British Venture Capital Association includes social venture in their picture of the spectrum for the first time

1. The above diagram is intended to show the top-level spectrum of activity where venture capital and private equity firms can get involved in sustainability, social investment and philanthropic activities. At the left hand end is the mainstream private equity community where issues of sustainability are becoming increasingly relevant in terms of the core investment remit. Moving through the middle of the spectrum are more specialist organisations looking to use various commercial / semi-commercial models to address particular social or environmental issues. At the right hand end are more philanthropic initiatives (where the expected ‘return’ is purely social). In terms of how private equity firms can get involved, the left hand end of the spectrum has greatest relevance in terms of day-to-day investment activity, the right hand end is of relevance in terms of optimising the impact of CSR and philanthropic initiatives. The Spectrum of Private Equity Involvement COMMERCIAL DRIVERS SOCIAL / PHILANTHROPIC DRIVERS Commercial Investment in Social / Environmental Sectors Community Development Venture Capital Social Enterprise Investment / Social Venture Capital Venture Philanthropy / Charitable Initiatives VC / Social Specialist VC Social / VC Philanthropy Mainstream VC Environmental sustainability, CSR and SRI considerations for Mainstream VC and PE Investors