Learning from the Reach Fund

This learning report distils the key findings from the first pilot phase of the Reach Fund, from October 2016 to October 2018. Undertaken and written by the TI Group, our learning partners, the report reflects the views of all the key actors involved in the programmes: almost 100 of the grantees, the social investor Access Points and perspectives from advisory providers and SIB, the programme manager.

The findings paint a broadly positive picture. The Reach Fund is supporting a broader range of charities and social enterprises to be able to access social investment, in particular smaller organisations. Grants seem to be providing good value for money and are addressing the key barriers to raising investment. Crucially charities and social enterprises report being in control of their investment readiness plans. At the time of the research, 70 of the 224 organisations who had received a grant had raised investment with a 6 to 1 leverage ratio.