Social and Sustainable Capital

What Social and Sustainable Capital does

Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC) is a London-based, FCA-regulated social investment fund manager that provides flexible loan capital to UK charities and social enterprises. Founded in 2012 by former investment bankers Ben Rick (ex-Bank of America Merrill Lynch) and Adam Knight (ex-Goldman Sachs / Credit Suisse), the firm operates through Social and Sustainable Capital LLP (FCA number 588445) and the charitable SASC Trust Limited, with 51% of profits directed to the Social Investment Business Foundation.

SASC manages a multi-fund platform built around the social-housing thesis. Its product set comprises the Community Investment Fund (loans of £250K–£2M to community organisations), the Third Sector Investment Fund (flexible growth capital for charities), the flagship Social and Sustainable Housing (SASH) fund (£58m as of December 2020, targeting £100m to house 10,000 vulnerable people over 10 years), and SASC Bridge Finance (acquired September 2020 from Leapfrog Bridge Finance to expand into community renewables). The SASH product uses a proprietary structure that is neither a mortgage nor a lease, financing 100% of property purchase without fixed-term mortgage repayments and offering a refinance option at a 15% discount to market price after 10 years. The firm has invested in 54 organisations across the UK covering supported housing, homelessness, domestic abuse, mental health, financial inclusion, youth services, and community renewables.

SASC's business model is that of a specialist fund manager: it raises capital from UK foundations, trusts, and institutional investors (Big Society Capital, Garfield Weston, CCLA, Esmée Fairbairn, Tudor Trust, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Virgin Money Foundation) and lends to social sector borrowers via direct enterprise sales and sector referrals. Revenue derives from management fees, loan interest, and social-investment returns, while 51% of profits flow to the Social Investment Business Foundation. The firm has won multiple sector awards, including Asset Manager of the Year at the 2018 Better Society Awards, and continues to deploy capital through 2025–2026 with the SASH II Scotland programme and ongoing regional housing investments.

Name

Social and Sustainable Capital

Legal name

Social and Sustainable Capital LLP

Website

https://socialandsustainable.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC) is a London-based, FCA-regulated social investment fund manager providing flexible loan capital to UK charities and social enterprises serving vulnerable populations across housing, homelessness, mental health, domestic abuse, and community renewables.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Investment / Impact Fund Management

NAICS

Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investors, Nec (6799), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

SDG / Thematic Sustainable Investment Funds (FSANAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social Infrastructure Funds (Schools, Hospitals, Civic) (FSANAEAN), Core Infrastructure Funds (Transport, Social, Digital, Utilities) (FSANAEAA)

Keywords

• Social investment
• Charity lending
• Social housing finance
• Impact investing
• Fund management

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Social Investment Returns: SASC provides loans and investments to social sector organizations and earns returns on these investments. As a social enterprise, they generate revenue through interest on loans provided to charities and social enterprises. Their revenue comes from the financial returns on their investment portfolio while simultaneously creating social impact.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC) is a UK social investment fund manager that provides loans and bespoke financing to charities and social enterprises. It structures flexible capital—including a distinctive social housing product that funds 100% of property purchases without a conventional mortgage—to enable frontline organisations to grow their social impact.

Product overview

Social and Sustainable Capital operates as a social investment fund manager offering multiple investment funds to charities and social enterprises. The core products include: Community Investment Fund (CIF) providing term and bridge loans to community organisations; Third Sector Investment Fund (TSIF) for flexible capital to grow social impact; Social and Sustainable Housing (SASH) fund co-designed with borrower charities for property ownership; and SASC Bridge Finance (acquired from Leapfrog Bridge Finance) for short-term financing needs. The funds focus on housing, community renewables, and supporting vulnerable populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Investment Fund (CIF) Investment fund providing term loans and bridge loans (between £250,000 and £2 million) to community-based charities and social enterprises delivering essential services.
• Third Sector Investment Fund (TSIF) Investment fund providing flexible capital to third sector organisations to help them grow their social impact.
• Social and Sustainable Housing (SASH) Fund Housing fund that invests directly in frontline charities, allowing them to own transitional supported housing. Provides 100% property purchase finance without fixed-term mortgage-like repayments, with an option to refinance at a 15% discount to market prices after 10 years.
• SASC Bridge Finance Bridge financing for social sector organisations, focused on the community energy and renewables sector. Formerly Leapfrog Bridge Finance, acquired and rebranded by SASC.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000 people to be housed who are homeless or at risk through SASH fund
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Terrie Alafat CBEcoreOthersFormer Chief Executive of Chartered Institute of Housing with 30+ years housing experience. Appointed to SASC board to help grow housing fund and increase awareness of social investment benefits.
• Caroline PillaycoreOthersSenior partner at Airey Miller, Founder of Councils Building Homes Forum. Brings housing expertise and focus on evaluation and maximizing investment impact.
• Rachel HardycoreOthersCEO at Foresters Friendly Society with 20 years commercial experience. Appointed to board and chairs Finance, Audit and Risk committee.
• Sonali SiriwardenacoreOthersExecutive Director at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Global Sustainability Regulatory and Policy Lead. Board representative for Social Investment Business.
• Mark BillsboroughsupportingOthersHead of Renewable Sales and Trading at SSE Renewables. Expert in wind renewable investment valuation joining SASC's new Renewables Investment Committee.
• Louisa CilentisupportingOthersPartner at Lux Nova Partners specializing in clean energy financing. Recognized as leading lawyer in renewables sector by Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big Issue Invest: Social investment arm of The Big Issue Group providing loans and investments to UK social enterprises and charities. Operates similar impact-first fund model serving overlapping borrower segments.
• Resonance: UK impact investment fund manager running social and environmental impact funds (e.g. Resonance Impact First Investment Fund). Direct peer as a mission-driven fund manager targeting social enterprises.
• Charity Bank: UK ethical bank that lends exclusively to charities, social enterprises and community organisations. Direct competitor to SASC in providing loan capital to UK social sector borrowers, with comparable loan sizes and impact mandate.
• Social Investment Business (SIB): Provider of loans and grants to charities and social enterprises in the UK. SIB is also SASC's largest shareholder equivalent (51% profits flow to SIB Foundation) and an investor in SASC funds, making it both LP and direct counterpart.
• Venturesome (CAF): Social investment arm of the Charities Aid Foundation providing loans to charities and social enterprises. SASC Investment Manager Toyin Ogundana previously worked at Venturesome, evidencing direct role overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Big Society Capital: UK's largest social investment wholesaler and a key SASC investor. Operates broadly across the UK social investment market and acts as both LP and ecosystem leader, providing capital to many of SASC's competitors.
• Triodos Bank UK: European ethical/sustainable bank offering lending to charities, social enterprises and community organisations in the UK. Overlaps with SASC's mission and borrower base but operates a broader retail/commercial banking model.
• Unity Trust Bank: UK community-focused bank lending to charities, social enterprises and purpose-driven organisations. Comparable in mission and customer segment but operates a full banking licence rather than a fund manager model.

Emerging players

• Abundance Investment: UK platform for retail impact investment in community renewables and social infrastructure. Shares SASC's community renewables thesis (post-Leapfrog acquisition) and uses similar impact-investor LP base.

Regional players

• Power to Change: UK endowment-backed investor in community businesses, including co-investing alongside SASC in community energy projects like Gawcott Fields. Comparable in targeting community-led enterprises but operates via grants rather than loans.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SASCapital
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3963156

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments51 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Social and Sustainable Capital