22 June 2011

Whilst the Big Society Bank is being set up, the Big Fund has been asked by the government to administer the Big Society Investment Fund. This new fund is looking for around five UK based social investment intermediary organisations to provide social investment products or services for social sector organisations primarily benefiting people in England.

The minimum investment you can apply for is £500,000 from a total pot of £5 million.

The fund is looking for proposals which will:

• Develop the investor market, through supporting the creation of appropriate social investment vehicles
• Tackle gaps in the supply of capital to the social sector, such as supporting high growth ventures, smaller local organisations and initiatives to improve opportunities for young people
• Support financial innovation, so that social sector organisations can be rewarded for their performance in delivering valued social outcomes
• Create better connections between social entrepreneurs and sources of capital, so they can grow their ventures
• Develop intermediaries, so they can operate more effectively between sources of capital and those in need and add to the flow of investment and skills to the social sector.

Early investments are being asked for by 2:00 pm on 4 July 2011. Organisations which cannot meet this deadline can submit proposals after this date, either by the end of July or the end of September. You need to bear in mind though, that only five proposals will be funded in total.

Contact: BIG advice line: 0300 456 4746
Email: bsif@biglotteryfund.org.uk
Website: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_big_society_investment_fund.htm?regioncode=-uk