We partner with organisations and investors to unlock social impact.
About Team Board Financials
While supporting the growth and resilience of purpose-driven organisations, we generate positive returns for investors.
We lend directly to purpose-driven organisations who need between $200,000 and 2 million in capital, considering the organisation’s capacity to repay a loan. We offer impact investors the opportunity to invest for diversification of risk and impact.
Impact investors can target return and impact by participating in larger projects, alongside Sefa or in syndicates facilitated by us.
Partnering with philanthropy and government, we leverage the grant dollar with our loan products, to design manageable financial solutions for purpose-driven organisations.
We strengthen purpose-driven organisations’ resilience across strategy, impact and governance, often helping them get investment ready and pursue capital options.
We build personalised learning programs and capital partnerships that unlock the potential of impact organisations across Australia.
Sefa Partnerships offers innovation and learning programs for social entrepreneurs, non-profit organisations, government and corporate partners.
We facilitate unique funding collaborations to enable finance for impact. Drawing on our strong networks in funding, philanthropy and impact investing, we increase the possibility of meaningful capital solutions.
We bring a philanthropic component to loans on Sefa’s balance sheet, enabling accessible capital resources for purpose driven organisations.
Sefa (Social Enterprise Finance Australia) was established in 2011 when it was selected by the Australian Government to receive funding from its Social Enterprise Development and Investment Fund (SEDIF). On top of the $10 million grant, another $10 million was raised via equity investors and lenders.
Sefa Partnerships was established by Sefa as a public benevolent institution in 2016 to boost the resources available for social enterprises supporting disadvantaged communities across Australia.
Since establishment, Sefa has unlocked more than $100 million of capital from the impact investing sector. The Sefa team has disbursed $40 million in loans through almost 50 deals.
Sefa’s work continues across impact areas including crisis & affordable housing, education, arts, community enterprises, Indigenous and disability organisations.
Since 2016 Sefa Partnerships have unlocked capital and capability resources for more than 80 purpose driven social enterprises and 100 social entrepreneurs. Their work has helped leverage an additional $1.5 million into the sector for the ongoing development and support of organisations transforming and relieving disadvantage.
Sefa and Sefa Partnerships work collaboratively and share a joint strategy for the continued growth of purpose-driven organisations across Australia.
Togetherness:
We’re so much more than an investor. Think of us as a collaborator with the experience and expertise to help your organisation achieve its purpose and financial goals. We’ll walk beside you on your path to becoming a sustainable organisation and offer support well beyond finance.
Integrity:
We are transparent about our motivations, influences, intentions, and limitations. We don’t leave you in the dark about how or why a decision has been made. We tell the truth, even when it might be uncomfortable or lead to a change in plans. We are committed to our principles and take responsibility for our actions.
Champion:
We champion others and amplify impact through real life examples. We advocate for systems change and put this into practice by supporting our clients. Our work aims to change mindsets and instigate conversations to challenge the sector including ourselves.
We at Sefa are a diverse bunch of humans from 12 different countries and are intrinsically curious to question, learn and share – because that’s how you can make social change happen.
With our origins in 2011 when NSW ALC became one of our largest founding shareholders we have never stopped towards unlocking Indigenous outcomes to support social enterprise and local land councils of our First Peoples. In the beginnings primarily with capital from our Sefa Loan Fund and now also with important capability building to strengthen organisational resilience or prepare for investment readiness – often working closely with Indigenous partners such as the ILSC and ACHIA.
As our team grew bigger during Covid and we felt disconnected behind our respective video screens, shared learning and storytelling became ever more important. Since then, we take weekly turns to prepare an Acknowledgement of Country with an educational element for every team meeting. This can be historical, social, or political: we have been introduced to Aboriginal English (AbE) and D’Harawal six seasons of the year, learned about Yankunytjatjara, Elder Yami Lester OAM and songspirals, and also invited guest speakers to hear first-hand about Canada’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.
Storytelling is deeply rooted in Indigenous culture, serving as a vital conduit for passing down traditions, wisdom, and a deep understanding of the land and its significance. It not only preserves the rich heritage of Australia's First Peoples but also fosters a sense of community and belonging, enriching our collective journey towards reconciliation and social impact.
With NSWALC becoming Sefa’s majority shareholder in November 2021, we feel privileged to have even closer access to their deep knowledge about community, and connection to land and water. They have set up a standalone social enterprise, Yarpa Hub, a one-stop-shop for Indigenous businesses, entrepreneurs and job seekers to connect to business and employment opportunities. Together with Yarpa, the Sefa Engagement team will over the next two years deliver a place-based activator program for early-stage enterprises seeking impactful outcomes for women facing disadvantage available throughout NSW.
Team Sefa stands proudly and firmly behind - and with - a wholehearted “YES” and in support of reconciliation of all peoples of Australia - but foremost with the custodians of these lands that were never ceded and never will be. Please join us in acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and skies, Australia’s First Peoples. We are grateful to those who have come before us and who have nurtured and protected Country for future generations, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.
