Surviving Funding Scarcity: Market-Based Solutions and a Business Mindset for Efficiency

​Moderated by: Tracey Keatman

​Hosted by: 1001 Fountaines and SOIL

​Delivering essential services in resource-scarce environments is a persistent challenge for social enterprises and mission-driven organizations alike. While market-based approaches can drive efficiency and sustainability, they are rarely enough on their own—particularly for sectors like water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) where services function as public goods.

​This session will explore how a business mindset, performance-driven operations, and blended financing can work in tandem to bridge service gaps and scale impact.

​Featuring insights from leading organizations including SOIL and 1001fontaines, as well as funders and academics, we’ll move beyond theory to examine field-tested models that show how earned revenue, strategic subsidies, and government engagement can come together to support long-term service delivery in low-resource settings.

​What to Expect

• ​Real-world examples of blended finance in action, combining philanthropy, government funding, and earned income.

• ​A practical look at how business practices can increase operational efficiency and expand service coverage.

• ​Honest reflections on the limits of market-based models and the ongoing need for subsidies and grant capital.

• ​Open dialogue between implementers, funders, and researchers on what's working, what’s not, and where we go from here.

​Who Should Attend

• ​Social enterprise leaders and nonprofit practitioners working in WASH or other essential service sectors.

• ​Funders exploring performance-based or blended finance approaches.

• ​Policy makers and public sector leaders seeking sustainable service delivery models.

• ​Academics and researchers examining the intersection of markets, public goods, and development.

​This event is a chance to engage in a realistic, solution-focused conversation about surviving and thriving amid funding scarcity—grounded in practice, not just theory.

​Space is limited—RSVP now to join the conversation.