On November 8, the annual Impact Investment Summit in Sydney showcased Australia’s First Live Blended Finance Crowdfunding experience, which raised an extraordinary $437,000+ comprising of a mix of philanthropy, debt and equity for three grassroots social enterprises.

You are approached for a donation by a charity. Does a voice in your head say with some resignation, “Sounds good, but I wonder how much money actually gets to the cause?” You’re not alone. However, we at the Social Impact Hub think that is not fair for the not-for-profit sector. And we are launching a national campaign to do something about it.

In an Australian first, the Impact Investing Hub has today launched the Current Deals Library, listing live impact investment opportunities on one portal to connect investors and investees in this growing market.

In an Australian first, the Impact Investing Hub has today launched the Current Deals Library, listing live impact investment opportunities on one portal to connect investors and investees in this growing market.

Why is attracting Millennials important to companies? Over 5 million Australian Gen Yers have recently entered or are now entering the labour force. The large population of baby boomers is beginning to exit the workforce, leaving a shortage of employees that must be filled. Gen Y will fill this gap in the coming years.

We’re Annie, Catherine, Emily, and Veevek and we’re interns at the Social Impact Hub. This semester we’ve had the amazing opportunity to work on a project for a new social enterprise called Promise or Pay. Founded by social entrepreneur Jay Boolkin, Promise or Pay focuses on making promises and charitable giving.

Workplace Giving, the all-encompassing definition for contributions of money, time, skills and in-kind support donated by employees of an organisation to a charity or social cause, is a familiar concept to most Australians. Annually Australians donate more than $90 million through Workplace Giving Programs (WGPs). However, studies suggest staff participation and firm engagement with WGPs has actually plateaued.

The brainchild of lawyer and education policy officer Thea Snow, the Toy Well aims to establish a free toy-lending service for disadvantaged families. Our project over the last four months has been to explore how to make this vision a reality and to outline the various ways to roll out the Toy Well services across Victoria and New South Wales.

Carol Schwartz AM officially launched the Field Guide to Impact Investing for Charitable Trusts and Foundations on Tuesday 20 October 2015. The launch was generously hosted by Shemara Wikramanayake, Chair of the Macquarie Group Foundation. The guide is available for download via the Impact Investing Hub.

Since its adoption in the state of Maryland in April 2010, a new corporate form – the benefit corporation - has now been legislated in 26 US states and Washington DC. Why should Australian businesses be interested?

In a climate of diminishing government aid and limited resources of non government organisations, there are significant challenges and opportunities for Australians interested in innovative international investment. Impact investing could be a way for Australian philanthropists seeking international development opportunities to create impact while achieving substantial returns.

Over the course of the last 4 months at the Social Impact Hub we were given the opportunity to work with Community Insight Australia. As a team of Master of Commerce students at UNSW Business School, we were attracted by the opportunity to use the knowledge and skills acquired on campus in a real-life project and it did not disappoint!

Recently we had the amazing opportunity to meet Charly and Lisa Kleissner, advocates and game changers in the field of impact investing and founders of the KL Felicitas Foundation. Charly is a tech executive with a PhD in Computer Science and Lisa an architect who cleverly traded her design work for stock in tech companies. They came into their wealth during the tech boom in Silicon Valley and went on to establish their Foundation in 2000. Leaving their careers behind, the Kleissners have dedicated significant time and effort to investing for good – 100% good.