New report explores whether social investment can help address the funding gap facing LGBTQ+ support organisations A new report from Social Enterprise UK, produced in partnership with Better Society Capital and Access – The Foundation for Social Investment, explores whether social investment can help address the funding gap facing LGBTQ+ support organisations.
Addressing the funding gap of LGBTQ+ support organisations: Can social investment be part of the solution? sets out the challenges facing LGBTQ+ VCSE organisations, including rising demand, a difficult funding landscape and barriers to accessing external finance.
Drawing on Social Enterprise UK’s 2025 State of Social Enterprise data and case studies from Micro Rainbow, Tonic Housing and Gaydio, the report examines when social investment can work well and what support is needed to make it more accessible.
The report argues that social investment is not a replacement for grants, and will not be right for every organisation. However, where organisations have a clear route to repayment, a proven or developing trading model and the right support, it can help LGBTQ+ VCSE organisations grow their impact and strengthen their resilience.
It also calls on social investors and wholesale social investors to do more to understand the needs of LGBTQ+ organisations, improve signposting, offer appropriate support and strengthen the evidence base around access to finance.
