Services and Initiatives

Social Impact Exchange members access services and participate in initiatives online through this interactive web platform and in person through an Annual Conference, regional gatherings and working groups.

Develop & Communicate Knowledge and Information

• Knowledge Aggregation and Dissemination – a regularly updated library of articles, research and publications on evaluating, planning, financing and implementing growth and scaling initiatives.
• Tools & Templates – documents and other tools used in expansion evaluation, planning and financing so that members can move quickly up the learning curve.
• Learning Through Case Studies in Action – an opportunity to learn about scaling initiatives in real time and follow their progress online. Members receive updates and reports to track each step of the expansion process, and have access to postings of materials, work product, business plans, research and evaluation reports.
• Training & Education- sessions through webinars, at regional meetings, and at the Annual Conference.
• E-Discussions – through online discussions, members can communicate easily and confidentially about scaling initiatives and challenges they face in making growth capital grants and investments.

Facilitate Collaborative Philanthropic Investment in Scaling

Members have opportunities to participate in venues where they can contribute collaboratively with peers in high-impact, evidence-based scaling initiatives.

• Investment Clearinghouse - an online clearinghouse of well-vetted social initiatives that are in a significant growth mode. Members can contribute online to specific organizations. Business plans, and other investment materials are provided.
• Investment Fair- held at the Annual Conference, members will have the opportunity to hear presentations by well-vetted, high-impact scaling initiatives, receive business plans, talk to management, and join due diligence teams to fund specific organizations. Members can nominate nonprofits to the fair and participate in the selection of finalists.
• Social Impact Business Plan Competition - a competition that identifies social purpose organizations with demonstrated impact and readiness to scale, and provides them with financial and consulting awards to support their plans.
• Annual Conference- a conference in June 2010 to network, share knowledge, learn about specific scaling initiatives and participate in the National Investment Fair and Business Plan Competition.
• Affinity Groups – scaling collaboratives established to learn about and fund scaling initiatives in specific geographies and fields of interest, e.g., health, education, youth and poverty.

Build Field Infrastructure

Members have opportunities to help develop field infrastructure through Exchange working groups.

• Standards and Practice Development – Develop and promote common standards and ratings tools for conducting due diligence, providing investor information, and reporting performance on scaling initiatives.
• New Products – develop and distribute new capital products, vehicles and methods for scaling proven solutions.
• Public Sector Initiatives – foster local, state and federal government participation in scaling efforts and public/private partnerships.
• Intermediaries – join a working group of intermediaries involved in scaling that learn from one another and coordinate activities to achieve greater success. Join now.

Note:  Social Impact Exchange is not a grantmaking or lending organization. If you are seeking grants to support growth initiatives we recommend visiting our list of Other Resources & Organizations.

See current list of members