About VERGE Capital
VERGE Capital connects caring local investors with local enterprises that have a social or environmental mission at their core.
VERGE Capital is a social finance program of Pillar Nonprofit Network in collaboration with Libro Credit Union, London Community Foundation, Sisters of St. Joseph, SVX and the Government of Ontario. VERGE Capital operates two social finance loan funds that provide capital to both new and established organizations across Southwestern Ontario.
The impact investing opportunity
VERGE Capital catalyzes an ecosystem of impact investing that redirects wealth to help tackle our region’s most challenging social and environmental issues.
Change-makers in our region are developing and scaling innovative solutions to our most complex community issues. These organizations, enterprises and individuals are reducing poverty, building affordable housing, improving access to basic needs and much more. One of the biggest hurdles to implementing and scaling these solutions is lack of capital; slowing our response to pressing community challenges.
At the same time, over $40 billion from Southwestern Ontario is held in non-local, traditional investment portfolios. Redirecting even a fraction of this wealth towards local social and environmental enterprises will create positive community impact.
Leading social finance innovations for Southwestern Ontario, VERGE Capital is helping to create an impact investing ecosystem in our region by:
Operating Two Social Finance Funds
Startup Fund
The VERGE Capital Startup Fund provides loans to local early-stage enterprises with both a solid business case and a strong community impact model.
Breakthrough Fund
The VERGE Breakthrough Fund is Southwestern Ontario’s first impact investing fund providing growth capital to social and environmental enterprises.
Educating Our Community on Impact Investing
VERGE Capital builds awareness about social enterprise and impact investing through speaking engagements, classes and events.
Learn moreKnowledge Sharing & Consultations
The VERGE Capital team supports local nonprofits and other communities as they explore and implement social finance initiatives, such as community bonds, sharing our expertise and learnings.
Work with our teamOur Team
VERGE Capital is a collaboration of regional partners, led by Pillar Nonprofit Network. Acting as the backbone organization, Pillar staff leverage their expertise in social enterprise & social finance to lead VERGE Capital. We are supported by experienced advisors from traditional investment, entrepreneurial initiatives, financial institutions, and community partners.
Our Partners
VERGE is a program of Pillar Nonprofit Network in collaboration with Libro Credit Union, London Community Foundation, Sisters of St. Joseph and MaRS Centre for Impact Investing SVX.
VERGE also partners with the local entrepreneurship ecosystem as well as national and provincial experts to leverage existing infrastructure and best-practice approaches.
Funding provided in part by the Government of Ontario, London Community Foundation and the Ursuline Sisters of Chatham.
