Hello from our CEO Summer 2021

It’s the end of another interesting year for everyone and this upcoming break will be important to rest, reflect and start recharged into the New Year, whatever it may bring.

Whilst there was a pandemic storm around us, Sefa’s core remained ‘on purpose’. Over the last three months we have been in full swing of delivering much needed capability strengthening under the Social Sector Transformation Fund. On the capital side, we are absolutely thrilled that we were able to complete the new building for Jarjum’s indigenous pre-school in Lismore, NSW - after a journey over five years across three members of Sefa’s Social Finance team and partnerships with philanthropy, government and a Commonwealth entity for a blended capital outcome.

Sefa Partnerships kicked early-stage venture goals with the milestone 10th year of the Kick Starter business plan and mentoring program supported by the Macquarie Group Foundation. Three amazing enterprises Travengers AU, Need a Tutor and Plastic Link received special recognition for their work with small grants supporting their pathway into the future.

We also invested in our growing fabulous team: we spent a full day with The Culture Equation to explore our individual ‘geniuses’ that bring the best out of the Sefa collective every day and had a fun Christmas party making dumplings – though there might be some capability building required on folding techniques…. If you are curious who else has joined the Sefa squad, check out the latest team member Q&A with Max.

Despite the constantly changing world around us, there was time to pause and celebrate in 2021. We looked back on Sefa’s 10 years since inception out of the Social Enterprise Development and Investment Funds (SEDIF) initiative and Sefa Partnerships’ creation 5 years ago. I have been with Sefa for over seven years and seeing some of our clients such as Tender Funerals, MiHaven and Nightingale Housing thrive has been an absolute privilege for me. You will find their stories and our own alongside many other client, partner and investor spotlights in our 10 Year Anniversary Impact Report.

These celebratory achievements together with the pleasing result towards financial sustainability in our latest Annual Report set Sefa up for further success, where capability meets capital to unlock social impact. But we are not the only busy ones. We see much activity in the sector, with new impact funds launching and programs starting. The reach of purpose-driven work broadens and attracts additional brainpower to wicked social issues. If you or someone you know would be a valuable force for purpose, we are expanding with three exciting roles across our Social Finance and Engagement teams.

Sefa and Sefa Partnerships wish you and your loved ones a well-deserved time out and look forward to embarking on our next decade together with you in 2022.

Hanna

CEO, Sefa Ltd