Crowdfunding experiences a historic growth spurt, Germany's biggest foundations showed their appetite for big social returns and impact investment was nudged onto the US and UK policy agenda.

Drunken sailors, visionary pioneers or old hands at this game? The delegates at Good Deals, the UK social investment conference, which kicks off this morning, are discussing their roles in the past, present and future of running and financing organisations that create positive social change.

Sakena Yacoobi has used all sorts of ingenious measures to fulfil her quest to educate Afghani girls. She tells Pioneers Post about the dangerous work of running underground schools in defiance of the Taliban.

Curator of this year's Good Deals investment and intermediaries stream, Panahpur's James Perry, says investors and investees must work to understand more about one another.

City critic James Featherby uses inaugural Good Deals lecture to set out his vision for change in financial institutions