About this Event
Does an incentive to earn dilute the mission of social enterprises and community businesses? How do social enterprises balance traditional grants with earned income activity?
On 12th March 2026, the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) and the Marshall Institute at the London School of Economics (LSE) will publicly launch findings from LSE’s study of SSE’s incentive-based grant model, Match Trading.
The LSE research emerged from questions on how hybrid organisations balance their purpose with commercial activities. Curious about the effective of enterprise-led grants, the research team examined their influence on organisational sustainability, leadership behaviour, mission alignment and perceived agency over time. The study provides insight on how organisations effectively use enterprise-activities to support their social mission, strengthening management systems and professionalising processes.
The event will present the research findings and situate them within wider conversations about social and community enterprises and hybridity, market limitations and the role of funders and policymakers in supporting enterprise-led solutions. It is designed to inform future funding practice and policy thinking, and to build shared understanding across funders, policymakers, practitioners and researchers.
About match trading
Match Trading matches growth in earned income pound-for-pound with grant funding, supporting social enterprises to build trading capability while reducing long-term reliance on grants. Since 2016, the model has supported over 1,200 organisations and distributed more than £8m into communities across the UK.
Speakers
· Kieron Boyle, Marshall Institute, LSE (Chair)
· Dr. Kerryn Krige, Marshall Institute, LSE
· Dr. Jonathan Roberts, Marshall Institute, LSE
· Alastair Wilson, Chief Executive, School of Social Entrepreneurs
· Tim Davies-Pugh, Chief Executive, Power to Change
Format
· Research presentation
· Panel discussion
· Audience Q&A
· Networking reception
Date & venue
12 March 2026, 6.30–8.00pm
Wolfson Theatre, Cheng Kin Ku Building, London School of Economics
About Match Trading and the SSE
Match Trading matches growth in earned income pound-for-pound with grant funding, encouraging organisations to increase trading revenue while reducing long-term reliance on grants. Since 2016, the model has supported more than 1,200 organisations and distributed over £8m to communities.
About the Marshall Institute
The Marshall Institute works to improve the impact and effectiveness of private action for public benefit. By private action we mean the activities of philanthropic foundations, social entrepreneurs, charities, NGOs and individual citizens, donating their time, money, ideas, knowledge and skills to serve the public good. By public benefit we mean activities that serve an explicitly social goal. Very often these interventions involve significant risk. Almost always they involve outcomes that are hard to measure. They are always improved by understanding.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Cheng Kin Ku Building, 54 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, United Kingdom
USD 0.00
