Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - Direct support to implement procedural and system changes

The Connect Fund has been set up to strengthen the social investment market in England to better meet the needs of charities and social enterprises. The fund provides grants to develop resources and infrastructure for a market that supports mission.

The Connect Fund will continue to provide grant funding to support infrastructure organisations and investment intermediaries to deliver projects that will lead to greater equality, diversity and inclusion on both the supply and demand side of the social investment market.

The Connect Fund will provide one-off grants to social investors and fund managers that are looking to implement changes to their existing processes or systems to increase their accessibility to those often excluded from investment.

Key considerations: -We will prioritise applications from those looking to implement changes or recommendations identified through working with the Equality Impact Investing Project, Diversity Forum, or other Connect Fund EDI partners. -This is a one-off grant to implement practical changes or access support to address accessibility issues. It should not be used for new permanent staffing costs. For example, an appropriate use of this grant would be to cover the cost of investors contracting an appropriate equalities organisation to review its processes for unconscious bias.

Please note – applications to this funding strand will be considered on a rolling basis.

All Connect Fund applicants must meet all the following criteria: -Your organisation must be based in England. -Your organisation must be a social investment fund manager or advisor; membership body; sector, place-based, or equalities network; umbrella organisation; voluntary sector infrastructure organisation; or community foundation. -Your organisation must be incorporated and registered as a charity, social enterprise or have social purpose clearly incorporated into your articles of association with an appropriate asset lock and/or mission lock. -We welcome applications from organisations led by Black and minoritised communities, Disabled people, the LGBTQ+ community and women.