Closed
Call for expressions of interest to become a social finance wholesaler under the Social Finance Fund: Closed
Supports social finance investment in Canada
Last Update: June 19, 2026
Funding available
$ 50,000,000 - $ 400,000,000
Timeline
- Open Date : August 12, 2021
- Closing date : September 29, 2021
Location
Canada
Overview
This program supports the selection of one or more social finance wholesalers to implement the Social Finance Fund. It provides up to $682.5 million for investment activity that expands Canada’s social finance market and supports social purpose organizations.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Increase social or community impact
- Improve governance or administrative structure
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 400,000,000 $
- Minimum amount : 50,000,000 $
- Up to 10% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : August 12, 2021
- Closing date : September 29, 2021
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Finance and insurance
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Grant-making Foundations
- Other Philanthropic Intermediaries and Voluntarism Promotion
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- General public
Revenue structures
- Mixed revenue (50%+ earned)
- Fee-for-service model
Scope
- Local
- Regional
- Provincial
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Creation and operation of a social finance wholesaler
- Investment in social finance intermediaries
- Direct investment in social purpose organizations or projects, where applicable
- Market-building activities supporting social finance growth
- Impact measurement and management activities
Documents Needed
- Audited financial statements for the two most recent years available
- Annual and quarterly financial reports for the most recent year available
- Supporting document for extra space, wiring diagrams, figures, or tables
- Letters of concurrence from partner organizations, if applying as a consortium
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- For-profit organizations
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Investment funds and funding vehicles
- Consortia, joint ventures, or formal partnerships
Who is not eligible
- Individuals
- Provincial or territorial governments, institutions, agencies, and Crown corporations
- Municipal governments
- Organizations proposing investments in publicly traded securities, commodities, derivatives, or cryptocurrencies
Eligible expenses
- Social finance investments
- Investment administration and management costs
- Blended finance and market-building activities
- Transaction cost subsidies and interest rate buy-downs
- Impact research, data collection, and measurement
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Investments in publicly traded securities
- Investments in commodities, financial derivatives, or cryptocurrencies
- Applications from individuals
- Applications from provincial, territorial, or municipal governments and Crown corporations
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
- Quebec, for proposals investing in Quebec public agencies or Quebec social finance intermediaries that invest in Quebec public agencies
Selection criteria
- Alignment with Social Finance Fund objectives
- Strength of the investment strategy and use of a social equity lens
- Organizational capacity and governance
- Impact measurement and management approach
- Experience in investment management and Canada’s social purpose sector
How to apply
- Step 1: Gather supporting documents
- Prepare audited financial statements.
- Prepare recent annual and quarterly financial reports.
- Prepare any supporting diagrams, tables, or extra explanations.
- Prepare partner letters if applying as a consortium.
- Step 2: Complete the application form
- Read the applicant guide.
- Fill in the EOI form with organization and proposal details.
- Step 3: Submit by email
- Send the complete package before the deadline.
- Email the application to EDSC.FFS-SFF.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca.
- Step 4: Await confirmation and review
- Receive a confirmation of receipt within 72 business hours.
- Wait for notification on whether the application advances.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are first screened for eligibility.
- Eligible proposals are assessed against program objectives and selection criteria.
- High-scoring applicants may be invited to an oral presentation and interview.
- ESDC may request additional information, documents, or references during review.
- Selected applicants are invited to develop a detailed plan and funding agreement.
Additional information
- A lead organization must be identified for consortium applications.
- Only one application is allowed per organization.
- At least one consortium partner must be legally registered in Canada.
- Successful applicants may receive less than the amount requested.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Call for expressions of interest to become a social finance wholesaler under the Social Finance Fund: Closed Program
What is the Call for expressions of interest to become a social finance wholesaler under the Social Finance Fund: Closed?
This program supports the selection of one or more social finance wholesalers to implement the Social Finance Fund. It provides up to $682.5 million for investment activity that expands Canada’s social finance market and supports social purpose organizations.
How much funding can be received?
Call for expressions of interest to become a social finance wholesaler under the Social Finance Fund: Closed Funds up to 10% of admissible expenses, capped at $400,000,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was September 29, 2021.
Who is eligible for the Call for expressions of interest to become a social finance wholesaler under the Social Finance Fund: Closed program?
To be eligible for the Call for expressions of interest to become a social finance wholesaler under the Social Finance Fund: Closed program, you must:
Canadian-based organization
For-profit or not-for-profit
Social equity lens required
What expenses are eligible under Call for expressions of interest to become a social finance wholesaler under the Social Finance Fund: Closed?
Creation and operation of a social finance wholesaler
Investment in social finance intermediaries
Direct investment in social purpose organizations or projects, where applicable
Market-building activities supporting social finance growth
Impact measurement and management activities
Who can I contact for more information about the Call for expressions of interest to become a social finance wholesaler under the Social Finance Fund: Closed?
You can contact Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) by email at EDSC.FFS-SFF.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca.
Where is the Call for expressions of interest to become a social finance wholesaler under the Social Finance Fund: Closed available?
The Call for expressions of interest to become a social finance wholesaler under the Social Finance Fund: Closed program is available across Canada.