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What is the Social Finance Census 2010?
The Social Finance Census 2010 (#sfcensus) is an initiative to gather vital data on non-profits, charities, social enterprises, and social purpose businesses in order to build a strong profile of the sector.  The Census involves a set of surveys with basic and in-depth questions tailored specifically to issues of financing and regulation.

The Social Finance Census aims to:

• build a profile of innovative non-profits, social enterprises, and social purpose businesses in Ontario;
• determine the sector’s current sources of capital, its future capital needs, and the challenges it faces in accessing capital;
• determine the potential that exists to provide the sector with new and alternative forms of capital to foster the sector’s growth;
• analyze regulatory and resource barriers for development; and
• conduct a preliminary assessment of the sector’s measurement of its social and/or environmental impact.

Why is the Social Finance Census important?
There are many reasons why the Social Finance Census is important.  In its first year, it addresses an underlying gap: there is a fundamental lack of comprehensive, universal data on innovative non-profits, social enterprises, and social purpose businesses in Ontario.  Moving forward, the Census is important because it will provide a number of key benefits:

• provide the sector with data to support planning and coordination (internally and externally);
• demonstrate the size and operations of the sector to the public, government, and potential supporters; and
• ultimately, help to attract investment and talent to the sector.

Who is involved in the Social Finance Census?
The Census is a project of the Social Venture Exchange (SVX), a joint initiative of Social Innovation Generation (SiG) at MaRS, the TMX Group Inc., Causeway Social Finance, and the Government of Ontario.  A key collaborator on the project has been the Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) with grant support from The Law Foundation of Ontario.  In addition, we will also be working with SocialFinance.ca on the promotion of the survey and dissemination of results.

How can I participate in the Social Finance Census?
It is very easy to participate in the Census.  Simply click on the link below that applies to you and complete the survey.  The survey should take a maximum of 30 minutes to complete.

How can you help with the Social Finance Census?
There are three easy ways that you can help with the Social Finance Census:

• Fill it out: If you are an innovative non-profit, social enterprise, or social purpose business, please take a few minutes to complete the survey that matters to you.
• Promote it on your website or blog: You can post a link to this page on your website, post a blog item with the information above, or even download and post a small button, large button, or banner promoting the Census on your website or blog.
• Promote it on Twitter: Encourage innovative non-profits, social enterprises, and social purpose businesses to complete the survey by promoting the Census on Twitter using the hashtag #sfcensus, and by promoting links to the survey for non-profits (http://bit.ly/c1Ou8F) and social purpose businesses (http://bit.ly/ave9Z5).