The University is investing up to £8 million in socially positive causes across Edinburgh and the UK. Social investment means investing in organisations, funds and projects that deliver a social benefit alongside a traditional financial return, such as organisations working to dismantle poverty or by supporting social enterprises to upscale their work. Read our impact report From supporting community-owned renewable projects to backing the next generation of socially responsible investors, the University has proactively invested in social and environmental causes since 2017.We've invested £6 million with leading social investors to address poverty, homelessness, access to education and opportunities, and environmental challenges.Find out more about our investment partners, how social investment works at the University of Edinburgh and discover the many ways our investments are improving lives across Edinburgh, Scotland and beyond. Investing for Good: The University of Edinburgh's Social Investment Fund The UK’s social investment market is at a pivotal moment – we have proven models and growing demand, but we need more patient, strategic capital to build the market infrastructure that will enable the sector to reach its full potential. Universities are uniquely positioned to fill this gap, particularly given their expanding roles in enterprise, technology transfer and innovation. Claire Kearney Managing Director Investment Partnerships and Advisory, Better Society Capital Through the Social and Sustainable Housing Fund, Simon Community Scotland has been able to purchase more than 30 properties in Edinburgh to lease to their service users, including Greig. Founded and led by University of Edinburgh students, Prosper Social Finance is the UK’s first student-run socially responsible investment fund. Students from any year or course are trained in ESG investing, with profits awarded to charities as grants. Ada’s Fund II has supported Valla, founded by Edinburgh-based Danae Shell. Valla is an AI-powered platform seeking to improve access to justice for 12.4 million UK workers affected by employment law breaches each year. The Scottish Social Growth Fund II from Social Investment Scotland has backed Scotland’s first subsidy-free community-owned wind turbine in Kilbirnie, North Ayrshire. The turbine will generate sufficient energy to power 2,234 average UK homes. Our portfolio of social investments Fund and investment manager Target beneficiaries Investment made Social Enterprise Investment Fund II — Big Issue Invest Social enterprises, social-purpose businesses and charities working to end poverty and inequality in the UK. £1,000,000 Power Up Scotland Fund — Big Issue Invest Social ventures with a focus on reducing inequalities across Scotland. £500,000 Fair By Design Fund — Ascension VC Tech-enabled businesses with potential for venture-scale returns to tackle poverty and social inequality. £250,000 Giant Fund II — Giant Ventures Organisations that develop technologies that can solve urgent climate, health and inequality challenges in a scalable and sustainable way. £500,000 Prosper Social Finance Ethical organisations where profits from investments are channelled into the local Edinburgh community through grants. £50,000 Social and Sustainable Housing Fund I & II — Social and Sustainable Capital Charitable organisations for purchase of residential property to house disadvantaged people they support. £2,000,000 Scottish Social Growth Fund II — Social Investment Scotland Support for social enterprises and charities that make a positive impact on people’s lives. £1,000,000 Growth Impact Fund — Big Issue Invest Organisations and entrepreneurs with a social purpose that are focused on tackling inequality and have diverse representation at board and leadership level. £250,000 Ada Fund II — Ada Ventures Finds, funds and supports pre-seed entrepreneurs who are shaping the future in climate equity, healthy ageing and economic empowerment. £500,000 Partners of the University's Social Investment Fund Get involvedProsper Social Finance is the first student-run social investment fund in the UK; founded and run entirely by students at the University of Edinburgh.Prosper Social FinanceAre you a budding social entrepreneur? Contact Edinburgh Innovations to get support for your social enterprise.Edinburgh InnovationsLearn more about how the University's Community Grant Scheme and its impact to date.University of Edinburgh Community Grant Scheme This article was published on 2024-10-01
