and vacancy rates are at an all time low. More and more we are seeing members of our community fall through the cracks and end up in temporary shelters or on the streets.

Governed by the Foundation’s Social Finance Committee and advised by the Housing Action Committee (HAC) the Social Impact Fund seeks to kickstart affordable housing development in our community by helping organizations get shovels in the ground as quickly and efficiently as possible.

If you are in need of affordable housing, please call 211, visit the City of London’s Homeless Prevention and Housing page or refer to this resource.


Social Enterprise

The Social Impact Fund has expanded the financial tools available to London Community Foundation, ensuring that we can be flexible to the needs of each applicant. The goal of our Social Impact Fund is to strengthen entrepreneurship in London’s social enterprise sector, primarily through financial investments.

We want to work with non-profit organizations, as we recognize that many non-profits have difficulty securing financing from the traditional sources.

In addition to providing traditional loans, the Social Impact Fund can provide support through various other financial instruments, including lines of credit, letters of guarantee, mortgages or even an equity investment if the project is a good fit.

Why Work With Us


Low Interest Rates

We make the cost of borrowing manageable, meaning more of your income can be used for social impact.

Flexible Financing

The Social Impact Fund can provide support through various other financial instruments, including traditional loans, lines of credit, letters of guarantee, mortgages or even an equity investment.

Personal Process

We make it as quick and easy for you as possible to access funding through the Social Impact Fund by cutting through the red tape that traditionally can be a burden.

Desire to Get to Yes

We are in your corner. We approach every meeting, every application with a desire to arrive at a solution that works.

Social Focus

As a community foundation, our mandate centers around making our community a better place. Your mission and desire to make an impact on your community is just as important to us as your profitability.

Trusted Partner

The Foundation's board and committees have decades of finance, investment, and community building experiencing informing every decision. You can trust us at every step.
 
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Ready to Apply?


Great, we look forward to receiving your application! If you’re still unsure about anything regarding the Social Impact Fund, check out our FAQ’s below, or contact Vijay Venkatesan, VP, Finance and Operations, for more information.

 
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 Frequently Asked Questions


Borrowing From LCF

  • We have up to $32 million available to invest in Social Enterprises and Affordable Housing. Currently we are open to considering individual loans up to $5 million.

    Our interest rates are typically in line with the Bank of Canada’s Investment Rate.

  • Currently, most of our loans are term loans. However, we are interested in working with our clients to come up with a solution that works best for you.

  • Foundation staff will thoroughly review the proposal, the organization and the management team behind it. If we are satisfied all the information is complete and the answers are sound, a proposal will go to the our Social Finance Committee for review, then to our Board for final approval. If approved, a letter of offer will be made. Timing will vary as we need to have all the information and understanding from you to proceed.

  • It’s not a requirement, but it is a good idea. You will be considering substantive legal documents, perhaps more complicated than any you have encountered before, and that you may be committing your organization to live with for years to come.

    If you decide not to use a lawyer, LCF can arrange for our clients’ final document signing to be handled by our lawyer, who will ensure that all necessary copies and affidavits are correctly prepared. Please contact Vijay Venkatesan, our VP of Finance and Operations, for details.

Affordable Housing

  • Affordable housing is defined by CMHC as rental housing that is at or below 80% of the Median Market Rent in a community. Beyond this however, LCF also seeks to invest in rent-geared-to-income deeply affordable housing with integrated support services for those who need them, which is based on ODSP shelter rates.

  • We offer early stage financing for:

    • Project planning

    • Re-zoning

    • Land acquisition

    • Site development

    • Interim construction financing

    • Organization costs

    • Incorporation

    The project must be in Southwestern Onario and lending must be directly attributable to the creation of an affordable housing project (i.e. no training, education, proof of concept research etc.)

  • At this time, LCF is committed to providing low-interest loans. There are, however, other communities in Canada and elsewhere, that are creating some innovative affordable housing. If there are builders or nonprofit organizations interested in unique or innovative ideas, then we are interested in listening. Of course, any expansion beyond the current social finance loan program would require the approval of the LCF Board of Directors.

  • Having safe, secure and affordable housing is the foundation to building a successful life. Until people have decent housing, it is almost impossible for them to successfully deal with other issues in their lives, be that responding to the special needs of their children or dealing with mental health or addition issues.

Social Enterprise

  • There are many definitions of social enterprise, however one of the most straightforward definitions is that of the Canadian Task Force on Social Finance in their 2010 report, Mobilizing Private Capital for Public Good.

    "Social enterprise is defined as any organization or business that uses market-oriented production and sale of goods and/or services to pursue a public benefit mission. This covers many organizational forms – ranging from enterprising charities, non-profits and co-operatives to social purpose businesses, which are for-profit businesses designed to fulfill a social mission."

  • The goal of our Social Impact Fund is to strengthen entrepreneurship in London’s social enterprise sector, primarily through financial investments. We want to work with non-profit organizations, as we recognize that many non-profits have difficulty securing financing from the traditional lending industry.

    Our mandate allows the Social Impact Fund to accept a greater degree of risk than a traditional lending agency, and to be more patient in our repayment terms. This doesn’t mean that LCF will not employ the same level of rigour in accessing the potential of proposals for financing – We are as determined as any lending institution to have each and every loan repaid within the agreed-upon terms. The long term viability of LCF's Social Impact Fund depends on our loans being repaid – with interest.

  • We consider all the costs of making your enterprise work, though typically we’re unable to fund salary costs.