Impact investing is about a very simple, progressive idea: markets and money for good. Impact investing is built on the belief that financial tools can play a powerful role in solving the massive global challenges of our day, and that capital markets should work for good as well as profit. This vision is realized through investments made into companies, organizations, and funds with the intention to generate measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return.
Every month, PCV will give you a roundup of what’s new in the field, what conversations are taking place, and how you can get involved. Here are some highlights from February:
Need A Crash Course In Impact Investing?
The CASE Center at Duke University has you covered. From history and the basics to recent reports and industry-specific publications, this new resource is great for those just becoming familiar with the field. Plus! They’re taking suggestions, if you see that a resource is missing. Read on.
CDFIs Step Into The Gap Left By Traditional Lenders
The U.S. Treasury Department’s CDFI Fund issued two independent reports this past February that provide a first-ever comparative analysis and evaluation of the effectiveness of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) as compared to traditional or mainstream lenders like banks. The findings confirm that CDFIs (like PCV!) are resilient and a reliable resource for capital in areas that need it the most, that they have no more risk than conventional lenders, and that they perform nearly just as well as mainstream financial institutions. Read on.
The Next Great Hurdle For Impact Investing
New from the Organization For Economic Development and Cooperation! The report “Social Impact Investment: Building the Evidence Base” provides a framework for assessing the social impact investment market and focuses on the need to build the evidence base. It also highlights the importance of further international collaborations in developing global standards on definitions, data collection, impact measurement and evaluation of policies. Read on.
The Role Of The Performance Analyst Is What?
When it comes to delivering on the promise of social outcomes in investing, the role of the performance analyst is often one left undiscussed. A new report highlights the role, which is founded on a deep understanding of the journey taken by clients and the needs of the staff supporting them. Performance analysts sit at the center of performance management systems. They create feedback loops with a wide array of stakeholders, from those who deliver services on the ground to their boards of management. Read on.
How Veterans Can Benefit From Impact Investing
Bank of America this past month announced the results of a first-of-its-kind study exploring opportunities to use pay-for-success programs and other forms of social financing and impact investing to expand programs for U.S. veterans. With more than 22 million veterans living in the U.S. today, and as many as 300,000 more service members expected to leave the military over the next five years, services for these men and women will increasingly require additional resources. Read on.
Impact Investing vs. Climate Change
Further clean energy innovation to improve the cost, performance, and scalability of low-carbon energy technologies will be critical to taking action against climate change. As part of that effort, today, the Administration is launching a Clean Energy Investment Initiative and announcing a goal to catalyze $2 billion of expanded private sector investment in solutions to climate change, including innovative technologies with breakthrough potential to reduce carbon pollution. Read on.