The ultimate finance question for your initiative is: are you ‘investment ready’?

If you plan to start a new initiative in your organization or a new social enterprise, managers and investors will come up with many questions about the organization, the business idea, and the financial plans. The better you are prepared, the more likely you will be able to convince people and find partners and supporters.

The following questions should help you to formulate answers to the most important aspects before searching for grants, loans, or other forms of investments in your social initiative.

Checklist: investment readiness

Internal / The management of your social initiative

• Do you have a strong and committed team?
• Are there necessary competencies missing?
• What is the governance structure?
• Are your structures capable of managing growth?

Problem and solution / Your theory of change

• Is there a proven demand for your initiative?
• Who is involved in your theory of change?
• Do you have a story to tell? What is new about your initiative?
• How do you want to reach more beneficiaries?

Finance and investment / The financing model

• Do you have time to find grants, the willingness to share equity, or the resources to pay back loans?
• Is there potential for revenues?
• What is your growth plan, and what are the financial needs to achieve this increase?
• What are key indicators of the impact of your initiative?

You can find a print version of this checklist in the ‘downloads’ section below.

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