Invest with Values

The Investor's Gateway to Positive Change

The Investor's Gateway to Positive Change

Letter from Matt Patsky on Second Vatican Conference on Impact Investing

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“Impact investing is not philanthropy, it is about creating opportunities for self-sufficiency.” – Matt Patsky, CEO, Remarks at the Second Vatican Conference on Impact Investing On Monday, June 26, I arrived in Rome for the Second Vatican Conference on Impact Investing. The Vatican Conference on Impact Investing builds on the call made in the May […]

The Impact of Sustainable and Responsible Investment 2016 report by USSIF

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USSIF’s latest report “The Impact of Sustainable and Responsible Investment (2016)“ highlights how sustainable, responsible and impact investors have engaged the investment industry, companies, individuals, communities and governments–either individually or collectively–to address environmental, social and governance challenges and to reform the way business is conducted.  It presents examples of how these investors have made a difference […]

ImPact Primer: Can You Drive Impact Through Public Equity Investing? Here’s How

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The ImPact, a new investor network aiming to normalize impact investing among the world’s wealthiest families, tackles public equities, an often overlooked asset class in impact investing, in the second primer in its asset class series. Generating direct impact through investments in public equities is difficult, because companies have so many other potential sources of capital. Still, investors […]

The Mousai House: A Cooperative Vision for a New Creative Economy

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We asked Jennifer Bryant—a DC-based writer, organizer and radio host—to highlight an emblematic example pointing towards what Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard calls a cooperative solidarity commonwealth, which she details in her essay in Volume 2 of our “New Systems: Possibilities and Proposals” series. Bryant’s exposition of The Mousai House gives us a glimpse into a […]

Opportunity International and MyBucks: A Dangerous Partnership Decision?

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Editor’s note: The sale of microfinance institutions to fintech companies has broad potential repercussions for both clients and the sector’s overall development. Because opinions differ on whether this impact will be positive or negative, NextBillion is running multiple, comprehensive posts on the topic. The post below was independently authored by former MFTransparency CEO Chuck Waterfield, and provides a critical […]

Free-Range Money: Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the End of Banks

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By Tim Parsa, Managing Director, Uphold Mexico and Head of Global Strategy & Markets Cattle ought to be raised grazing in pasture, not confined to dirty feedlots and gorged on government-subsidized corn. That’s not a controversial statement for anyone familiar with the health, ecological, or taste benefits of grass-fed beef. Here’s an even less controversial […]

Exit Opportunities for DPO Investors

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When considering an investment in a direct public offering, potential investors may want to understand how they can get their investment back, i.e. their exit strategy. Organizations raising capital via a DPO should expect questions from potential investors on this subject. An investor’s sale of their investment is itself regulated by securities laws, so in […]

ImPact Primer: How to Get Started in Fixed-Income Impact Investing

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Fixed-income impact investments can provide all the benefits of many traditional fixed income products — stable income, high liquidity, and a relatively low risk profile — plus high scalable impact. The first primer in the ImPact’s asset class series highlights a growing array of impact fixed-income products. Here are a few highlights from Fixed Income and Impact Investing: Bonds […]

Green Bond Action Heats Up Global Investment Market – The Minute

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Green bonds—financial instruments with a socially responsible investment aspect baked into their DNA—are red-hot. So far this year, global green bond issuance totals $28.7 seven billion, up 78% from the $12.1 billion issued last year in the same time period, reports Business Insider. Along with this explosive growth in sustainable finance dollars comes a shift […]

Thoughts on the United Kingdom vote to exit the European Union

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June 24, 2016– Financial markets were rocked on Friday, June 24, by the results of the British referendum on membership in the European Union. Polls had indicated that the vote would be very close; the actual results were a surprisingly strong vote for exit.   Across the United Kingdom, 52% of the votes cast rejected membership […]

Real-time App for Investors Underlines Growing Demand for ESG Data

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An explosive growth in socially responsible investment is driving requests from investors, financial advisors, and asset managers for more and better environmental, social and governance data for use in their investment decision-making. ESG data in the asset management industry has grown by 45% over the last four years, affecting $59 trillion of assets under management. […]

$5 Trillion Investor Coalition Supports Human Rights Benchmark

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June 24, 2016 $5 Trillion Investor Coalition Supports Human Rights Benchmark    by Robert Kropp The coalition, coordinated by Boston Common Asset Management, hopes that the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark will help improve corporate human rights disclosures and aid investors in their engagement with companies. SocialFunds.com — In March, a consortium led by Aviva Investors, […]

CEOs Urged to Talk ESG, Though Wall Street Wants EPS

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CEOs need to ramp up communications about environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues even when Wall Street is more concerned with short-term financial performance like earnings per share (EPS), according to a new report from the Conference Board. While acknowledging that reporting about sustainability is at an all-time high, the failure of the investment community to engage can […]

ImpactAssets Impact Investment Notes Deploys $8.3MM In Capital to Latin America and Asia

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ImpactAssets announced today that it has deployed more than $8.3MM to financial institutions and agricultural organizations in Latin America and Asia for small business expansion, socioeconomic development and environmental sustainability through its recently launched Impact Investment Notes. These lower-­‐minimum, publicly offered debt securities enable financial advisors and their clients to provide capital to growing micro-­‐entrepreneurs […]

ImPact Primer: Seven Steps for Getting Started With Impact Investing

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Impact investing is a lot like high school sex, says Abigail Noble, chief executive of The ImPact, a new investor network aiming to normalize impact investing among the world’s wealthiest families. “Everyone is talking about it. Very few people are actually doing it,” Noble said in a recent TedX talk. “And those who are doing it, aren’t doing it […]

The White House on Crowdfunding and American Innovation

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In May, the final “crowdfunding” rule of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) went into effect, making it possible for entrepreneurs across the country to raise small-dollar investments from ordinary Americans. This new rule is a result of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. When President Obama signed the bipartisan JOBS Act, he […]

How does The Commons work? Animating David Bollier’s next system

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David Bollier, in his paper for our “New Systems: Possibilities and Proposals” a series exploring viable political-economic alternatives to the present order, suggests that a commons-based framework could provide a critical template for de-commodification, mutualization, and the organization and control of resources outside of the market. We’re excited to share with you our latest animation that illustrates some of the principal features […]

Pepsi Challenged on Palm Oil Worker Exploitation

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June 21, 2016 Pepsi Challenged on Palm Oil Worker Exploitation    by Robert Kropp A report from three NGOs reveals that violations of workers’ rights on the palm oil plantations of PepsiCo’s joint venture partner in Indonesia includes child labor. SocialFunds.com — Most sustainable investors are well aware of the severe environmental impacts of deforestation […]

AVPN 2016: A Conversation with Bernard Chan

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From May 23 to 25, the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) held its annual conference for the first time in Hong Kong, away from its home base of Singapore. Among the 130 featured speakers from around the world, one of the most anticipated was Mr. Bernard Chan, a pioneer in advancing social sector work in […]

Trillium CEO, Matt Patsky, Invited to Speak at Second Vatican Conference on Impact Investing

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“It is important that ethics once again play its due part in the world of finance and that markets serve the interests of peoples and the common good of humanity.” – Pope Francis JUNE 16, 2016: Trillium Asset Management’s CEO, Matt Patsky has been invited to speak at the Second Vatican Conference on Impact Investing, […]

WHAT’S JEWISH ABOUT IMPACT INVESTING?

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BY AVI DEUTSCH Contrary to popular belief, eating is not inherently Jewish. In fact, nearly every Western religion employs this basic human need in the service of religious practice. It is not the eating that is Jewish, it is how we eat that makes it meaningful. The same is true of investing- it is definitely […]

How the ImPact is Making Impact Investing the New Normal for Wealthy Families

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At gatherings in Davos and a series of World Economic Forum reports, Abigail Noble has tried to nudge the world’s largest asset managers toward impact investing. Done. Or at least in progress. Last year, Blackrock, the largest asset manager, and Bain Capital, announced new impact investing initiatives. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Goldman […]

Making Waves on World Oceans Day

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NEW YORK, New York, June 14, 2016 (Maximpact.com News) – Musician Jack Johnson started the Wave for Change conservation social media campaign just in time for World Oceans Day this year. The Hawaii-based performer is asking people around the world to do something for the ocean – cut down on plastics, use more renewable energy […]

Toniic “Venture Philanthropists and Impact Investors” Report Release

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Sharing collaboration successes and challenges Toniic Releases Venture Philanthropists & Impact Investors Report. As impact investing matures as a movement, more investment models are being deployed, especially in sectors and regions where various forms of capital are needed to support solutions to some of the world’s chronic social and environmental issues. In this report, we […]

Invest Cheese and Eat it Too at Maker’s Common

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By Julie Fahnestock 310. $310,000, that is. That’s the amount of money Californians have invested into a Direct Public Offering (DPO) for the soon-to-be eatery/market, Maker’s Common. For the last five years, cheese lovers and founders of Mission Cheese and Maker’s Common, Sarah Dvorak, Oliver Dameron and Eric Miller, have positioned their first business — […]

Getting Our Hands Dirty: What’s Next in Sustainable Agriculture

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Why Investing in Sustainable Agriculture is Vital to our Health and our Wealth   Welcome to the new “Investing in Sustainable Agriculture” issue of the award-winning GreenMoney Journal. The issue feature numerous insightful articles on the current state of and the future of Agriculture. The four top articles are: • Organic Economics In A World […]

Mind the gap

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Enbridge tank farm, Cushing OK Kermit the Frog famously said it’s not easy being green. Today, it might be easier being green than being a CEO in the oil business. Fifty-two oil companies have already filed for bankruptcy this year, and over one-third of the world’s biggest oil and gas companies could end up bankrupt […]

TBLI CONFERENCE NORDIC 2016

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Invest With Values is a network partner of TBLI CONFERENCE NORDIC 2016. The TBLI CONFERENCE Series-TBLI CONFERENCE is the longest running (nearly 20 years) and largest annual global networking and learning event on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Impact Investment. What to expect? TBLI is a highly respected convener of responsible investment practitioners and thought […]

SRI Becoming Key to Financial Advisors’ Success

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  Financial advisors who provide options for socially responsible investing are increasingly the choice of clients, according to a survey by TIAA Global Asset Management. The poll of 1,100 US investors found that 74 percent would prefer to work with a financial advisor who can provide both good returns and social impact. Yet there’s a […]

John Hancock Investments launches two ESG funds: Trillium Asset Management to manage John Hancock ESG All Cap Core Fund and John Hancock ESG Large Cap Core Fund

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Click here to download the PDF. BOSTON, June 6, 2016—John Hancock Investments today announced the addition of two new funds focused on integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues with fundamental stock research. John Hancock ESG All Cap Core Fund and John Hancock ESG Large Cap Core Fund are both managed by Trillium Asset Management, […]

Investors Must Keep Pressuring Oil Majors on Climate Risk

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Annual general meetings at the world’s largest fossil fuel companies are usually a time for reflecting on strategies to increase revenues for the coming year, global energy outlooks, and governance. But last week’s annual meetings at ExxonMobil and Chevron were different. They represented a watershed moment in combating the threats posed by climate change. Resolutions […]

Investors Step Up Commitment to Animal Welfare

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Animal welfare is an increasingly important CSR issue and it’s just moved even more to the center of the corporate conversation on the topic. 18 institutional investors, who represent £1.5 trillion in assets under management, have become the founding signatories to the first investor statement on farm animal welfare. The signatories of the Business Benchmark […]

Raffa Social Capital Advisors Launched To Fill the Gap Between Impact Investors and Entrepreneurs

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WASHINGTON, Jun. 02 /CSRwire/ – In response to the growing needs of social impact investors, Raffa, the nation’s largest nonprofit accounting and consulting firm, has launched Raffa Social Capital Advisors (RSCA). RSCA will support social entrepreneurs seeking investment while providing impact investors much-needed data and accountability they have long sought. “Social entrepreneur start ups too […]

Are Foundations Ready to Get Off Their Assets? Endowments Have Become a Hot Topic (Podcast)

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Mission-driven foundations should be the point of the spear when it comes to impact investing. Here at ImpactAlpha, we’ve been tracking the growing number of foundations who are expanding their toolsets to include loans, equity and other investments in enterprises that can deliver impact – and return capital. (See, for example, our recent deep dive […]

Clients in Conversation: Marian Moore and Lorene Arey Play BIG

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Originally published in the RSF Spring Quarterly Fresh off the heels of 2016’s Play BIG, co-founder Marian Moore and attendee Lorene Arey talk takeaways from the four-day event. At Play BIG, participants—all with significant discretionary wealth—are challenged to reimagine their money in the context of the broader vision and mission of their work and their […]

Breaking the iron curtain between investing and grant-making

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Private companies have the purpose to make money. Civil society organisations want to do good. Foundations need to do both – make money through investing their endowment, and contribute to social change, based on their values and mission. This hybrid character of foundations – the challenge to match the mission with the need to make […]

Genuine Sustainability Attracts Savvy Investors

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RockTenn, based in Norcross, Georgia, one of North America’s leading manufacturers of corrugated and consumer packaging, has been focused on reducing the amount of solid waste it sends to landfills. By engaging employees from every department, such as finishing inspector Byron Manning, at one of the company’s packaging factories, RockTenn recycles much of its process […]

Why We Are Seeing A Growing Demand For Our Capital

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Earlier this month Justin shared with you all news of our new increased rates. He explained that this was a result of a growing demand for impact capital in our markets. This is exciting news, not just for ourselves and our investors, but for the industry as a whole. As Justin put it, “There has […]

RPI and ESG on the Up-and-Up

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Responsible Property Investment (RPI) is an approach to property investing that incorporates environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors alongside conventional financial goals. RPI strategies generally seek long term sustainable returns whilst also addressing environmental and social performance. Blog The Green Perspective As previously predicted by CBRE, the demand for ESG investment in real estate is stronger […]

BlackRock Shareowners Vote on CEO Pay

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May 26, 2016 BlackRock Shareowners Vote on CEO Pay    by Robert Kropp The Stephen M. Silberstein Revocable Trust files a shareowner resolution with the mutual funds giant, requesting that its proxy voting practices reflect a link between executive compensation and corporate performance. SocialFunds.com — Despite his millionaire status, Stephen Silberstein is viewed as a […]

22 INVESTORS MANAGING OVER $505 BILLION IN ASSETS SIGN LETTER CALLING ON CONGRESS TO END SHELL COMPANY SECRECY

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Comes as Investors Convene in DC to Discuss Governance, Social and Environmental Risks to Investors and Companies and as the US government commits to corporate transparency measures at the international Anti-Corruption Summit in the UK ** Read the full letter to the Senate HERE and House HERE **   Washington, DC — This week investors from across […]

True Peer-to-Peer Lending

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By Johnny Price, Senior Director, Kiva Zip In the conventional finance model, a central institution, such as Bank of America, provides capital and decides which borrowers qualify for loans. In the peer-to-peer model, individual people brought together by the power of the Internet, in an aggregate known as “the crowd,” provide the capital and make […]

Making Markets Work for the Poor: How the Gates Foundation Uses Program-Related Investments

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A new kind of strategic investor is sniffing around promising startups and innovative entrepreneurs. These strategists are not corporate suits seeking a competitive edge. They are officers of private foundations looking for scientific breakthroughs on neglected diseases, technologies that can be steered toward disadvantaged populations and financing models that harness the power of markets for […]