Running a social enterprise is crazy hard work, especially when you only have so much capacity and resources at your disposal. We get it. That is why finding the time to stay across what is happening can very difficult, even for the most seasoned, time-efficient changemaker.

The social enterprise sector is multi-faceted, spanning the worlds of social innovation, charities and not-for-profits, social finance and impact investing, philanthropy and more. With so much going on in each of these domains, it is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and miss out on opportunities that could advance your organisation and fundamentally transform the lives of those you exist to serve.

The trick is to stop trying to read everything out there. There’s too much. And you’re too busy. To make your life that bit easier, we have teamed up with Social Impact Hub to put together this bite-sized quarterly update filled with the most important developments and activities in the impact sector- it’s all you need to stay informed and up-to-date.

So, without further ado, here is a summary of noteworthy headlines for the first quarter of 2022, as they happened…

• The Social Enterprise National Strategy (SENS) project finalised a shared vision and mission for the Australian social enterprise sector.

• Speaker nominations opened for Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) and SEWF Youth Forum. 

• Social Enterprise Network Victoria (SENVIC) soft-launched their social enterprise map and directory.

• ACRE hosted a gathering of the SENVIC tribe at The Old Beechworth Gaol.

• The Centre for Social Impact (CSI) launched the Indicator Engine, “the Australian impact sector’s first evidence-based outcomes measurement tool”.

• The Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) called for the creation of a Federal Minister for Resource Recovery and the Circular Economy.

• Australia’s largest specially designed community precinct for social purpose and philanthropy officially opened at Yirranma Place.

• Pro Bono Australia released an infographic breaking down the 10 things you need to know and what the sector has to say about this year’s federal budget.

• Westpac announced the individuals awarded a 2022 Social Change Fellowship.

• SEWF co-hosts White Box Enterprises refreshed its website and brand.

• Impact Boom kicked off The Refinery Incubator at the Sunshine Coast.
  

• Phenix Capital’s released report revealing more than $400bn has been committed globally towards net zero-aligned impact funds since 2015.

• (Re)Purpose received over 700 registrations and was a fantastic opportunity to hear from and get inspired by Australian social enterprise and all that’s happening throughout 2022 in the lead up to the Social Enterprise World Forum in Brisbane this September.

• Following sector consultations, the Australian Social Enterprise Virtual Unconference outcomes and international input, the Social Enterprise World Forum programming committee identified the five themes as the focus areas for the conference program: Indigenous Social Enterprise; Unusual Suspects; Excellence & Failure; Climate Solutions, and Policy & Systems.

• Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT (SECNA) held its 2022 annual general meeting and launched its first Community Hub.

• Impact North released the 2021 Social Enterprise Summit Northern Australia (SESNA) report with the help of The Yunus Centre Griffith University.

• Led by Paul Quilliam, Social Enterprise Network of Tasmania (SENTAS), the final piece in the puzzle that is Australia’s Social Enterprise Networks & Councils, is in the process of establishing! Stay tuned! 

• Queensland Social Enterprise Council (QSEC), Two Good Co, Social Impact Hub and the world celebrated International Women’s Day 2022.

• _SOUTHSTART took place in Adelaide.

• Pro Bono Australia announced the winners of this year’s Impact 25. 

• Blackbird makes their Impact & ESG policy public. 

• Social enterprises graduate from the Townsville iActivate accelerator.

• The federal government opened applications for a multi-million grant program to support refugee employment.

• The new logo for this year’s Social Enterprise World Forum was unveiled.

• Mayra Escobedo joined the SECNA team as its ACT Community Lead.

• Suzanne Marshall joined the QSEC team as their new Ecosystem Development Officer.

• Impact Investing Australia called on the federal government to support initiatives that will accelerate impact investing.

• CSI expanded to South Australia with the addition of Flinders University to its national network.

• The ImpaQt Fund, which aimed to bridge the gap between Queensland’s social innovation and impact investing sectors, goes on hiatus.

• March was B Corp month.

• Humblebrag… Social Change Central was included as one of the “Top 20 Social Enterprise Blogs & Websites” by Feedspot.

• Belinda Morrissey, CEO of the English Family Foundation and chair of the Social Enterprise National Strategy Advisory Council, shared her predictions for the social enterprise sector this year.

• The SENS project and Alliance of Social Enterprise Networks Australia (ASENA) held Conversation Circles as an opportunity to provide input on the vision and mission for Australia’s social enterprise sector. Here is an overview of the initial process being undertaken to create a long-term National Social Enterprise Strategy for the Australian social enterprise sector.

• Mike McKinstry, Social Traders CEO, penned a message for the sector, re-capping the highlights of 2021 and sharing what’s on the horizon for this year.

• Expert Impact launches what it’s calling the world’s first “social enterprise speakers agency”.

• Officeworks bought a 21 per cent stake in social enterprise (and Social Change Central member), the World’s Biggest Garage Sale.

• Australian social enterprise (and Social Change Central member), Wicked Lab, is selected as a World Summit Awards Winner.

• QSEC released their 2022 New Year Check-in Survey Results to help shape how they advocate for social enterprise. 

• Pro Bono announce the nominees for the 2022 Impact 25 Awards, including Social Change Central Co-founder Anne Lennon and Social Impact Hub founder Jessica Mendoza-Roth! 

• Westpac created a schmick and informative short video explaining what a social enterprise actually is. 

• Leaders in the emerging social impact investing market are frustrated about the lack of action by the federal government. Article behind paywall. 

• White Box Enterprises announced a $2.5 million 5-year partnership with the Ian Potter Foundation. 

• Abhilash Mudaliar, Chief Portfolio Officer at the Paul Ramsay Foundation, shared his predictions for impact investing in 2022. 

• In a bid to boost their impact, the Minderoo Foundation launched an impact investment fund. 

• For Purpose Investment Partners (FPIP) announced a successful first close of its Social Impact Fund with $67 million committed.

While not comprehensive, this summary highlights many of the key sector developments, people movements and activities that we believe would be most beneficial for social enterprise and purpose-drive organisations to be aware of. The information included is accurate to the best of our knowledge as of 31 March 2022. If there’s something important we missed, let us know! Leave a comment or email us at hello@socialchangecentral.com.

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