Connemara West is delighted to announce that it’s Executive Chairman, Dr Kevin Heanue, has been
appointed to the Board of the Social Finance Foundation (www.sff.ie). The Foundation is a non-profit
organisation and registered charity that was established by the Government and the Banking Industry
in 2007 to make loan finance available at reasonable rates to viable social projects and organisations
that find it difficult to obtain it from mainstream lending sources. Acting as a “wholesaler” it provides
funding to its lending partners Clann Credo and Community Finance Ireland.
As part of a Board recruitment process in 2021, the Social Finance Foundation identified Kevin for
appointment as a Director due to his evaluation, impact assessment and rural community
development expertise. In January 2022, Kevin was invited to join the Credit Committee and in early
December 2022, he joined Board.
Kevin said that “I am delighted to be joining the Board of the Foundation as it plays a pivotal role in
Ireland’s financial infrastructure by facilitating access to finance for socially & economically impactful
community & voluntary, heritage, social care, sporting and social enterprise projects for which normal
bank-lending is beyond reach”.In 2021, SFF had close to €50 million in loan balances. In that year, it contributed to significant impact
throughout Ireland by supporting 1,270 jobs, with 18,411 children using facilities, 113,418 people
using community facilities and 159,065 people using sports facilities supported by social lending
organisations. There were also 7,830 social care users. Kevin joins the SFF Board in a personal and voluntary capacity.