EVPA announces change in leadership
The European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA) announces that Bernard Uyttendaele is leaving his role as CEO of EVPA to pursue other opportunities. A search for a new Chief Executive Officer...
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April 16, 2018
March 23, 2018
Interview with Michael Fembek, the Director of the Zero Project
Our colleague Martin Vogelsang took part in the Zero Project Conference in Vienna. The conference is one of the most important platforms where the most innovative and effective solutions are...
March 20, 2018
Interview with Elodie Nocquet, Head of I&P France on Impact Measurement and Management
Elodie Nocquet head of the ESG at Investisseurs & Partenaires was a key speaker at the EVPA Training Academy's first installment of Impact Measurement and Management. We asked her several...
March 19, 2018
Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2019-2024
The European Commission (EC) is currently developing the new Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2019-2024. In this context, on 12 March 2018, the EC organised a workshop to explore...
March 19, 2018
MDIF closes $6 million media impact fund
Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) today announced final close of Media Finance I (MDIF I ), a $6-million impact fund investing in independent news media in select emerging and frontier...
March 19, 2018
Interview with Leonora Buckland on, ‘Gender Lens Investing: An opportunity for European Social Enterprise Ecosystem’
Leonora Buckland and Mar Corobes both researchers at ESADE Business School published the report, titled “, ‘Gender Lens Investing: An opportunity for European Social Enterprise Ecosystem’. We...
March 01, 2018
Global Impact Manager at Reach for Change explains the challenges and opportunities of social impact measurement
The EVPA Training Academy’s Impact Measurement and Management Training launched on 15-16 March. Leading up to the course, key speaker, Annica Johansson, Global Impact Manager at Reach for...
February 28, 2018
Philanthropy House hosts 'My Identity, My Freedom, Expressing Culture Through Fashion' exhibition
ERSTE Foundation, The European Foundation Centre (EFC) and the European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA) launched the ROMANI exhibition on 6 March at 16:30 in the galleria of Philanthropy...
February 23, 2018
Nostoc Biotech: new profitable divestment from Bolsa Social. The impact crowdequity yields!
Our member Bolsa Social started the year with very good news for people who rely on them. Nostoc Biotech is a Madrid start-up of bioagriculture. They manufacture and distribute biofertilizers and...
February 16, 2018
EVPA Member Karuna Foundation wins International award
Innovative approach for inclusion in Nepal Globally there are many initiatives to make the world a better place for people with a disability, but the social sector often lacks sufficient knowledge...
January 30, 2018
New EVPA Research on Impact Strategies: apply to be an Expert!
EVPA is launching a new research initiative on Impact Strategies. An impact strategy represents the way in which a venture philanthropy/social investment organisation (VP/SI organisation) codifies...
January 30, 2018
BonVenture investments in 2017
BonVenture Management Gmbh have made many succesful investments in 2017, generating social impact and enabling social enterprises to grow expotentially. The investments range in different...
January 25, 2018
Interview with Leonora Buckland on Harnessing Technology for Exponential Social Impact the new Report
Leonora Buckland researcher at ESADE Business School and Xavier Pont co-founder of Ship2b recently published a report, titled “Harnessing Technology for Exponential Social Impact”. We...
January 22, 2018
Jamy Goewie Founder of Ashoka Netherlands appointed Community and Market Development Director of EVPA
January 16, 2018
Interview with Veit Bötsch of BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt pioneers of Venture Philanthropy
Veit Bötsch Head of Finance and Controlling, BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt stopped shortly and gave some advice to new VP’s and SI’s. He outlined opportunities and gave insights on the...
January 11, 2018
Acquisition of Vitalhealth Software by Philips
November 28, 2017
New investment opportunity! Capital 4 Development Asia Fund
Capital 4 Development Partners is a fund management company dedicated to manage impact funds that aim to improve the lives of poor and marginalised people in developing countries through SME...
November 15, 2017
Over 500 participants exchanged ideas on taking action for social impact during the 13th EVPA Annual Conference
Over 500 actors interested in social impact, from 45 countries gathered between 9 and 10 November, in Oslo, Norway, to find ways to build new solutions for society during the 13th European Venture...
November 07, 2017
Interview with Filipe Santos, Professor and Chair in Social Entrepreneurship at Católica-Lisbon School of Business & Economics
What do you think is the added value that EVPA Annual Conference brings for you? I have been attending, speaking at and organising social innovation and social investment conferences for the last...
November 07, 2017
In Memoriam - Carl-August Graf von Kospoth
EVPA is deeply saddened by the loss of Carl-August Graf von Kospoth, CEO of the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt. He was a prominent figure in the social investment space, making impact investing a...
November 07, 2017
Capria 5th Investment Cycle
Capria, a global impact investing firm advancing and investing in the next generation of impact fund managers in emerging markets, announces its 5th Investment Cycle. Capria provides flexible...
November 03, 2017
5 million euro for social enterprises in the Western Balkans for the next 10 years
In the next 10 years, 5 mln EUR will be deployed for pre-seed and early stage financing for social enterprises in the Western Balkan region through the Mozaik Impact Fund, an initiative launched by...
October 27, 2017
The Womanity Foundation: Call for Nominations for the Womanity Award
DON’T MISS OUT! Nominations for the 2018 Womanity Award can be made until Tuesday 31 October.
October 17, 2017
Interview with Felix Oldenburg, Secretary General Association of German Foundations
The Association for German Foundations joined EVPA last year, but you have participated at several conferences in the past years, what was for you the added value of our conference?...
October 11, 2017
Social impact investing – How to get started?
Is your bank, foundation or trust looking to invest in social impact? Then you should check out Social Business Angel Hedda Pahlson-Moller’s advice on how to get started! Hedda Pahlson-Moller is...
October 10, 2017
New model for increased social impact
SpareBank 1 Foundation Østfold Akershus has developed a new model to ensure maximum social impact from their contributions. The new model is called Proactive Grants. CEO, Just Erik Næss, explains...
October 02, 2017
10 years of success stories for CEED Macedonia!
The Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development (CEED) Macedonia has been playing an important role in creating successful business stories through networking, know-how business...
October 02, 2017
The Low Carbon Enterprise Fund (LCEF) and the OPES Impact Fund Merger
The Low Carbon Enterprise Fund (LCEF) and the OPES Impact Fund have agreed to merge. The new Fund (OPES-LCEF) will focus its activities primarily on India and East Africa, providing finance,...
September 27, 2017
Interview with Anne Holm Rannaleet, Trustee and Executive Director IKARE Ltd
IKARE has been a member of EVPA since 2007 and you have participated at several conferences over the past few years, what was for you the added value of our conference? What are you looking forward...
September 21, 2017
Open round of applications for Student Fellows!
The application process for EVPA Student Fellows for the EVPA Annual Conference is now open! This initiative is a chance for you to participate at the 13th EVPA Annual Conference, taking place...
September 19, 2017
Fair by Design - Poverty Premium Fund
Big Society Capital is supporting an exciting new Wayra accelerator programme, providing startups with up to £70,000 in cash and support. In the UK, low-incomes households pay more for everyday...
September 18, 2017
Interview with Gjorgji Kushevski, Skopje HUB Director, CEED Macedonia
The Foundation Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development (CEED) Macedonia is a part of the CEED Global Network, which is an US based organisation with offices in several countries...
September 06, 2017
Interview with Dr. Markus Freiburg, Founder & Managing Director FASE
FASE has been a member of EVPA since 2015 and you have participated at several conferences in the past few years, what was for you the added value of our conference? What are you looking forward to...
August 21, 2017
Interview with Silke Horakova, CEO of the Czech Private Equity & Venture Capital Association
The Czech Private Equity and Venture Capital Association offers alternative sources of funding. They are oriented for innovative projects with rapid growth potential, especially firms with...
August 18, 2017
Interview with Jeremy Nicholls, CEO Social Value UK
The Social Value UK joined EVPA in 2014, and you have participated at several conferences in the past years, what was for you the added value of our conference? What are you looking forward to this...
July 25, 2017
Fondazione CRT launches "Entrepreneurs for Social Change"
Fondazione CRT and United Nations Industrial Development Organization are launching the 4th edition of the Entrepreneurs for Social Change (E4SC) project.
July 19, 2017
Interview with Peter Heller, Founder and Executive Director of Canopus Foundation
Peter Heller, Founder and Executive Director of Canopus Foundation
July 17, 2017
Interview with Sam Salisbury, Investment Principal of Ignite Social Enterprise
Interview with Sam Salisbury, Investment Principal of Ignite Social Enterprise, part of the EVPA Corporate Initative
June 27, 2017
Interview with Katinka Greve Leiner, Director of Ferd Social Entrepreneurs and EVPA Board Member
Katinka Greve Leiner, Director of Ferd Social Entrepreneurs and EVPA Board Member
May 23, 2017
Corporates & Venture Philanthropy : A Discussion with Steven Serneels
Discussion with Steven Serneels, Impact Investor SI2 Fund, EVPA board member, and Chairman of the EVPA Corporate Task Group
March 01, 2017
“Improving Access to Funding” – a complementary Subject Paper from the GECES
The “Social enterprises and the social economy going forward” report, adopted in October 2016, is a capstone of the European Commission’s Expert Group on Social Entrepreneurship (GECES).
February 01, 2017
EaSI instruments: a new EU call to reinforce your capacity building!
The European Commission and the European Investment Fund (EIF) have just published a call for expression of interest to reinforce the institutional capacity of financial intermediaries in the...
December 20, 2016
MDIF launches blended-value media loan fund with Sida-backed first-loss protection
New York, November 16, 2016: Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) today announced the launch of MDIF Media Finance I, a blended-value loan fund for independent news media companies in select...
December 20, 2016
Incorpora Hungary supports disadvantaged people in Hungary who seek employment.
Incorpora is a highly successful programme creating sustainable employment developed and launched by “la Caixa” Foundation in Spain in 2006.
December 06, 2016
Announcing seven new members
We’re proud that social investment and venture philanthropy is of interest to more and more organisations. In the past two months seven new members joined EVPA.
December 05, 2016
Startup Weekend 2016
The sixth and largest edition of Startup Weekend finished recently. About 80 participants along with 22 mentors developed developed new innovate and breakthrough ideas. Young enthusiastic,...
December 01, 2016
GECES report presented today in Bratislava- a call for action to increase the political focus on and resources dedicated to social entrepreneurship in Europe
PRESS RELEASE Bratislava, 1 December 2016 The European Commission Expert Group on Social Entrepreneurship (or GECES[1]) issues key report of recommendations to all...
August 31, 2016
EVPA contributes to EuSEF Proposal & GECES call to European Commission
The European Commission has surveyed the market for feedback on the EuSEF Regulation’s implementation. EVPA contributed to several of these consultations, highlighting the challenges VP...
July 26, 2016
Contribute to improve the start-up eco-system in Europe!
From the 31st of March to the 31st of July 2016, the European Commission is collecting input from entrepreneurs, start-ups and other stakeholders on how to improve the start-up ecosystem in Europe...
July 12, 2016
Bernard Uyttendaele joins EVPA as CEO
The European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA) welcomes Bernard Uyttendaele as its new Chief Executive. He will bring his broad experience to EVPA as it moves into its next phase of development.
June 30, 2016
Insights for action - New AVPN guides in Impact Assessment, Capacity Building and Social Incubation
The opportunities for solving social issues in Asia through venture philanthropy (VP) and social investing (SI) are huge. While private social funders in Asia are keen to make a positive social...
June 24, 2016
Note from Madeleine in connection with BREXIT
June 01, 2016
AVPN Conference Hong Kong - Asia’s top social investment event
The EVPA team was delighted to be able to join 600 social investors in Asia at the AVPN conference. We talked strategies and financing tools to support the social sector and networked towards...
June 01, 2016
Post UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) - Climate finance, green bonds & member initiatives
As Europe moves to put the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) into action, alarming reports on global warming, desertification, water shortages and environmental migration continue.
May 02, 2016
A new strategy for EVPA’s Knowledge Centre: KC 2.0
A new leadership, a new strategy and the building of two new branches. Exciting times are ahead for EVPA’s Knowledge Centre.
May 02, 2016
EVPA’s contribution to the consultation of the European Commission on non-financial reporting
As our world becomes more concerned with the social and environmental impact of companies, the call for transparency on companies’ performance is increasing. Equally, Europe’s investors are...
May 02, 2016
ACUMEN, OPES IMPACT FUND and HERi Africa Gmbh invest in Tanzania
Providing affordable & accessible energy to rural populations in Devergy
May 02, 2016
Catalytic philanthropy results in One Acre Fund
Over the past two years, EVPA member Jazi Foundation financed the new country pilots of the One Acre Fund in Malawi and Uganda, involving 1000 smallholder farmer families each.
April 29, 2016
Belgian social impact investment fund Kampani makes first investment
Belgium based EVPA member Kampani has made its first investment. It concerns a Fairtrade certified Burundian coffee exporter called COCOCA, a Union of smallholder cooperatives, representing 27.000...
April 29, 2016
EVPA member HERi Africa co-invests in key supplier of malaria medicine
Impact venture fund HERi Africa has co-invested $13m in Madagascar based Bionexx, a company producing the active ingredients of a new generation anti-malaria medicine.
April 29, 2016
DIVA Ventures welcomes Novozymes and DSM as co-founders - A partnership to scale up impact ventures
The EVPA member DIVA Ventures has welcomed as co-founders biotechnology company Novozymes and global science based Royal DSM. The announcement was made last week at the United Nations HQ in New...
April 29, 2016
Goodbye to Kurt
After four outstanding years together, our CEO, Kurt Peleman has decided that the time of change has arrived. Therefore, we thank him for his extensive contribution and wish him good luck in his...
April 01, 2016
Migration crisis, the European (Ad)Venture
As 2016 is rapidly progressing, Europe still finds herself in the difficult position of managing an unprecedented inflow of people, many of them vulnerable individuals seeking international...
April 01, 2016
Goodbye to Lisa
After six years of setting up and running the Knowledge Centre, over two years of being formally responsible for EVPA’s policy activities and becoming a cornerstone of its management team, our...
February 23, 2016
EVPA launches Impact Measurement and Management case studies
EVPA is launching its latest research publication today! “Impact measurement in practice: in-depth case studies” highlights the experiences of two EVPA Members at the forefront of social impact...
February 02, 2016
Exit Case study: Ferd SE- Unicus AS
This month we are highlighting one of the case studies from our report “A practical guide to planning and executing and impactful exit”. This article focuses on the exit of EVPA Member Ferd...
February 01, 2016
New EVPA Report: “A Practical Guide to Venture Philanthropy and Social Impact Investment”
The latest EVPA Report “A Practical Guide to Venture Philanthropy and Social Impact Investment” is now available for download.
December 21, 2015
Country Focus:The Croatian VP/SI sector: challenges, key players and initiatives
Over 2015, EVPA is producing a number of factsheets detailing venture philanthropy and social investment activities in countries around Europe. The below article is based on our recently...
December 17, 2015
Venture philanthropy and social investment in Greece - A key driver for NGO capacity building
EVPA and the Bodossaki Foundation hosted a joint event on 15 December 2015 in Athens, attracting more than 100 civil society organizations and representatives of charitable foundations, companies and...
December 10, 2015
Latest EVPA Report ‘A practical guide to adding value through non-financial support’ just launched!
The latest EVPA Report ‘A practical guide to adding value through non-financial support’ is now available for download. The guide is the result of several months of research by our Knowledge...
November 19, 2015
Country Focus:The Polish VP/SI sector: challenges, key players and initiatives
Over 2015, EVPA is producing a number of factsheets detailing venture philanthropy and social investment activities in countries around Europe. The below article is based on our recently...
October 07, 2015
The OECD and the European Commission launch Call for Initiatives and Policies for Social Enterprises
The OECD and the European Commission have launched an inclusive and social entrepreneurship project that intends to shed light on social enterprise creation and development in EU Member States and...
September 30, 2015
EVPA Launches ‘EU Index Cards’
Since the launch of its “Social Business Initiative” (SBI) in 2011, the European Commission has undertaken many actions to improve the situation of social enterprises. It does this by...
September 28, 2015
Country Focus:The VP/SI sector in Norway: challenges, key players and initiatives
Over 2015, EVPA is producing a number of factsheets detailing venture philanthropy (VP) and social investment (SI) activities in countries about Europe. The below article is based on our recently...
September 28, 2015
EVPA Member Impetus-PEF introduces largest ever VP fund for youth initiatives
UK-based EVPA member Impetus-PEF has allocated England’s largest ever Venture Philanthropy funding package (nearly £8 million) to three youth-oriented organisations: The Access Project, Action...
August 03, 2015
Country Focus: The Greek VP/SI sector: challenges, key players and initiatives
Greece is in its sixth year of social and economic instability contributing to increased inequalities in the country. The country is facing a humanitarian crisis, a decline of the social welfare...
July 31, 2015
EVPA welcomes six new members
EVPA’s community keeps on growing. This month we welcome two full and four associate members: Anesvad, Cooperative for ethical financing, Great for Good, Incofin Investment Management, Jazi...
July 01, 2015
A new European Guarantee to support social enterprises!
Half a billion euros of loans for micro- and social enterprises over the next seven years. This could be the consequence of an important agreement signed on the 24th of June between the European...
June 30, 2015
From Prosperity to Purpose: report on social impact investment in Latin America
EVPA members UBS and the Hauser Institute for Civil Society at Harvard University launch an exploratory study on philanthropy and social investment in Latin America: ‘From Prosperity to...
June 30, 2015
EVPA welcomes three new Members
EVPA’s community keeps growing. This month we welcome three new members – Acanthus, La Bolsa Social, The Rockefeller Foundation. Who are they?
June 30, 2015
Belgian-Dutch Cooperation: SI² Fund Joins Forces with Dutch Social Impact Investor Base of Shærpa
EVPA members SI² Fund and Shærpa have joined forces and completed the initial closing of its SI² fund, with committed capital of over €15 million. The additional funds enable SI² Fund to...
May 28, 2015
Unique opportunity for social enterprises in European procurement markets
The European Union is easing the way for its Member States to ‘buy social’, offering in turn social enterprises unprecedented access to a government contracts’ market representing annually EUR...
May 28, 2015
EVPA’s input to the Green Paper on ‘Building Capital Markets Union’
EVPA’s members are helping shape the discussion around the EuSEF Regulation, i.e. the EU-wide ‘marketing’ label for European Social Entrepreneurship Funds. Find out how.
May 28, 2015
EVPA welcomes two new members
EVPA’s community keeps growing. This month we welcome two new members: Erasmus Centre for Strategic Philanthropy and IULM. Time to meet.
May 08, 2015
Jacobs Foundation commits USD 52 million to change living conditions of families in cocoa-growing communities
EVPA member Jacobs Foundation has announced a CHF 50-million commitment to changing the living conditions of families in cocoa-growing communities by providing access to high-quality education in...
April 30, 2015
EVPA welcomes three new members
EVPA’s community keeps growing. This month we welcome three new members Jacobs Foundation, Smart Kolektiv and 360° Impact. Find out who they are.
April 29, 2015
New investment fund for social enterprises in Central and Eastern Europe
We will soon see the creation of the first Polish social venture capital fund that invests in enterprises bringing social benefits, and EVPA members are invited to contribute to the fund.
April 28, 2015
Employment meeting in Portugal
With 34.5% of Portugal’s under 25s unemployed, employment -especially among youth- is an important subject of discussion in this part of Europe. Reason enough for EVPA’s thematic Group on...
March 30, 2015
EVPA Policy: thinking about policy solutions around Europe
Interested in understanding your national policy context better? Or in sharing such policies from a practitioner’s point of view? EVPA is inviting you to share the knowledge you have of your...
March 30, 2015
Increasing Foundations’ reach through collaborative philanthropy
All over Europe, our members hold events fostering and creating synergies within their VP/SI markets. While local, such events often contain learnings that could be relevant to other members. This...
March 30, 2015
EVPA welcomes five new members
As a membership organisation, EVPA values the contributions that each organisation brings to the network. Therefore, we highlight new members as they join our community. This month we’re...
March 30, 2015
New UK Access Fund Launches
The social finance market in the UK is buoyant, momentum is growing and more and more access to finance initiatives are taking shape. The latest on that front is the launch of “Access: The...
March 18, 2015
TBLI Conference: Nordic 2015
The TBLI Conference has earned a sterling international reputation for bringing together investors, investment managers, and thought leaders in all asset classes of sustainable finance for...
March 08, 2015
Social Impact Bonds: US vs UK
While the US is reporting the failure of its first Social Impact Bond: a SIB project designed to reduce recidivism rates among adolescent inmates, EVPA member Social Finance UK has reported that...