Sector-Wide Support

As part of our mandate under the Social Finance Fund, we offer strategic support that we believe will offer sector-wide benefit.

 

Our objective is to assist in developing and implementing programs and services that will help build capacity among social finance intermediaries, whether new, emerging or established.

While often these supports are complementary to our investment thesis, and enhance the repayable investments we make, through this program we also are enabling market-level initiatives that reach a broader audience in the social finance sector.

Thematic areas for sector-wide support include relevant education and training programs, social finance events and shared-service provision.

At this time, we are not accepting funding requests for this program.

Sector-Wide Support to Date

Canadian Private Capital Investment School

The Canadian Private Capital Investment School is a training program out of the Ivey Business School. It’s a five-day intensive program to accelerate careers in venture capital and private equity.

We supported four SFIs to attend in 2025, in support of enabling their investment readiness.

“As a former founder stepping into fund management, Private Investment School sharpened my lens on capital formation, investment strategy and what it takes to scale a gender-lens fund with integrity.”
– Raissa Espiritu, Audaxa Ventures

“CPCIS is a unique learning experience that provides practical and first-hand knowledge from industry leaders in the venture ecosystem. The learnings and relationships built during the experience will be an asset for years to come.” – Alfred Burgesson, Tribe Ventures

“The program brought together a great variety of practitioners and academics that stimulated deep discussions on highly practical topics. For me, it was an opportunity to compare my own practices with those of the instructors, guest speakers and fellow participants.” – Graham Day, Spring Impact Capital

“Participating in the CPCIS program was an incredible experience, deeply insightful, practical, and filled with meaningful connections. I walked away with new tools, fresh perspectives, and relationships that continue to inspire my work.”
– Tupaarnaq Kopeck, EntrepreNorth

Equity Cubed

Equity Cubed is an Indigenous-owned social purpose venture studio aiming to support under-represented founders to build businesses.

With our assistance, Equity Cubed undertook research and analysis on various potential impact venture studio models. 

Events

Events. We have supported several events that promoted the growth of the social finance sector, including:

Kwaxala

Kwaxala is an Indigenous-led and majority-owned regenerative forestry cooperative created by Kwiakah First Nation that establishes Indigenous regenerative businesses.

With our support for legal and financial advisory services, Kwaxala will launch Living Forest Shares, an innovative investable product designed to protect at-risk forests and support the generation of stewardship revenue for First Nations communities.

(Read more) 

ImpactVC

In November 2024, 17 SFIs of varying fund vintages completed the first Canadian-focused ImpactVC & Better Society Capital Training Program. Over the course of the five-week program, participants gained an understanding of how to integrate impact into venture capital and apply that within the Canadian context.

(Learn more)

Propel Impact

Propel Impact supports impact-driven organizations.

We supported Propel’s impact analyst internship program.

Rural Routes to Climate Solutions

Rural Routes to Climate Solutions is a nonprofit that helps rural communities adopt tailored regenerative agriculture climate solutions. It has developed a Steward Ownership model that brings agriculture producers, investors, and conservation organizations together to accelerate sustainble land management systems.

With our funding, the organization is testing the feasibility and viability of scaling this model into a new investable product.

(Read more)