The University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh has strategically allocated its endowment to create social impact.

Key stats

  • £1bn

    Total investments the University of Edinburgh has under management

  • £8m

    Amount currently allocated for social impact investment

  • 2021

    Year by which its endowment will be the largest in the UK free of fossil fuel investment

Approach

The University plans to allocate £8 million for social impact investment. In recent years, Edinburgh has made commitments to four social impact funds managed by; Big Issue Invest, Social and Sustainable Capital and Social Investment Scotland. All these investments are intended to make investments locally and contribute to social and economic prosperity of the city and surrounding area.

  • The University’s first step was a commitment of £1 million to Big Issues Invest’s Social Enterprise Investment Fund II, investing in social enterprises and charities tackling issues such as homelessness, financial inclusion and youth unemployment. At the time, it was the largest financial investment made by a UK university.

    Since, the University has gone on to make a £1 million commitment over a five-year period to Social Investment Scotland’s Social Growth Fund, which provides flexible loan and equity finance for social enterprises and charities and Scotland.

  • In May 2019, the University committed a further £1 million to Social and Sustainable Capital’s housing fund, providing loans to small and medium size charities that support vulnerable people.

    The University is also a key funder of the £1 million Big Issue Invest Power Up Scotland programme, supporting social enterprise start-ups across Scotland with loans and mentoring.

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