The Communitybuilders Fund is investing a total of £2.5m in community organisations aiming to become more sustainable and independent.

Applications for the fund, which is managed by The Social Investment Business on behalf of the Adventure Capital Fund, open at midday on 11 June and closes on 3 August.

Organisations can apply for a minimum of £250,000 and a maximum of £750,000. Eighty per cent of funds will be loans and the remainder will be grants. 

Funding will be available to community organisations that have operated for at least a year and are trying to build their long-term financial viability and increase their ability to deliver social change.

The money can be used for property renovations and refurbishments, land or property purchases and related costs, the purchase of vehicles, IT equipment and fixtures and fittings.

Caroline Forster, deputy chief executive of the Adventure Capital Fund, said the investment was aimed at "established organisations, particularly those delivering services in areas of high deprivation or who have already raised financial contributions for their project".

She added: "Our vision is to help community organisations to eventually become commercially investable.

"We want to support those organisations that are looking to both expand and become more financially independent but who can’t currently access commercial loans."

Interested organisations can find more information on the Communitybuilders website: Click Here

Article published in Third Sector (7 June 2012): Click Here