The Brief March 16, 2018 Greetings, ImpactAlpha readers! #Featured: The Brief’s Big Ten 1. The continuing fallout from the dispute over the Abraaj Group’s finances. It started with questions from investors, including the Gates Foundation, about accounting in the Dubai-based firm’s $1 billion Growth Markets Health Fund. Now, the controversy has engulfed the $13 billion firm and […]
Women “Make Demands That Bite”
Actor and activist Danai Gurira, left; Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women, center; and actor and activist Reese Witherspoon take part in the celebration of International Women’s Day at UN Headquarters in New York, March 8, 2018 (Photo courtesy United Nations) By Sunny Lewis NEW YORK, New York, March 13, 2018 (Maximpact.com News) – “Women […]
Investors Turn to Israel for SRI Opportunities
The drive for socially responsible investment (SRI) continues to gain support, both in developed and underdeveloped economies. According to the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance, as of 2016 more than $22 trillion in assets were being managed under various SRI strategies across the globe, with Europe, the United States and Canada taking the lead in recent […]
Slow Money NYC Case Study: Blue Marble Ice Cream
How an artisanal ice cream maker grew their business year over year with funding from Slow Money investors. by Christine Rico In 2007, Blue Marble Ice Cream set a new standard in the ice cream industry. Jennie Dundas and her partner noticed a trend (first set by chefs, then adopted by the coffee industry) of […]
Shareholders Vote Their Values Through Proxies
It’s proxy season again, when shareholders in public companies can file resolutions on issues they would like considered at annual company meetings. A new report offers a look at 2017’s proxy efforts, and a preview of those to come in 2018. Proxy Preview 2018 gives an overview of the more than 400 shareholder resolutions that were […]
Deval Patrick: Shifting GIIRS with Bain Capital’s Double Impact
Politician, civil rights lawyer, author and businessman, Deval Patrick joined Bain Capital in 2015 and is a managing director of the Double Impact business. He is the only African American to have served as governor of Massachusetts, served from 2007 to 2015 and was re-elected in 2010. A member of the Democratic Party, Patrick served […]
Announcing The Principles for Investment in Sustainable Wild-Caught Fisheries
Although billions of public and private dollars are invested in fisheries every year, more often than not, sustainability is neither the driver nor the intended outcome of those investment dollars. Pacific Community Ventures is excited to be one of the founding endorsers of the Principles for Investment in Sustainable Wild-Caught Fisheries. These principles will forward the impact- […]
Women Founders Are Benefiting From Crowdfunding, but Where are the Women Investors?
Investment crowdfunding is beginning to fulfill its promise of democratizing investment and access to capital. While women entrepreneurs are still outnumbered by men on most crowdfunding sites, their ranks are steadily growing. At Republic, a Regulation Crowdfunding portal that emphasizes women-owned ventures, 8 out of 13 businesses currently raising capital are women-owned. And on investibule, a platform […]
The Brief’s Big Ten: Revolution in finance, impact at SXSW, gender portfolio risk, badass…
The Brief The Brief’s Big Ten: Revolution in finance, impact at SXSW, gender portfolio risk, badass revivalists March 9, 2018 Photo by Tucker Good on Unsplash Greetings, ImpactAlpha readers! Another week, another revolution in finance. International Women’s Day has become International Women’s week. We knew the impact investing ecosystem would produce a bounty of research and reports, […]
Gun money roundup
Smarter money Investors and funds flex their muscles on mass shootings and school carnage (Editor’s note: Add all updates in comments or in a note to TheBrief@impactalpha.com and I’ll add them in — db) Guns are the new carbon…or cigarettes…or South Africa. The $70 billion State of Michigan Retirement System sold its holdings in Olin Corp., maker of Winchester […]
Should Your Investment Strategy Incorporate a Climate Risk Discount?
Consider these three recent developments: California emerged from drought in April 2017, fewer companies reported impacts associated with water scarcity, and the average freshwater intensity of companies in the MSCI ACWI Index dropped by 15 percent between 2015 and 2016. While these are positive short term signals for investors concerned with water scarcity, 2017 was […]
The Brief’s Big Eight: Gun money, billion-dollar babies, alt-credit, values of inclusion
The Brief March 2, 2018 Greetings, ImpactAlpha readers! Investors flex their muscles on guns. Guns are the new carbon…or cigarettes…or South Africa. The $70 billion State of Michigan Retirement System sold its holdings in Olin Corp., maker of Winchester ammunition. New Jersey legislators will vote on a bill to ban guns from the portfolios of state […]
Companies Must Take the Higher Road Toward a Sustainable Future
The rapidly changing climate, a global water crisis, and profound and ongoing human rights abuses undermine not only business operations, but also the lives and livelihoods of employees, customers and stakeholders. Investors—both large and small—are ramping up sustainable investment strategies focused on environmental, social and governance issues. In the United States alone, sustainable investing grew […]
Restoring forests is investable
Climate Finance Political urgency on climate action, emerging tech and new business models are converging to unlock business opportunities in restoring forests and agricultural lands Photo credit: Sebastian Engler More than three dozen governments around the world have committed to restoring more than 150 million hectares of land by 2020. That’s an area bigger than […]
Now Accepting Applications for Second Cohort of Integrated Capital Institute
RSF Social Finance has opened the application process for its Integrated Capital Institute. This intensive program will give financial practitioners the tools and strategies they need to help values-driven clients deploy various forms of capital for lasting social and environmental benefit. Fellows will learn about wealth psychology, whole portfolio activation, and RSF’s integrated capital approach: […]
ImpactAssets Releases Seventh Annual IA 50 Impact Investment Fund Showcase
Industry’s only free, searchable resource of impact investing fund managers features firms that manage $29.2 billion in assets. BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 27 /CSRwire/ – ImpactAssets has released its 2017-18 ImpactAssets 50 (IA 50), a free, online database for investors and financial advisors that features a diversified listing of 50 private capital fund managers that deliver […]
7 Questions for Danielle Burns, VP of Sales & Marketing at First Affirmative
Green Alpha’s Chief Operating Officer, Betsy Moszeter, and First Affirmative Financial Network’s VP of Sales and Marketing, Danielle Burns, have a ton in common, including their zodiac sign (Libra!), and a love of craft cocktails and delicious food. They’re also driven women with a passion for increasing the quality of and demand for impact investing. […]
New Zealand’s first domestic impact fund reaches first close
Inclusive Economy The Impact Enterprise Fund claims to be the first domestically-focused impact fund in New Zealand PC: New Ground Capital The Impact Enterprise Fund, a partnership between Ākina Foundation, New Ground Capital and Impact Ventures, has raised NZ$8 million ($5.8 million) to invest in local startups tackling issues in sustainable food production, agriculture, healthcare, clean energy, […]
How Tariffs Will Affect the State of Solar in the U.S.A. in 2018
Guest Column – By Lyle Pennell The year 2018 did not start off well for the solar industry in the United States. In January, US President Donald Trump signed into law a 30% tariff on all imported solar panels, sending the entire renewable energy world into a controlled panic. While the White House has repeatedly […]
RSF Social Finance Names New CEO
Jasper van Brakel, former head of Weleda North America, will lead the pioneering social enterprise funder in its next phase of innovation RSF Social Finance has named Jasper J. van Brakel, former president and CEO of Weleda North America, its new CEO effective March 19. In addition to offering proven leadership—van Brakel built Weleda’s brand […]
Weekly Impact Investment Market Update: February 16, 2018
Impact Investing & ESG Rise of the Rest Adds First Nine Portfolio Companies – and More Big Name Investors The $150 million fund’s first nine investments include startups in Indianapolis, Columbus and Pikeville, Kentucky, among other places. Overheard at The Economist’s New York Impact Investing Event Headliners at the magazine’s second annual gathering seemed to […]
How Sustainable Are Corporate Pensions?
Climate change, the low-carbon transition and sustainable development pose some of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. The global transition is well underway and has urgent and wide-ranging implications for companies, policymakers and investors. This requires integrated thinking across the board from corporates – but do workplace pensions schemes and business strategies sufficiently reflect […]
Opportunity Knocks: New Tax Incentives for Community Investment Funds
Since 2015, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers has advocated for tax incentives for those who invest in low-income communities, recognizing that the benefits from the economic recovery have largely bypassed those communities. Their efforts were rewarded when their proposed opportunity zone program was included as Subchapter Z of the 2017 tax law overhaul that was […]
San Francisco Entrepreneurs of Color Fund
Thanks to a new partnership with JP Morgan Chase, San Francisco entrepreneurs of color have a new source of capital: The Entrepreneurs of Color Fund. San Francisco has one of the highest concentrations of small businesses owned by people of color; there are about 46,000 such small businesses in the city. The fund is designed […]
ESG Investment to Grow in 2018—Along with Risks
Sustainalytics has released “10 for 2018,” a report that evaluates risks and opportunities in the coming year. On the upside, Sustainalytics finds that ESG-driven investing will continue to increase in 2018. Global responsible investing now totals $23 trillion, a rise of 25 percent since 2014, according to the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance. The rapid growth […]
Carbon Tracker Unveils 2˚C Compliant Scenario Analysis Tool on Bloomberg App Portal
The Carbon Tracker Initiative, an independent financial think tank, announced today that its in-depth analysis of the impact of climate change on a company’s exposure to carbon transition risk is available through 2˚C Scenario Analysis Tool on the Bloomberg App Portal at {APPS TRACK <GO>}.Bloomberg Terminal subscribers can now access the Carbon Tracker Initiative’s research […]
Investors Signal a Shift in Mainstream Finance Towards an “SDG Bonds” Market During Financial Innovation Symposium
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., February 9, 2018 /3BL Media/ – The United Nations Global Compact, in partnership with PIMCO and ENEL, convened a two-day symposium to mobilize private finance and investment around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hosted at PIMCO headquarters in Newport Beach, U.S.A., the event convened approximately 100 leaders representing public policy, pension funds, […]
Meet Our Latest Borrower: The Good Earth School
The Good Earth School is a preschool in Kensington, California, that offers early childhood education for children 18 months to 6 years old. The Good Earth School is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to education, which means a Child-Centered, on-going Emergent curriculum. Emergent curriculum is a way of planning lessons that are based on […]
In the Vanguard: Fund Giants Urge CEOs to Be a ‘force for Good’
by Gillian Tett, US Managing Editor of the Financial Times American markets are spinning on a carousel. As fourth-quarter corporate earnings tumble out this week, analysts are digesting every digit, leaving share prices swinging. But if Bill McNabb, chairman of Vanguard, has his way, this carousel may soon spin differently. This month, a group of […]
17th Annual Wall Street Green Summit
The 17th Annual Wall Street Green Summit (www.wsgts.com)is the longest running and most comprehensive sustainable finance event in the industry. The Summit covers cutting edge content, industry developments and features the practitioners and the leaders of tomorrow. The emergence of the “Impact Economy” is where main street investors team up with corporations, entrepreneurs and government […]
Grameen America Launches New Impact Investing Fund
Microlender Grameen America is upping its game in impact investing. The U.S.-based microfinance organization marked its ten-year anniversary last month by announcing a new $11 million impact investing fund, the first in what it said will be a series of new funds. Called the Social Business Fund, it’s aimed at providing additional money to women entrepreneurs […]
This Pullback is Awesome.
Yeah, you heard us right. This pullback is awesome. Dear Friends, We’ve received a lot of questions the last couple days about our reaction to recent market declines. We’re more than happy to share our view. What’s causing the pullback? In short, inflation worries caused by the news that wages for American workers increased in […]
Scotiabank Proudly Supports the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure
TORONTO, February 5, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Scotiabank today proudly announced its support of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). “As Canada’s international bank, Scotiabank has witnessed first-hand the devastating effects of natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, earthquakes and hurricanes in communities in which the bank operates around the globe,” said Brian Porter, President […]
Summit Draws Major Investors With $30 Trillion in AUM to Map Out Next Steps on Tackling Climate Risk and Seizing Low-carbon Opportunities
Investors make key announcements on low-carbon commitments; release new investor agenda to accelerate and scale up action on climate change February 2, 2018 /3BL Media/ – More than 450 investor, company and capital market leaders convened at the Investor Summit on Climate Risk today to map out the next steps for increased action on climate change. The […]
The Words From Davos In 2018: Sustainability, Responsibility…And More In This, The Fourth Industrial Revolution
The World Economic Forum (WEF) annually convenes business leaders, government officials, celebrities and other luminaries in the Swiss village of Davos-Klosters to explore societal issues and develop or work to advance solutions to same. This year’s convocation was staged over four days n late-January. Some of the highlights for you: UN Sustainable Development Goals in […]
Investors wake up to a $2.3 trillion opportunity in sustainable food and agriculture
Farmer Finance For example, food corporations Cargill, Tyson Foods, PHW, and even fast-food chain McDonalds, are investing in alternative proteins Photo credit: Ben Koorengevel A 2015 report cast the opportunity to secure the world’s food supply by 2030 as a $2.3 trillion annual opportunity that could create 80 million jobs, 90% of them in developing […]
The Most Trustworthy Business and Professional Leaders – the Rosters Are Out Today From Trust Across America / Trust Around the World
Trust! For many of us, when a critical incident or crisis occurs, one of the first words that come to mind is “trust,” as in “they really broke the trust with us” or “the organization can’t be trusted” (as in the statements made) or “the leaders can’t be trusted.” Apply this to now-familiar settings: […]
Providing Millennials with the Financial Planning They Need
There are two common but differing opinions about millennials floating around society. The first is that our generation is lazy, and we feel “entitled.” The second is that we are going to change the world because we don’t settle for following in the set paths that have been established before us. As a millennial that […]
Dutch pension fund moves from impact alignment to impact management
2030 Finance PGGM takes stock of what and how much impact its investments have, but on who remains a mystery How do you turn a supertanker? By degrees. Institutional investors that last year declared their “alignment” with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and other impact frameworks are now confronting the hard work of actually managing their investments […]
Millennials and Money: We are Not as Different as You Think
The financial services industry is a bit obsessed with trying to understand the next generation of investors – the notorious millennials. And for good reason – millennials represent the largest generation in history with a spending power of $1.5 trillion and growing[1]. Many millennials are well into their wealth accumulation phase and have already begun […]
ANNOUNCING: DJSI – HOW INSIGHTS INSPIRE ACTION
ANNOUNCING: DJSI – HOW INSIGHTS INSPIRE ACTION Leveraging the Value of the Corporate Sustainability Assessment April 6, 2018 Presented by Governance & Accountability Institute in collaboration with RobecoSAM Hosted at Baruch College/CUNY in New York City The aim of this workshop is to increase the participants’ knowledge about the importance of and methodology behind the […]
A Big Year, 2018 – Tipping Points For Developments in Corporate Sustainability & Sustainable Investing
Volume & Velocity Those may well be the key characteristics of developments in corporate sustainability and in sustainable investing in the year 2018. Linda-Eling Lee, Global Head of Research for MSCI’s ESG Research Group and her colleague Matt Moscardi (Head of Research Financial Sector, ESG) this week described what they are projecting in the traditional […]
Community Foundations Go All-In on Place-Based Investing
Two years ago, Baltimore Community Foundation was working to build race equity into its selection process for investment managers when a question was raised. “We asked, ‘Why are we not considering local impact investing that could specifically address race equity and lack of access to capital for communities that have been shut out of wealth opportunities for […]
Addenda Capital launches Canadian fixed-income impact fund
Smarter Money The fund is being built to capitalize on the rapid growth of Canadian impact investing Montreal, Canada The Montreal-based investment firm is building an impact fund made up of public debt, commercial mortgages and other types of loans in the areas of community development, climate change, health and education. Addenda says it’s the […]
SRI Cred from Giant Hedge Fund
Ray Dalio wants to see more “social impact investing.” Yes, that Ray Dalio, author of Principles: Life & Work, a best-selling business book that proselytizes for “radical transparency” as guidelines for his hard-charging, high-octane hedge fund firm. As the founder, chairman, and CIO of the $160 billion Bridgewater, the world’s largest hedge fund, Dalio’s […]
Regulation Crowdfunding Market Growing at Impressive Clip, Says Report
It’s time for a crowdfunding update. Regulation Crowdfunding closed out its second calendar year, and the folks at Crowdfund Capital Advisors (CCA) analyzed the data recently in a report for the S.E.C. While still in its infancy, the investment crowdfunding market is growing at a fast clip and represents a viable capital-raising alternative for small and mid-sized […]
Local Investing for Impact: A New Tool for Place-Focused Foundations
After decades of working at the intersection of community development, philanthropy and community economic development, we see a significant shift in how philanthropic assets are being used to build vibrant, prosperous communities. More and more place-focused foundations are seeking to complement their grant-making with local investments to create greater impact in their own communities. There’s […]
BlackRock just did one thing that changed the game for anyone who invests
Smarter Money CEO of world’s largest asset manager tells companies that measuring impact is no longer optional Photo by Christine Roy on Unsplash My firm, Village Capital, always tells entrepreneurs to build a product that’s a painkiller, not a vitamin. Vitamins are products people theoretically want, and make you feel better. People don’t need them, though. Painkillers are […]
RSF Social Finance Invests More than $1 Million in Women-Led Social Enterprises
RSF’s Women’s Capital Collaborative supports inspirational entrepreneurs who are having a positive impact on women in Africa, Haiti and the U.S. San Francisco, CA (Jan. 18, 2018) – RSF Social Finance has just invested over $900,000 in four women-led enterprises that are creating opportunities for women and girls around the world: Akola Project, Eu’Genia Shea, […]
Impact Investing Marketplace ImpactUs Shuts Down
ImpactUs launched last spring with a splash. Hatched out of the CDFI world and funded by heavyweights including the Ford and MacArthur foundations, the impact investment marketplace promised to bring new ease to connecting investors with vetted funds as well as direct investments in social enterprises. Its goal: $1 billion in transactions over five years. But less […]
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