A new program helping impact-led organisations grow their impact and drive better, bolder outcomes for Queenslanders, with the right tools, knowledge, and funding to power their next step.

Sefa Partnerships have joined forces with Hand Heart Pocket Foundation
to give impact-led organisations the opportunity to: 

Build your capacity to
do more good

targeted towards becoming ‘loan-ready’.

We’ll work together to strengthen your
operational and financial foundations.

Access flexible
loan finance

giving you the cash injection you need to stabilise or grow your business.

loans of $50K-200k available.

Who is Backing the Bold for?

Backing the Bold is designed for impact-led organisations addressing social or environmental issues that impact people in Queensland, that are ready to grow and meet the following criteria…

  • You are an impact-led organisation: You run a social enterprise, charity, not-for-profit, or purpose-driven business that exists to create better outcomes for Queenslanders. 

  • You're based in Queensland or your work benefits Queenslanders : Your organisation is either located in Queensland or delivers products or services that create impact for people in Queensland. 

  • You generate income through trade: We prioritise organisations with a commercial business model, ideally earning at least 20–30% of your revenue from selling products or services. 

  • You’ve got a team or a plan to grow: You’ve got a team or a plan to grow: whether that’s a small team, co-founders, or active advisors who are committed to strengthening your organisation’s financial sustainability and can engage fully in the capability-building support. Note: We don’t work with sole traders unless there’s a clear plan to transition into a company structure.

We’re here to support organisations on their journey, and we assess applications on a case-by-case basis. But to ensure we can help you grow through this program, we do look for signs of traction and growth potential, including your financial performance to date: 

  • You're earning revenue and building momentum: You can show increasing revenue over the past 1–3 years and are starting to demonstrate demand for your work. 

  • You're showing signs of financial sustainability: Your profits are either positive or getting better, ideally around $50,000, which suggests you could be ready to take on repayable finance.

What happens after my EOI is accepted?

2. Onboarding Phase

What to expect once your EOI is accepted: 

  1. Receive Assessment Outcome: After reviewing your application and assessment call, we’ll determine whether your organisation is a good fit for the program. If suitable, you’ll be assigned one of three support pathways: High, Medium, or Low Touch. Whether you progress or not, we’ll schedule a findings call within two weeks to walk you through our assessment, share feedback, and discuss next steps. 

  2. Kick-off and Welcome: We’ll first confirm your project timeline based on your availability. You’ll then attend a kick-off session where you’ll meet your Program Manager, agree on your tailored scope of support, and sign your Letter of Engagement to formally begin the capability building process. 

  1. Assessment Phase

What to expect once your EOI is accepted: 

  1. Complete Full Application: You’ll be asked to complete a more detailed application form covering your organisation’s growth plans, financials, and operations. This should take around 20-30 minutes. 

  2. Assessment Call Scheduled: Within a week of receiving your completed application, our team will contact you to schedule a 60-minute assessment call, where we’ll dive deeper into your organisation’s current capabilities and future plans. 

  3. Participate in Assessment Call: You’ll meet virtually with our team to share further context on your business model, team, and growth strategy. 

  4. Additional Supporting Documents: After the call you may be asked to share additional documents such as financial forecasts, team structure, or board information to support your application. 

3. Capability Building Process 

What to expect during your tailored support program: 

  1. Weekly Coaching Sessions: Join weekly calls with your Program Manager to work through capability-building topics.

  2. (Estimated commitment: 1–2 hours per week) 

  3. Offline Exercises: Between coaching sessions, you’ll complete practical exercises that help build your internal capacity and develop deliverable to add to your investment readiness profile.

  4. (Estimated commitment: 2–4 hours per week) 

  5. Post-Program Assessment: At the end of your program, we’ll assess whether your organisation is ready to move into due diligence and the loan application process. 

  6. Final Readiness Outcome: If you're ready, you’ll begin the loan application process. If more time is needed, you’ll be supported with feedback and may have up to 12–18 months to strengthen your position before reassessment. 

What’s included in the program?

Apply for
Backing the Bold now

Submit your Expression of Interest for the Backing the Bold program now! Tell us more about your organisation, its mission and your growth plans to apply.