Inching to Impact: the Demand Side of Social Impact Investing

This paper examines barriers faced by nonprofits in engaging with social impact investing (SII), arguing that demand is not yet meeting supply. It conceptualises four parameters shaping SII participation: investment scale, place embeddedness, innovation need, and intermediary configuration. Based on interviews, the study finds significant barriers include lack of market knowledge, inadequate financial literacy, and challenges in measuring social impacts. Nonprofits also perceive a greater emphasis on financial over social returns from investors.