That the Board of Imagine Canada welcome the release of the Report of the Task Force on Social Finance entitled Mobilizing Private Capital for Public Good and the discussion it will stimulate amongst charities, financial organizations, government and the public around the important issues related to financing and investing for social purposes. We particularly welcome the reports recommendation in support of greater access by charities and nonprofits to government programs that support small enterprise development.

“The Board of PFC welcomes the discussion stimulated by the Report of the Task Force on Social Finance on issues of financing the charitable and nonprofit sector. PFC is committed to working with other philanthropic support organizations to promote member education and information-sharing on mission and program-related investing with the goal of increasing charitable resources for the benefit of the community and the public good.”

Cardus has been working on a variety of research and education projects that support the growth of Canada’s civic core of individuals and institutions.

The seven recommendations in Mobilizing Private Capital for Social Good range from mission-related investments(MRIs) to new bond instruments and represent a substantive exploration of the financial structures needed to serve Canada’s changing civic core. There is room within these proposed plans for a wide range of institutions to participate and collaborate.

Cardus supports this initiative as a substantial contribution to the social economy project in Canada. All levels of government labour under financial strain and finding ways to increase the health of public finances and the common good is very important for all Canadians.

Regular fund-raising is drying up.. We must find innovative ways to fund important work around social and environmental issues. The current system does not work...Other countries are far ahead of Canada and in a country with our resources, it really doesn't have to be so.

Congratulations on the release of the Canadian Task Force on Social Finance. I was delighted to see the Community Bonds recognized as a key strategy for unleashing the potential of social finance. Also, extremely pleased about the target of 10% of foundation investments being social investments. We have come a long way in a short period of time and the report does a great job of summing it all up....

Very soon, our focus will shift to building the capacity for new entrepreneurs to actually start changing the world... inevitably, these investors will need something to invest in and it will be up to the social entrepreneurs to give them some 'fine' investments. Indeed, we are heading in the right direction.

It is Canada's opportunity. Let's be bold and take leadership.

Our team at Rain City is working very hard each and very day to create social ventures and help build this new patient economy. The CTFSF is exactly what is need to help guide the development and growth of social enterprises. We are fully supportive of anything that makes our efforts easier and accomplishments sweeter. Thank you for taking the lead and rising to the challenge. This is the only way we can make progress.

I commend you and your team for the Task Force Report, which I have circulated to colleagues at the Community Foundation of Ottawa.

As someone who has championed dedicated financial services for community organizations, it is most encouraging to see your new approach emerge so clearly and forcefully.

While government must do its part, the Task Force model distributes the responsibility over many agents, making it much easier for governments to act and demonstrating that market actors as well as charities and nonprofits are not only taking responsibility but driving the way forward.

Thank you for your efforts and good luck with all the next steps.

Global Agents works to connect emerging leaders to groundbreaking solutions to global poverty - part of our work involves seed stage venture philanthropy for entrepreneurial projects.

The recommendations presented by the taskforce present an solid framework, and advance an important conversation about building the infrastructure needed for socially motivated investment to connect with ventures that will help define a new, sustainable economy.

Reflecting the tone of this report, we too feel that the critical next steps involve "unlocking" existing capital sources, while building the absorptive capacity of the sector. There is ample space for a variety of organizations and individuals to play a role, and we congratulate you on the release of this important contribution to the sector.

Congratulations! The Social Task Force Report is a wonderful contribution and should give a huge boost to the development of a vibrant social enterprise sector. Thank you for all your hard work behind the scenes. The Steering Committee of ONN also asks that your convey to the task force members our thanks for their work on these issues and the clear recommendations they made. If there is anything ONN can do to assist with conveying or supporting these recommendations to government and others please call on us. Thank you again for this excellent report.

Many thanks to those involved in the creation of the Canadian Task Force on Social Finance report: Mobilizing Private Capital for Public Good. The work lays the groundwork of relationships and architecture for bringing social finance to bear for the sake of building a better world.

The pressures on our social systems, energy demands, financial system distress, mounting sovereign debt, and environmental realities, are becoming increasingly obvious and understood by a growing number of people. Without a clear idea of what can be done we are left hopeless and without a way forward.

The report fills the gap.It provides a road map and stepping stone to the next generation of organization, social innovation, and regeneration. This being the case, the Task Force’s report is a critical work.

Excellent report! A clear path to financing innovation and social change in this country!

In a private survey I conducted with CharityVillage for the charitable sector in 2008, "Strengthening Organizational Capacity", 96% of respondents strongly agreed they need to explore new ways of accessing sufficient capital to achieve their goals. The seven recommendations in Mobilizing Private Capital for the Public Good present a clear and concise vision of what needs to be done.

CFC commends the Canadian Task Force on Social Finance for its leadership and the call to action made in its report, "Mobilizing Private Capital for Public Good.

Recognizing the growth of mission-related investing in the foundation sector and the opportunity it offers foundations to mobilize more of their assets in support of their mission, CFC encourages its members to consider implementing recommendation 1 made by the Canadian Task Force on Social Finance: that Canadian public and private foundations should invest 10% of their capital in mission-related investments by 2020 and report annually to the public on their activity.

It is time for government regulation and Canada's financial industry to catch up to the innovation and creativity found in social entreprise. Home Ownership Alternatives, as a leading non-profit financial company investing in affordable housing endorses the recommendations of the Canadian Task Force on Social Fnance.