Social financing for social enterprises

This paper examines the many new developments occurring in the area of social enterprise financing in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, USA and New Zealand from the perspective of both funding agencies and recipients. Particular emphasis is placed on the roles that Community Trusts and Gambling Trusts (the two largest non-government philanthropic funding groups in New Zealand) play in encouraging the social economy, social enterprises and community economic development in New Zealand. The paper also compares and contrasts the respective roles of Government, government agencies, local government, private and not-for-profit organisations in establishing an enabling environment in which social enterprises can thrive.