About

About

Si3 (Social Impact Investment in Israel) is UJIA’s innovative initiative that is changing Israel-focused philanthropy. Si3 uses a cutting-edge approach to drive social change in Israel and creatively engage funders in the UK who have not previously directed their philanthropic efforts towards Israel. Si3 funds projects that provide high value social impact and a financial return to better advance UJIA’s social mission to strengthen vulnerable communities in Israel. To leverage your giving to create extraordinary impact as well as to recycle capital, the educational, employment and community development endeavors in which Si3 invests, must repay the investments made in them, and their projects must be scalable and replicable. Si3 is a bold new face of Israeli philanthropy.

To date, Si3 has invested in twelve social impact projects from among 250 applicants, in areas like urban regeneration, micro-finance and other endeavors that are successfully tackling stubborn social issues among Israel’s most vulnerable communities, including Ethiopian, Bedouin, Ultra-Orthodox and children with disabilities. Si3 is the most active Jewish community-led impact investment portfolio in the Israel ecosystem, and it is generating an evergreen pool of capital for social change.

To see how Si3 works, please watch the short animation below:

Why

UJIA established Si3 to invest in organisations in Israel that generate sustainable, measurable and beneficial social impact (SRI) alongside a financial return (ROI). Its target investment areas align with that of the UJIA’s: improving education, generating employment and developing communities. Impact investment of this nature represents a revolution in how the Diaspora gives to, and engages with Israel. It provides donors with the opportunity to participate in Israel’s burgeoning social impact investment scene while leveraging their donations to do more good. Si3 also creates a deeper connection between British Jews and Israel by creating an extraordinarily positive impact on Israel’s most disadvantaged populations.

What

Si3 is UJIA’s innovative approach to philanthropy in Israel. Social impact investment involves the use of repayable finance (debt or equity) to achieve a social as well as financial return. Si3 invests in entrepreneurs, organisations and initiatives across asset classes in Israel that aim to generate a sustainable, measurable and beneficial social impact alongside financial return. Si3 generates an evergreen pool of capital: every pound raised is not only invested in a project delivering social and educational benefits in Israel, but is reinvested by UJIA when the project yields a financial return. In this way, Si3 leverages every philanthropic pound to go further to enable UJIA to achieve its social mission in Israel.

How

Si3 is a platform for broader cross-generational engagement in Israeli philanthropy. UJIA works diligently to identify enterprises that improve the lives of those in Israel who need it most. Selected initiatives receive financial investment, professional assistance from UJIA staff and guidance from British business professionals. Investments are selected from among a large funnel of over 100 applicants a year. Applicants must submit to a multi-stage screening process conducted by an Israel-based team of professionals who are assisted by Si3 Advisors, a UK-based committee comprised of next gen business professionals who engage in the first round of screening and who remain in contact with recipient organizations. Final investment recommendations are made by a UK-based Si3 Investment Committee comprised of UJIA supporters, trustees and leading business professionals who leverage their acumen to help identify the most impactful Israeli enterprises with the strongest business models. With their collective business knowledge and broad experience in the social field, the Si3 team has developed a proven ability to drive quality deal flow, perform due diligence, structure social impact investments and manage Si3’s growing portfolio in order to create a meaningful impact on Israeli society.

“Heter Iska” – a waiver in respect of religious matters and interest on debt have been taken into consideration.

Social Impact Reports

2023 Social Impact Report

2022 Social Impact Report

2021 Social Impact Report