Behind every successful social enterprise is a founder willing to challenge the status quo. These are the people tackling complex social, environmental and economic issues with innovative solutions that create lasting impact. Yet for many purpose-driven organisations, turning a bold idea into a sustainable enterprise remains one of the greatest challenges they face.
Many social entrepreneurs struggle to access the right combination of support, capability-building and finance needed to scale their impact. Traditional funding models often don't align with the realities of purpose-led businesses, leaving promising ventures caught between philanthropy and commercial finance.
This is where innovative approaches like Sefa's "Backing the Bold" program are helping to reshape the landscape.
Following a highly successful start creating impact for Queenslanders, Backing the Bold is expanding to create social impact across Australia, with the Paul Ramsay Foundation (PRF) joining inaugural funder Hand Heart Pocket to support its next chapter.
Backing the Bold is the first program in Australia to combine tailored capability support with access to loan finance. It helps impact-led organisations strengthen their operational and financial foundations so they can confidently take on investment.
For many impact organisations, finance from mainstream lenders is out of reach, so having the support to become truly investment-ready with pathways to fit-for-purpose capital can help them go from simply surviving to creating sustainable impact at scale.
The early results from Backing the Bold demonstrate the power of this approach. Entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds are gaining the clarity and confidence to grow their operations and deliver better outcomes for their customers and communities.
Backing the Bold gives impact-led organisations the tools, know-how, and funding to grow their impact and deliver better outcomes for Australians.
Applications for the current intake close on 19 June 2026.
