Many social enterprises face barriers to start-up due to limited access to funds to assist them through the early stages of development. To help address this issue, in 2006 PCC created the Community Capacity Building Social Enterprise category within its Community Grants program (see the Community Grants program page for further information on the program, including the timing of funding rounds).
Other potential funding sources that may prove useful to social enterprises include:
There are also a range of programs that provide wage assistance or subsidy for various groups of employees or potential employees. Depending on the focus, some of these may be relevant to various social enterprises.
We aim to add to this list over time, as further potential funding sources for social enterprises are identified and develop.
Congratulations go to local social enterprise Mars Hill Café for its success in the first round of the Federal Government’s Jobs Fund. The $368 100 grant will allow Mars Hill Café to expand and strengthen its operations.
*Please note that Parramatta City Council in no way endorses any of these organisations or their activities. This listing is provided for information purposes only.
In the Social Enterprise category of PCC’s Community Grants program $75 000 per annum is available to assist local social enterprises. Applicants can apply for up to $10 000 per annum for one, two or three years. See the Community Grants page for more information, including on the timing of the rounds.
The focus of the category is primarily to assist organisations undertake the prepatory work required to establish a social enterprise, such as feasibility studies and developing strategic and/or marketing plans.
Assistance is available to organisations and individuals interested in applying for a social enterprise grant. Please feel welcome to contact Joanne McNeill at any stage during the year and at any stage of your concept development (including ‘first thoughts’!) to discuss.
Successful applicants to the social enterprise category of PCC’s grants program are required to participate in Parramatta Social Enterprise Hub activities to support their work.
Social investment is an emerging but still limited field of activity in Australia. As development in this area progresses it will open up new and different funding channels for establishing and growing social enterprises.
Kylie Charlton - the Heloise Waislitz Fellow for 2009 at Swinburne’s Centre for Philanthropy and Social Investment - is researching and promoting the uptake of profit generating investment for social and environmental good in the Australian context. PCC assisted by sourcing several Parramatta-based social enterprises to contribute to her work by acting as ‘real-life’ case studies.
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