Evol releases its first impact financing report

Evol’s mission is to finance and support diversely-owned companies that have a positive impact on society. Today, Evol is releasing its first ever Impact Financing Report to review the impacts generated since its creation.

This report reiterates the seriousness of Evol’s approach and mission. Aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Evol’s impact financing aims to increase the number of companies that integrate environmentally responsible practices into their business model and/or make sustainable development a core part of their mission, in all regions of Quebec.

This first report shows that :

– 7.14 M$ were granted in the first 12 months of operations;

– 86% of the entrepreneurs financed are women;

– 29% of funded entrepreneurs identify with at least one of the other under-represented groups in entrepreneurship;

– SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production) is the most targeted (22%) by our companies, and

– more than half of the companies (57%) have even included a clear social and environmental commitment in their mission statement.

“It is clear to me today that there is a desire among companies to be agents of change. Our supported financing services are essential to help SMEs and SMBs make the shift to sustainable development and fully realize their intention to have an impact. This is how, together, we will transform our economy to be more just, more sustainable and more prosperous,” said Chantal Thieblin Goffoz, Director of Impact Financing and Sustainability at Evol.

As impact and sustainability are intrinsically part of our identity, Evol will be publishing an annual Impact Financing Report, along with an annual report, outlining our achievements as well as the financial and extra-financial results of our financing.

With the publication of this report, Evol continues to be an agent of change and hopes to inspire the entrepreneurial and financial ecosystems to take a similar approach.

To view the report: 2022 Impact Financing Report

About Evol

Operating in Quebec’s 17 regions, Evol (formerly Femmessor) is an organization financially supported by the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE) and the Government of Canada as part of its Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy. Its mission is to contribute directly to the creation, growth, and acquisition of diversified, inclusive businesses that have a positive impact on society.

Evol has a significant budget envelope to offer financing that, combined with a personalized coaching experience and tailored complementary services, enables entrepreneurs to build sustainable, prosperous businesses.

Through partnerships with the Government of Québec (with Investissement Québec as its agent), the Government of Canada, National Bank, BDC, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, and Fondaction, Evol offers financing and guidance to businesses with diversified, inclusive ownerships that generate positive impacts aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).