There are a LOT of people out there that have great business ideas but are unable to locate an investor to get things moving. I am one of those people.
The large majority of individuals that have funds to do something like this generally go to their broker who places them in a "safe" position, again depending on the investors tolerance for risk. This has always confused me a bit since the investors rarely (if ever) get a chance to meet the people that run the business... look at them eyeball to eyeball. Investing, in my opinion, should be much more personal than it is.
If you REALLY want to make an investment into something that will change lives for the better, the stock market or a local investment firm isn't the place to go. Find one or two entrepreneurial small businesses that interest you, talk face-to-face with the owners, and work something out.
