a loan drawn as a lump sum or in several portions, for a set period of time with an agreed schedule of repayment. Once any part of the loan is repaid, it cannot be re-borrowed. 

offsets the risk to investors by offering a 30% tax relief on qualifying investments. It can be used by eligible social enterprises, charities and community businesses to raise patient, flexible and more affordable capital to support their trading activities.

a payment-by-results contract where social investors pay for an organisation to deliver a service - for example, helping homeless people to find a home - and the commissioner (typically government or local authority) repays the investors with interest if the service is successful unlike a conventional bond, they do not offer a fixed rate of return. See product types for more information. 

an investor which makes larger investments in funds or financial organisations (social investment finance intermediaries) that will themselves invest smaller amounts in a number of charities and social enterprises. Big Society Capital is the UK social investment wholesaler.

there is no one definition of the term or concept, but the social impact can be defined as the effect on people that happens as a result of an action or inaction, activity, project, programme or policy. The 'impact' can be positive or negative and can be intended or unintended, or a combination of all of these.

a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners. #SocEnt

is an agreement by an investor to provide capital to an enterprise up front, in return for an agreed portion of future revenue and/or profit.

a loan that is backed by property (in the case of a mortgage) or assets belonging to the borrower. This may be the property or asset that is being bought with the loan itself or other assets held by the organisation. If an organisation defaults on its debt, the lender can sell the asset to recoup, in full or in part, its loan. See product types for more information.

debt that takes priority over other unsecured or otherwise more junior (or subordinated) debt. In the event that the borrower organisation is wound up, senior debt theoretically must be repaid before other creditors receive any payment.

money that has been provided to you to use which you’ll need to return on certain terms at some time in the future.