About us

About Us

Charities need both income (to cover day-to-day activities) and capital investment, to help manage cash flow as well as to invest in growth, innovation or development. Many struggle to generate sufficient reserves to cover their own capital needs. Venturesome provides capital, in the form of unsecured loans, underwriting and equity-like investments, in order to help charities deliver on their mission.

Since we began in 2002, our aims have been to:

• pilot and promote an investment model in which financial risk is balanced against potential social impact
• help individual organisations with their capital funding needs
• build a ‘social investment’ marketplace in which capital is used more efficiently

We have built our track record by offering over £22m to some 280 charities and social enterprises. In doing so, we have gained a reputation for innovation and customer service. To date, the recycling rate of funds invested has exceeded expectations, at around 96%.

Meet the Team:

Ann Lunan is Venturesome’s Operations Administrator.  She is responsible for accounts, committees and general administration in support of the team.   Following a long career in book and magazine publishing, Ann entered the charity sector to work for Diabetes UK after which she volunteered at Macmillan Cancer Support.  Contact Ann at alunan@cafonline.org

Casey Lord is a Senior Investment Manager. She is responsible for overseeing the investing of each of Venturesome’s funds and the management of the team. Previously, Casey has worked in grantmaking and microfinance both in the UK and overseas. Casey has a BSc in Mathematics and is a trustee of the Bootstrap Company in Hackney. Contact Casey at clord@cafonline.org

Dharisha Mirando is an Investment Analyst. She is responsible for making social investments in suitable charities and social enterprises and managing a portfolio of these organisations. Before joining Venturesome, Dharisha completed an MSc in Development Studies at LSE, prior to which she worked in the microfinance sector with PlaNet Finance in South Africa, and VisionFund in Sri Lanka. Contact Dharisha at dmirando@cafonline.org

Isabel Newman is an Investment Executive.  She is responsible for making and managing a portfolio of social investments, with a specific focus on impact measurement.  Prior to joining Venturesome, Isabel worked in international grant making at Comic Relief, having completed an Msc in Globalisation and Development at SOAS.  Contact Isabel at inewman@cafonline.org

Holly Piper is an Investment Manager.  She leads the management and development of the CAF Social Impact Fund, as well as making and managing a portfolio of social investments.  Holly previously worked at the management consultancy firm Oliver Wyman, specialising in the retail sector.  She has a degree from the University of Cambridge and a MSc in Political Science and Political Economy from LSE. Contact Holly at hpiper@cafonline.org

Stephanie Sturrock is the Director of Social Investment.  She is responsible for all social investment at CAF, including Venturesome.  Prior to joining Venturesome Stephanie was CEO of Seachange, a social enterprise working in coastal communities in North Yorkshire.  She was previously the Managing Director of Shared Interest and has held board level positions in the social investment field, charities and the NHS.  Contact Stephanie at ssturrock@cafonline.org