Banks
SFF benefits from donated and low-cost funding from the Irish banks
Social Lending Organisations
Clann Credo and Community Finance Ireland (CFI) – Social Lending Organisations (SLOs)
Department of Finance
Department of Finance
European Investment Fund
SFF benefits from a guarantee funded by the European Union under the Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI).
Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI)
The EaSI Programme supports increased access to financing for social enterprises that meet certain eligibility criteria. The guarantee covers loans up to a maximum of €500,000. For information on the application process, please visit the websites of Clann Credo https://www.clanncredo.ie/ and Community Finance Ireland https://communityfinanceireland.com/. The European Commission has selected the EIF to implement the EaSI Guarantee.
For more information on the EaSI Programme, please visit the websites: European Commission, and EIF.
Clann Credo and Community Finance Ireland (CFI) – Social Lending Organisations (SLOs)
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is threefold: Firstly, generate a strong social impact by funding, through our lending partners, creditworthy projects with loan finance; Secondly, to realise the full potential of social finance in Ireland; Finally, working collaboratively, to undertake research and deliver initiatives which promote social good, with the Irish Government and the Irish Banking Industry as our sponsors.
Vision. SFF is acknowledged as a leader in establishing the concept of social finance in Ireland
Values. Integrity, Innovation, Delivery, Collaboration.
FOUNDATION STRUCTURE
LENDING INFORMATION
2021 Annual Report
You can download a PDF of the 2021 Annual report on the The Media / Publications page.
Lending in 2021 by Geography
Measurement of the social impact of the projects which the Foundation supports is very difficult. However, metrics have been generated and are shown in the tables below. Every effort is made to enhance this information and make it as relevant as possible.
The Foundation strives to achieve a balanced distribution of funds throughout the State and the Chart illustrates this is being broadly achieved.
Connaught €8,522K / 17.75%
Dublin €6,017K / 12.53%
Leinster €11,157K / 23.23%
Munster €16,876K / 35.14%
Ulster €5,445K / 11.34%
1
Community €16,092K / 33.47%
2
Heritage €1,547K / 3.21%
3
Social Enterprises €3,249K / 6.76%
4
Other €3,512K / 7.30%
5
Sports €20,050K / 41.7%
6
Social Care €3,566K / 7.42%
Lending in 2021 by Sector
The nature of the Foundation’s lending is shown below. The Foundation is very conscious of its obligation to ensure that monies are utilised in areas where they will have a high social impact. The breakdown illustrates that this is being achieved.
Social Impact from Loan Funding 2021
1,270
Jobs supported – mostly temporary
159,065
No. of people using sports facility
113,418
No. of people using community facility
18,411
No. of children using facility
192,554
No. of visitors
7,830
No. of social care users
CHRONOLOGY & HIGHLIGHTS
February 2007
Minister for Finance publicly launches Social Finance Foundation
March 2007
Irish banks provide €25m to Foundation
October 2007
Loan drawings commence with Clann Credo
April 2009
Foundation signs Loan Agreement with 12 Irish banks for additional funding of €72m
June 2011
Strategy Report on Financial Inclusion published
September 2012
Microfinance Ireland launched by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation Mr. Richard Bruton TD.
February 2014
Loan drawdowns of €40m exceeded.
May 2015
Report published on need for a Personal Microcredit Scheme in Ireland
November 2015
Launch of pilot Personal Microcredit Scheme with 30 credit unions
February 2017
10th Year Anniversary
April 2018
Completion of Research Report on the Social Enterprise sector in Ireland in collaboration with Department of Rural and Community Development
November 2018
Publication of Report “Interest Rate Restrictions on Credit for Low-income Borrowers”
December 2018
€100m lent to 1,000 organisations
May 2019
Foundation signs the EaSI Loan Guarantee Scheme with EIF
December 2019
Foundation signs Loan Agreement with Irish Banks for additional €44m of funding
July 2020
Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI) established with the support of the Foundation.
December 2020
MFI quadruple loan approvals in 2020 to support microenterprises during Covid-19.
February 2021
Appearance at Oireachtas Committee advocating for cap on interest rates for money lending organisations.
May 2021
Initial discussions with Council of Europe Development Bank for loan facility.
November 2021
Submission made to Banking Review by the Department of Finance on the role of social finance in Ireland.
CUSTOMER STORIES
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1,270
Jobs Supported
113,418
Using Community Facility