Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) are partnerships between private corporations and government bodies or non-profit organizations. It is a funding opportunity for projects of social concern. Increasingly throughout the last decade, non-profit organizations and governments alike have looked for more effective ways to fund their endeavors through collaborations with the private sector. There are several types of PPPs that vary based on the level of involvement of the private sector. These are direct partnerships, indirect or a mix of both.

 

Recently, a call for proposals for innovative social finance projects was announced by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). This proposal, entitled The Social Finance Initiative Accelerator, is based on combining the efforts of social entrepreneurs, not-for-profit organizations and the private sector to produce projects that tackle persistent social issues.

This brief report discusses the Social Finance Initiative Accelerator call for proposals, identifies the implications for WICI as a non-for-profit organization and evaluates the process for pursuing this opportunity. Additionally, this report provides a quick overview on PPPs from the perspective of non-profit organizations and ends by providing suggestions and recommendations for the future.