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VERGE Capital — Breakthrough Fund
Loans for social enterprises in Southwestern Ontario
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
Varies by project
Timeline
- Open continuously
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
Get a loan up to $500,000 for your established social enterprise or large-scale community infrastructure that creates a significant community impact.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Timeline
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Retail trade
- Health care and social assistance
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
- Social economy enterprise
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Startups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Social Services
- Environment
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Women & girls
- Rural / Remote communities
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Nonprofits / charities
- Low-income individuals / families
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Regional
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
The VERGE Capital — Breakthrough Fund supports social enterprises in Southwestern Ontario that prioritize social and environmental impact. These activities include providing financial support to diverse initiatives aimed at fostering community growth and innovation.
- Investing in social enterprises, including for-profit businesses, nonprofits, and charities.
- Supporting historically excluded and marginalized populations through equitable access to capital.
- Encouraging sustainable growth and partnerships within local communities.
- Engaging in conservation and environmental enhancement projects in Ontario.
- Catalyzing women-led enterprises to promote economic recovery and resilience.
- Financing impact investments aimed at social innovation and development.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
VERGE Capital's Local Investment for Local Impact initiative provides funding to a diverse set of social enterprises in Southwestern Ontario. This includes for-profit businesses, nonprofits, and charities that prioritize social and environmental impact.VERGE Capital is particularly interested in supporting enterprises that are either:1. Owned by, led by, or serve historically excluded and marginalized populations.2. Aim to create social, environmental, and community impacts in the region.3. Commit to fostering local economies and contributing to a greener and more inclusive economy.Who is not eligible
Yes, certain types of companies may not be eligible for the VERGE Capital grant:
- Companies that do not operate in Southwestern Ontario
- Companies that do not have a focus on social impact or sustainability
Eligible expenses
VERGE Capital's initiatives focus on supporting social enterprises that drive economic inclusion and environmental sustainability. These activities are targeted towards enhancing access to finance for marginalized communities and fostering community-driven development.
- Providing affordable and flexible loan financing to startup and established social enterprises.
- Empowering communities through strategic partnerships and impact investments.
- Facilitating place-based impact investing to catalyze the growth of women-led enterprises.
- Developing collaborative community finance initiatives to drive local economic growth.
- Supporting conservation projects through innovative financing mechanisms like Conservation Impact Bonds.
Eligible geographic areas
The VERGE Capital Breakthrough Fund focuses on supporting local economies in Southwestern Ontario. The fund is aimed at businesses, regardless of for-profit status, operating within this specific region.
- Southwestern Ontario, Canada
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- Specifically aims to empower vibrant communities in Southwestern Ontario through strategic partnerships.
- Launch of Breakthrough Fund II with an initial investment highlights its commitment to sustainable growth.
- Focus on collaboration with cross-sectoral community finance stakeholders through initiatives like Catalyst: Community Finance Initiative.
- Emphasis on financing conservation projects in the Carolinian Zone as part of broader social and environmental impacts.
- Commitment to place-based impact investing, particularly in women-led enterprises for post-COVID recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions about the VERGE Capital — Breakthrough Fund Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the VERGE Capital — Breakthrough Fund. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the VERGE Capital — Breakthrough Fund?
Get a loan up to $500,000 for your established social enterprise or large-scale community infrastructure that creates a significant community impact.
Who is eligible for the VERGE Capital — Breakthrough Fund program?
To be eligible for the VERGE Capital — Breakthrough Fund program, you must:
The enterprise must be located in Southwestern Ontario.
The applicant can be a for-profit business, non-profit, or charity.
Priority is given to social enterprises serving historically excluded and marginalized populations.
What expenses are eligible under VERGE Capital — Breakthrough Fund?
The VERGE Capital — Breakthrough Fund supports social enterprises in Southwestern Ontario that prioritize social and environmental impact. These activities include providing financial support to diverse initiatives aimed at fostering community growth and innovation. Investing in social enterprises, including for-profit businesses, nonprofits, and charities.
Supporting historically excluded and marginalized populations through equitable access to capital.
Encouraging sustainable growth and partnerships within local communities.
Engaging in conservation and environmental enhancement projects in Ontario.
Catalyzing women-led enterprises to promote economic recovery and resilience.
Financing impact investments aimed at social innovation and development.
Who can I contact for more information about the VERGE Capital — Breakthrough Fund?
You can contact Government of Ontario (ON).
Where is the VERGE Capital — Breakthrough Fund available?
The VERGE Capital — Breakthrough Fund program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the VERGE Capital — Breakthrough Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?
VERGE Capital — Breakthrough Fund is a Loans and Capital investments
Who are the financial supporters of the VERGE Capital — Breakthrough Fund?
VERGE Capital — Breakthrough Fund is funded by Government of Ontario (ON), VERGE Capital