As a charity, Community Finance Ireland provides loans exclusively to other Third Sector organisations such as community groups, charities, sports clubs, churches and social enterprises throughout the island of Ireland. Since 2001, CFI has committed more than €100 million to hundreds of organisations.
As a registered charity, all profits generated by Community Finance Ireland are retained and recycled for reinvestment into the Third Sector.
Following on from the work carried out in 2021 and 2022, CFI engaged independent external researchers and Social Value experts Rose Regeneration in 2023 to provide a Social Value Analysis on our work and the support we provide to a wide range of groups throughout the island of Ireland.
The analysis included our Social Finance provision from January to December 2023, as well as support we provided via the Northern Ireland Small Business Loan Fund (NISBLF).
We have used the Social Value Engine, an online tool accredited by Social Value International, which enabled us to identify a monetary value to represent the social impact created in assisting local organisations achieve key Sustainable Development Goals. Read the results in the full report below.
This booklet is a great introduction to Community Finance Ireland, the organisations we have recently supported in the Republic of Ireland and details how we can help you with your funding requirements for your next community project.
Social Value Analysis is a qualified approach to quantifying not the things that have a market value arising from financial investments but also those that are more difficult to place a value on such as increased confidence, improved health or the benefits of living near to a community park.
Social Value is the description of how a project creates value and a ratio that states how much social value in monetary terms is created for every £1 or €1 of funding.
The first all island Social Value Analysis report shows that every investment has a multiplier effect of 3.4 times the initial investment.
Our Team would like to thank our clients, from all over the island who participated in this research to help us establish our first benchmark Social Value metric. We would also like to thank Conor McGale at The Network Community Group and Rose Regeneration for bringing their considered expertise in what will continue to be an important measurement to aid financial investment and continue to demonstrate the social impact that our team, our clients and communities can and do deliver for the sector.
If you are starting to prepare an application for your organisation, this checklist provides you with a quick summary of all the documents and actions you need to prepare in advance of submission.
If you are starting to prepare an application for your sports club, this checklist provides you with a quick summary of all the documents and actions you need to prepare in advance of submission.
Each year we create a spotlight of the progress of our business and the clients that made that year special. 2021 was no different – except the success was delivered whilst managing the impact of Covid. A 15 minute read that demonstrates the importance of Social Impact.
Community Finance Ireland strives to be a leader in environmental sustainability and believes that a successful future for our business and the clients we work with depends on the sustainability of our environment, communities and economies. Read our Sustainability Policy in full below.
This booklet is a great introduction to CFI and our team. It spotlights who works in your local region and some of the clients they have helped deliver on their dreams.
Each year we create a spotlight of the progress of our business and the clients that made that year special. 2020 was no different – except the success was delivered whilst managing the impact of Covid. A 15 minute read that demonstrates the importance of Social Impact.
DOWNLOAD PDF OF ANNUAL REPORT
We have worked in conjunction with Dublin City Council and Dublin South City Partnership to deliver a Social Enterprise Toolkit, an important resource for communities and individuals setting up a social enterprise in Ireland.
