A brief introduction to our investment process.
Each of our funds has its own eligibility criteria and terms of investment. Before making an enquiry, take a moment to review all our available funds to determine which might be the best fit for you. If you’re still not sure, feel free to contact us to discuss further.
We look for socially driven arts and cultural organisations that can demonstrate they can take on repayable finance. Many factors determine whether we invest in an organisation.
Some of the key things we look for are:
During an initial conversation, our investment team will try to understand more about your organisation, what it does, how much investment you seek and what for. We use this information to assess which of the funds we manage will best match your investment need and whether you meet the eligibility criteria for that fund. We will also want to understand the business opportunity (the rationale for making an investment and why it would be successful) and social impact case (how your organisation creates positive social impact and for whom).
At this stage, we will request more detailed information about the organisation’s structure and operations, people, governance and leadership, market potential/route to market for existing and new activities, financial performance, and social impact management. For instance, we might want to know how our investment will contribute to the organisation’s long-term sustainability or what processes are put in place to monitor and improve its social impact. We will also visit your organisation and may wish to speak with your beneficiaries and trustees (if you have any). At the end of this process, we will write an investment proposal and draft an initial term sheet which we will discuss with you.
The investment proposal will be presented to the Fund’s Investment Committee, which meets at regular intervals and makes a decision on all investment applications, either approving, rejecting them or requesting further information.
Our team will discuss the final terms approved with you, draft an indicative repayment schedule and impact development and resourcing plan and provide you with a legal agreement that formalises the investment. Please allow up to four weeks for legal completion.
We will explain clearly in writing the further questions raised by the Investment Committee, what information you will have to provide and the timescales involved.
We will explain clearly in writing the rationale for the committee’s decision and suggest next steps.
If you are ready to begin an initial conversation with us, please get in touch by completing and submitting our enquiry form.