Backing trustees to explore new funding sources
December 23, 2025
In our latest blog, we're shining a light on the role of trustees in exploring new ways to fund your organisation.
Trustees play a vital role in shaping the future of the voluntary sector. Every day, they make decisions that keep organisations safe, sustainable, and rooted in the needs of their communities. As funding landscapes shift, and sustaining income becomes more difficult, trustees are increasingly asking how they can build resilience while staying true to their mission.
We recently hosted a workshop with Good Finance, where members enquired about the role of trustees in diversifying income. The Charity Commission’s guidance encourages trustees to look at alternative funding sources, such as social investment. We know that trustees understand that strengthening financial resilience is crucial - yet many are exploring social investment for the first time, and want trusted guidance to build their confidence.
So, what exactly is social investment?
Before members can confidently consider alternative forms of finance, we want to help you understand exactly what social investment is.
Social investment is the use of repayable finance to help an organisation achieve a social purpose. Charities and social enterprises can use repayable finance to help them increase their impact on society, by growing their business, providing working capital for contract delivery, or buying assets.
Social investors can be an organisation such as specialist firms, social bank and trusts, as well as individuals such as angel investors and crowdfunding. Investment typically takes the form of either debt (borrowed funds repaid with interest) or shares in the organisation.
What makes social investors different to conventional lenders such as high street banks, is that they don’t just want to see a return on their investment but want to see their money being used for good.
Building knowledge, confidence and choice
There is a clear desire to build confidence when it comes to exploring social investment further, and with the right support, trustees can:
• Understand what social investment is (and isn’t)
• Explore when it may be useful
• Learn from peers who have used it successfully
• Access impartial resources and expert guidance
• Make confident, informed decisions
Working alongside Good Finance, we are committed to making this journey easier – at our most recent member event on this topic, we heard from members with direct experience of social investment, as well as from members who have helped their local networks learn more about social investment. We will also be hosting two workshops in 2026 for NAVCA members, so keep your eyes peeled for those.
New resources for trustees
Take a look at the Boards and Trustees information hub on the Good Finance website, which brings together accessible, practical resources to help boards and trustees explore social investment with confidence. The hub includes blogs, peer-led videos, and real stories from trustees and directors — all designed to support informed decision-making when it comes to social investment.
