Ontario launched its Impact social enterprise strategy to support the growth of its 10,000 social enterprises and create 1,600 new jobs. The $25 million strategy has four pillars: 1) connecting social enterprises through a new Office for Social Enterprise; 2) building their brand; 3) creating a vibrant social finance marketplace; and 4) delivering innovative supports. This includes new funding, legislation, procurement programs, and promoting platforms like Social Venture Connexion to help social enterprises access capital and scale their impact.

1. Bring Food Home Conference – November 2013
•
Ontario’s strategy to become
North America’s leading
jurisdiction for social
enterprise
•
A $25M investment in Ontario’s
social enterprise ecosystem
•
Support the creation of 1,600+
new jobs in the sector
•
Part of Ontario's Plan for Jobs
and Growth to support a
dynamic and innovative
business climate
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2. There are around 10,000 social
enterprises in Ontario.
Source: Social Economy Centre, University of Toronto
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3. What Do Social Enterprises Look Like?
Social Enterprise Sector
Charitable and
Not-for-Profit
Organizations
Social (Charitable)
For Profit, Social
Purpose Business
Revenue Generating,
Not-for-Profits
Outcomes
Traditional Business
Applying Corporate
Social
Responsibility
Financial (Commercial)
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4. 4

5. Ontario’s social enterprises employ more
than 160,000 people serving 3.4
million customers per year. They
create opportunities for the people they
work with and the communities they
serve.
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6. An Ontario Social Enterprise Chronology
2011
Expansion of
Ontario
Network of
Entrepreneurs
(ONE)
2007
SiG@MaRS
formed
2011
Partnership
Project
releases
report
2008
Ontario
Innovation
Agenda
2011
Social
Innovation
Summit and
Wiki
2012
Office for
Social
Enterprise
formed
2009
Social Finance
Task Force
releases
report
2013
Launch of
Impact - A
Social
Enterprise
Strategy for
Ontario
2008
Poverty
Reduction
Strategy
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7. Ontario's New Office for Social Enterprise
Created in
November 2012
Part of the Ministry of
Economic Development,
Trade & Employment
Connect and promote
Ontario’s social
entrepreneurs.
Work in and out of
government to support social
enterprises.
Attract more businesses to
deliver social good while
generating revenue for
Ontario.
Impact: A Social
Enterprise Strategy
for Ontario
Launched in September 2013
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8. Impact Strategy: The 4 Pillars
2.
BUILDING THE
SOCIAL
ENTERPRISE
BRAND
1.
CONNECTING,
COORDINATING
AND
COMMUNICATING
Office For
Social Enterprise
3.
CREATING A
VIBRANT SOCIAL
FINANCE
MARKETPLACE
4.
DELIVERING
INNOVATIVE
SUPPORTS AND
SOLUTIONS
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9. Pillar 1: Connecting, Coordinating, Communicating
• Collect baseline data on the sector, including job creation and economic
impact.
• Introduce legislation to enable the creation of “hybrid corporations.”
• Publish an annual report to track progress and identify areas for learning.
• Launch an Open for Business Roundtable process to identify and resolve
administrative and regulatory burdens.
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10. Pillar 2: Building the Social Enterprise Brand
• Host Impact Ontario in March 2014, in partnership with MaRS, SOCAP
and RBC to give international investors opportunities to connect with
Ontario's best and brightest social entrepreneurs.
• Launch SEOntario.org – a one stop information web portal where
entrepreneurs can access services and supports.
• Increase the reach of ONE, the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs, to
support and promote social enterprises.
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11. Pillar 3: Enabling a Vibrant Social Finance Marketplace
• Promoting the new Social Venture Connexion
(SVX), an online investment platform and the first
of its kind in North America.
• Pilot at least one Social Impact Bond (SIB) in partnership with
innovative service providers and impact investors.
• Launch the $4M Social Enterprise Demonstration Fund to pilot
social finance projects across the province.
• Make new social finance tools available, including crowdfunding.
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12. The Ontario Catapult Microloan Fund for Social Entrepreneurs
•
In January 2013, the Minister of Economic Development and Innovation approved a grant of
$250,000 to the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) to establish a pilot-scale Social Enterprise
Microloan Fund.
•
CSI leveraged $350,000 from private investors to implement and fully administer a $600,000
microloan fund (provides low-interest loans plus services and supports) to eligible Ontario-based
social enterprises.
•
Partners include:
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13. 13

14. Pillar 4: Delivering Services, Supports and Solutions
• Open government procurement processes to
social enterprises through a pilot program for
the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.
• Invest in Aboriginal social entrepreneurship.
• Work with impact investors and social finance
experts to address data gaps.
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15. Potential Social Enterprise Linkages
Entrepreneurs in agricultural sector may face similar challenges
as other social entrepreneurs. These issues may include:
o Access to capital
o Branding and awareness
o The need for flexible business models
We are working on two key initiatives to address these issues:
o Hybrid Legislation
o Marketing initiatives
o New Social Finance Tools

16. Find out more:
ontario.ca/socialenterprise
social.enterprise@ontario.ca
@OntarioSE
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