Social Investment Business Foundation

The Foundation funds a range of cause areas including youth services, social care, community resilience, local economies, and inequality reduction. It supports activities such as capital projects, business development, capacity building, investment readiness, governance improvements, and impact measurement. The focus is on scalable, sustainable initiatives rather than one-off projects. Geographically, the Reach Fund is open to organisations based and operating in England, while other funds may cover a wider UK remit.

Registered charities and social enterprises based in England are eligible to apply for the Reach Fund. The Foundation prioritises organisations that are committed to raising repayable finance and have a clear social mission targeting disadvantaged beneficiaries, such as young people and marginalised communities. Sole traders are not eligible. Applicants must be referred by an Access Point, which is part of a network of social investors that assess readiness for investment. There are no income thresholds, but organisations should be working in deprived areas.

The Reach Fund cannot support sole traders. It is also not intended for general capacity building support that is not linked to raising repayable finance. Organisations that do not intend to take on investment are unlikely to be suitable. The fund is specifically for those committed to becoming investment-ready through a referral-based process.

The Foundation provides grants through a referral-based model, meaning unsolicited applications are not accepted. Grants are typically one-off sums aimed at investment readiness and strengthening. The Reach Fund offers targeted support for charities and social enterprises that are committed to raising repayable finance. The Foundation also offers loans and blended finance options through other programmes, but details of these are managed separately.