Foresters Community Finance launched Social Investment Australia Ltd and the first of its Social Impact Investment Products in Melbourne on 14 April 2010. The launch was attended by the Federal Assistant Treasurer, Senator Hon. Nick Sherry with guest speaker Christopher Thorn, an Executive Director of JBWere.

Foresters Community Finance Ltd. (Foresters) is a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI). CDFI’s are independent socially focussed organisations that use community finance and social investment to service and support people, organisations and communities who are disadvantaged and underserved by mainstream financial institutions. Foresters has been delivering community finance and social investment in Australia for more than 150 years.

Foresters have established a wholly owned subsidiary company called Social Investment Australia Ltd (SIA). SIA holds an Australia Financial Services Licence (AFSL) enabling the company to design and develop social investment products for the wholesale investment market. The first of the social investment products launched by the company is the Social Impact Property Fund No1.

The Social Impact Property Fund No.1 will acquire a portfolio of property specifically to accommodate community organisations. Long term leases will provide security of tenure, locality in community and suitable premises from which to deliver programs and services. The option to purchase the property at lease maturity provides each community organisation with a long term goal to build capacity through asset ownership.

Through Social Investment Australia and the Social Impact Property Funds, Foresters will support asset ownership in turn building the sustainability of community sector organisations one balance sheet at a time.