Social enterprise: earning returns for society

For ABN AMRO, social enterprise is a key theme. That’s why we support social entrepreneurs with financial services and more. We offer them tailored credit solutions, put money of our own in social enterprises and use our procurement power to boost this market. And we work with a range of organisations to connect parties and expand the market for social enterprises.

What are social entrepreneurs?

Social entrepreneurs pursue a social goal with a profitable earnings model. In addition to financial profit, they primarily focus on social returns.

Investing in social enterprises

The ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund invests the bank’s own capital in growing companies that aim to accelerate the shift to a more sustainable and inclusive society. The fund invests amounts between 500,000 and 30 million euros in social enterprises focusing on the energy transition, the circular economy or social impact.

Social procurement

As a bank, we buy goods on a significant scale, and we can use that buying power to encourage social enterprise. By choosing to purchase goods and services from social enterprises, ABN AMRO supports multiple parties with a social mission, giving them more scope for growth.

Partnerships

ABN AMRO is one of the founding partners of Social Enterprise NL, the national platformfor social enterprises. With our expertise, we help affiliated entrepreneurs achieve their social ambitions. To that end, we regularly organise workshops on a range of topics, for example new forms of financing like crowdfunding.

Furthermore, ABN AMRO has teamed up with the charity Oranjefonds to start Social Finance NL, a new player in the Dutch market that will provide funding for social entrepeneurs through social impact bonds. The idea is to address social problems more effectively by bringing together governments, social investors and social enterprises, and by rewarding outcome rather than effort.

Impact through better education

On 1 September 2020 Tine de Moor was appointed Professor of Social Enterprise & Institutions for Collective Action at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM). ABN AMRO funds this chair, a joint initiative of Social Enterprise NL and RSM’s Business Society Management department. Professor de Moor’s research is about the establishment, operation and evolving role of social enterprises in our progress towards a more sustainable society.