Investment

Investment designed for impact-driven organizations.

Impact-adjusted investment.
We use an impact-adjusted investment framework that prioritizes social and environmental impact over financial returns.
Local specific.
We see through a local-specific lens—working with community partners to identify gaps and needs in the community—and fund homegrown solutions.
A variety of investment tools.
We use a variety of investment tools to ensure that the needs of all kinds of social enterprise can be met.

Our Local Funds

Victoria Propel Impact Fund
Meet the Team

Jamil

Fund Manager

I have a passion for sustainability, place-based investing, and connecting with my community. Everything we are trying to accomplish at the Victoria Propel Impact Fund blends perfectly with my skills, passions, and future goals

Mayukh

Fund Manager

I hope to prevent climate change and empowers business that can make a change on such issues while improving economic resiliency and poverty prevention.

Cassie

Fund Manager

Living on Vancouver Island, I have developed a greater appreciation for the natural world, and what can be done to restore and protect it. Growing up as a female athlete, I am passionate about fighting for gender equality across all sectors and supporting female empowerment by contributing to local female sports associations.

Lucas

Fund Manager

I was drawn to join the VIPIF due to my deep care for environmentalism and social justice. With my skills in financial analysis and experience working with Social Enterprises, I hope to help improve the Vancouver Island community with VIPIF.

Vancouver Propel Impact Fund
Meet the Team

Lianne

Fund Manager

Inspired by the power of social finance, Lianne is a commerce student who seeks to transform how organizations define investing success by emphasizing the importance of social and environmental returns. Lianne's experiences of working in education and with different Indigenous communities have equipped her with a unique life view that continues to influence her actions today. She is also excited to be working alongside a driven team of diverse students to support Vancouver's social purpose organizations.

Pranav

Fund Manager

Pranav is passionate about the application of scalable social enterprises on larger-scale problems in developing countries. He wants to explore impact investing as an opportunity to influence positive change in business cycles and serve as a catalyst for social innovation. He’s excited about getting involved with the local community in Vancouver through VPIF and further exploring this diverse city through the lens of the fund and its members.

Jaiya

Fund Manager

Jaiya is very curious about the way we measure impact. From a young age, she has been exposed and interested in the social impact / non-profit space. She is eager to connect with other sustainability leaders and innovators. Making a positive difference drives her, and she is grateful for this opportunity to work with the VPIF team.

Jasleen

Associate

Jasleen’s background, academics and professional experience culminate in a values–based approach to business - an approach where empathy and social returns precede profit. Her extensive experience with non-profits, particularly in the Downtown Eastside, inspired her to explore finance as a catalyst for social good. Now, she is eager to deepen her understanding of the social finance ecosystem while supporting Vancouver’s incredible social purpose organizations!

Shantanu

Associate

Passionate about the social aspect of finance and intrigued by how decisions must be made in uncertain environments, Shantanu is excited to bring his quantitative economics background and combine it with qualitative judgments to create tangible impact in Vancouver and beyond.

Ziyaan

Associate

Ziyaan Virji is an altruistic award-winning change-maker that has found purpose in creating social impact. He is the Founder and CEO of For The Menstruator, a global nonprofit he started when he was 15 and has gone on to empower over 14000 menstruators in 10 countries around the world. He has previously served on the board of Climate Cardinals and Helping Hands Tanzania. He is a renowned public speaker, sharing his story at events in 8 different countries including Tedx! His work has been featured on major publications namely BBC, DW, RTL, etc. He has won various accolades, including the Princess Diana Award, WAFF’s Global Teen Leader, Future 25Under25 and more!

Doris

Associate

Besides being on the back of a horse or on top of a kiteboard in Squamish, Doris is inspired by the potential capital has in shaping our society. As a second year at UBC Sauder, she is beyond excited to work with a group of like-minded peers and explore the intersection between social impact and finance.

Tareeq

Associate

Tareeq is in his third year at the University of British Columbia, and is pursuing a Dual Degree Program with a BA (Major in Psychology) and a Master of Management (MM) through the Sauder School of Business. He is particularly interested in learning about ways in which organizations are able to enhance and amplify their positive impact at both a local and global scale. With extensive fundraising experience in the area of poverty alleviation, Tareeq is passionate about creating meaningful social change and is looking forward to working with the VPIF team to achieve this goal.

Shaan

Associate

The social good — or the idea of leaving each community better than he found it — has long been a guiding principle in Shaan’s life. As a volunteer, he’s had the opportunity to gain perspective on the socio-economic inequalities present in our world. As an academic, he’s developed an analytical skillset to examine these issues. As an associate, he aims to apply what he’s learned in the classroom and seen outside of it to make the world a better place.

Fund Portfolio
Calgary Propel Impact Fund
Meet the Team

Zain

Fund Manager

I have a passion for sports having played rugby, wrestling, cross-country, track & field, and most importantly basketball as I am a huge Raptors fan. I also enjoy traveling and helping others. I have spent a year abroad teaching English, and am currently serving as the VP of Finance at a nonprofit organization.

Tahir

Fund Manager

I am passionate about applying my skills and education to create meaningful social, economic, and environmental change in the Calgary community. I am inspired by the shift towards impact investing in finance and hoping to create a brighter future for vulnerable communities through the CPIF.

Jessica

Fund Manager

I am incredibly excited to join the CPIF and contribute all that I can to the community. Enacting systemic change to create positive impact starts with empowering grassroots organizations and I cannot wait to do so with my team in Calgary.

Amyra

Associate

Determined to give back to the community by using her educational background in finance to make a positive change in her local community. I hope to create impactful change and fulfill my social responsibility by focusing on impact investing and driving social change.

Vincent

Associate

"Passionate about finding new ways to implement technology and finance to create a shift for a more positive and sustainable future. He is excited to join CPIF to learn more about social organizations around Calgary and how to use the skills he learned in class to make a difference."

Anh (Edina)

Associate

“The only way to impact change is to move investment capital to companies that are doing good things”. I am very excited to actively engage in positive social changes with such a knowledgeable and driven team, who I can learn so much from. I am also interested in psychotherapy, social and developmental psychology, and spirituality. Besides, I extremely enjoy connecting with other like-minded people, and I look forward to my time at CPIF!

Kiyomi

Associate

“A finance student with a long tenure at a typical financial institution, I’m honoured to join this team and shift the focus from profit-only, to people-first in the business space. With a particular passion for psychology and the mental health struggles Canadian face, I look forward to making an impact in my local community and furthering the influence of socially aware investing.”

Nur

Associate

I am passionate about social finance as a means to create positive impact in our society. I am excited to work with social entrepreneurs and like-minded individuals to address local issues and allocate funds to organizations that are building resilient and sustainable communities for future generations. Through the Calgary Propel Impact Fund, I hope to develop and apply my skills in the impact investing space and sustainable business practices.

Fund Portfolio
London Propel Impact Fund
Meet the Team

Natasha

Fund Manager

Natasha is a student at Western University studying in the Global Development Studies and Business program. She is excited to learn more about the intersection of finance and social impact while generating a tangible impact in the London community.

Firuza

Fund Manager

Ever since working as a Youth Marketing Assistant with the Canadian Mental Health Association in 2020, I have been passionate about supporting socially-aware ventures in the London Community. Some of my professional interests include digital marketing, corporate social responsibility, ESG, and economic development. Talk to me about music, bubble tea, and sailing!

Anna

Associate

Anna has always been passionate about understanding how she can create a positive impact. During her first two years at Western University, she also began to develop an interest in finance, and became curious about exploring the intersections between sustainability and finance. Through joining the London Propel Impact Fund, Anna hopes to give back to the London community while learning how to be a sustainable investor.

Labiba

Associate

Labiba is an Ivey HBA 2023 candidate who spent her first two years of university studying Health Sciences. She is passionate about creating healthier and more connected communities and looks forward to developing her skills within the social impact space to support those in London and beyond.

Venkateshwaran

Associate

Venkat is a student at Western University studying Political Science and Business program at the Ivey School of Business. Venkat has always been immersed in the social impact space and is excited to learn more about the crossover between finance and social impact as an associate in the London Propel Impact Fund!

Shivansh

Associate

Shivansh is a student at Western University studying in the Business program. Shivansh is passionate about social entrepreneurship and finance. He is eager to apply his skills and knowledge to grow and advance social entrepreneurship and be an impetus towards social change. Shivansh is looking forward to collaborating with entrepreneurs, finance professionals and change-makers to drive innovation for social good.

Duomi

Associate

Hi! My name is Duomi and I am a student at Western University studying International Relations and Business. Some of my social interests include access to education, gender parity, and sustainable consumption. I’m excited to learn more about social finance and make an impact in the London community!

Arshi

Associate

Arshi is an HBA 2024 candidate at Ivey Business School. She is passionate about sustainability and is excited to develop new skills that enable her to create an impact in the communities that she is a part of. In her free time, she enjoys exploring art and fashion. Arshi wishes to pursue a career in finance or consulting, or start her own business.

Kingston Propel Impact Fund
Meet the Team

Helen

Fund Manager

Helen's previous volunteer and extracurricular experiences have instilled her love of giving back to the community and creating a positive impact. She is eager to collaborate with her team of like-minded students to enact meaningful change within Kingston.

Shaynah

Fund Manager

Shaynah is a student at Smith School of Business, with a growing passion for the intersection between community work and finance. She is undoubtedly present in the social work industry and looks forward to further involvement during her education at Queen's. In her free time, Shaynah is inclined towards creative work such as video editing.

Jessica

Fund Manager

Jessica is completing a Bachelor of Commerce at the Smith School of Business. Driven by a passion for social impact and a keen interest in finance, Jessica is delighted to be a part of the Kingston Propel Impact Fund. She is eager to learn within the evolving impact investing space and make a difference in the community.

Ethan

Fund Manager

Ethan is a student at the Smith School of Business who is driven by making change and finding solutions. He is always looking for new and exciting opportunities to gain learning experiences. Impact work has been something that has been part of his life for as long as he can remember. That is why the Kingston Propel Impact Fund brings an exciting opportunity where he is looking to merge his interest in finance and his lifelong commitment to making change.

Yash

Fund Manager

Yash is a commerce student at Queen's University. She is passionate about bringing together the world of business and social impact and aims to work towards the unique needs of the Kingston community. Outside of the fund, she was a first-year representative for Queen's Helping Haiti and the Finance Intern for Queen's residence society. In her free time, she is an avid reader and loves to sink her teeth into a good puzzle.

Emman

Associate

Emman is a student at the Smith School of Business. Propelled by her previous volunteering and extracurricular initiatives, she plans on being a part of creating change for the Kingston community alongside exploring her interest in finance. She is thrilled for the opportunity to collaborate with her fellow peers as well as learn about the advances of impact investing. She is especially interested in the implementation tactics of impact investing and how it addresses ESG and the business environment.

Ashton

Associate

Ashton is interested in the intersection of social innovation and finance, which led him to get involved with the Kingston Propel Impact Fund. He is excited to create change within the broader Kingston community and to take a deeper look at investing through a social purpose lens.

Tess

Associate

Tess grew up in Ottawa with five siblings and is now a third-year student at the Smith School of Business. Tess believes that joining the KPIF was the perfect way to merge both of her passions: social work and finance. She is eager to make a difference in other’s lives and believes that leveraging her background in finance is the best way to create meaningful social progress. In her free time, Tess enjoys; playing sports, reading history books, and practicing the piano.

Ottawa Propel Impact Fund
Meet the Team

Marie

Fund Manager

Being a part of the Ottawa Propel Impact Fund has made me more confident in my presentation skills and has taught me how to leverage my business skills to help my community. In just a short time, I have seen that businesses can be both profitable and create positive impact.

Adam

Fund Manager

I saw OPIF as an opportunity to help revive the community and jump start the enthusiastic energy students once had for Ottawa. I have already learned so much about impact investing, but I hope to learn more and use my skills to support the amazing people of Canada’s capital.

Rahul

Fund Manager

I joined OPIF because I wanted to make an impact in my new home beyond the world of politics and policy. OPIF has provided me with a hands -on opportunity to become involved with the community.

Jadon

Associate

OPIF provides me with the opportunity to work with people and firms making a difference in my community. I am passionate about finding ways to employ business skills to support businesses paving the way to sustainability social change."

Montreal Propel Impact Fund
Meet the Team

Ananda

Fund Manager

Inspired by the collaboration of finance and social impact used to find ethical and moral solutions to diverse challenges.

Grace

Fund Manager

Passionate about deploying financial capital to create positive social and environmental impacts and driven to find solutions to inequalities in business and the greater community.

Mizan

Fund Manager

Passionate about exploring diverse ways to create positive social and environmental change through sustainable business and impact investing.

Djameel

Associate

Driven to steer sustainable change in the community by harnessing the power of capital. Dedicated to bridge the gap between market orientations and more comprehensive social functions.

Tanguy

Associate

Inspired by impact investment as a mechanism for social and environmental change and driven to build resilience within communities.

Anthony

Associate

I am a Concordia finance student who is passionate about impact investing and having a positive impact through business. One day, I hope to start my own impact investing firm. I am a simple person that enjoys spending time with my family and assisting those in need.

Antonia

Associate

Passionate about creating alternatives for sustainable impact and lifestyle. Motivated to find solutions for environmental equality on a greater scale.

Roy

Associate

Roy is a third-year Strategic Management major at McGill University. He developed a passion for sustainability through the Integrated Management Student Fellowship wherein he worked to improve the Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives at Desautels. He loves to play and talk about sports in his free time and is looking forward to contributing positively to the MPIF this year.

Rudi

Associate

I’m a second-year student at the Desautels faculty and I am doing a double concentration in Managing for Sustainability and Strategic Management. I believe it is necessary to lead the economy in a new direction. I do not agree with the classical economic theories and the conception of capitalism that have frontally opposed business and society, which considers the effort of companies to build a sustainable world as a cost without benefit, a burden for which they have no responsibility. I am passionate about reconciling financial performance and sustainable development by financing local businesses with a positive ethical, social and environmental impact.

Fund Portfolio

What drives us?

Right now, the impact investing landscape excludes a ton of financially viable and truly impactful organizations. We want to change that. Our goal is to support impact-driven organizations that don't fit into the neat boxes constructed by traditional investment funds and lenders. We prioritize impact, focus on overlooked sectors and business models, and cannot wait to work with you.

Who do we fund?

It really depends—but it's always good to look to the past:

FAQ

What kind of companies do you invest in?
Local Propel Impact funds invest in a wide range of impact-driven organizations including early-stage impact ventures, nonprofits and charities, SMEs, co-ops, and social enterprises. While local Propel Impact funds may have thematic preferences based on the most pressing issues in the region, the funds are theme-agnostic and have invested in organizations in education, climate, circular economy, arts and culture, sustainable oceans, employment-based social enterprise, and much more.
What does a typical investment look like?
Propel Impact funds typically invest between $25,000 - $70,000 in impact-driven organizations. This investment can be in the form of equity (SAFEs, common shares, preferred shares), debt (term loans, impact-adjusted loans), and hybrid vehicles (convertible notes, revenue-based financing agreements). Local funds are not involved in grantmaking and while debt investments may be concessionary in-nature, they do not make zero-interest loans.
How long does the investment process take?
From the first conversation through to making an investment, Propel Impact funds strive for an 8-10 week investment process, with multiple checkpoints throughout the process
How can I get in-touch to inquire about an investment?
Take a look at our local fund pages to reach out!

Get in
touch

We thrive on feedback. We want to learn how we can best support you. We love connecting. So, get in touch.
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