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Guides

10 Aug 2023

Outcomes funds: Explained

By Centre for Social Impact

This guide explains what an outcomes fund is and how it works. An outcomes fund brings together funding from different sources and pays organisations based on the results they achieve. The guide outlines who is involved and how these funds are set up and managed.

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Summary

This piece shares the fundamentals of outcomes funds and helps you gain a clear understanding of how they work. It includes an easy-to-follow article and a link to a 40-min recorded webinar. Topics covered include:

  • What is an outcomes fund
  • What are the key characteristics of an outcomes fund
  • What are the benefits of creating an outcomes fund
  • What is pay-for-performance or pay for success in social impact outcomes?
  • How do you develop an outcomes fund?
  • What is the role of government in an outcomes fund?
  • What’s the link between an impact bond and an outcomes fund?
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