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Top Stories
Hosting COP28, United Arab Emirates commits $30 billion to catalyze climate investment – and deflect criticism
Climate Finance | December 4, 2023
Funds of funds provide more than capital for local investors in small and growing businesses
Africa | December 4, 2023
Investors earn a return on a ‘forest resilience bond’ in California
Catalytic Capital | December 4, 2023
December 4, 2023
The Brief - Daily Insights into Impact Investing
Featured: COP Watch
The antitrust theories are weak, but the effects can be chilling on corporate collaboration for climate action. The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, or GFANZ, launched with fanfare at COP26 by Brookfield Asset Management’s Mark Carney and Bloomberg’s Michael Bloomberg, aimed to align banks, asset managers and financial institutions with a combined $130 trillion in assets under management with the goal of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Two years later, as COP28 gets underway in Dubai, many of those financial institutions have dropped out, gone quiet and otherwise gotten cold feet. Behind the chill: a coordinated attack by Republican politicians in the US on efforts to fight climate change. In recent letters and subpoenas, the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee charged that financial industry alliances like GFANZ “appear to facilitate collusion that may violate U.S. antitrust law,” and represent “ESG cartels” (see, “With subpoenas, Rep. Jim Jordan seeks to chill shareholder action on climate”). The antitrust claims have little legal basis and “should be evaluated in the context of the deep anti-climate interests of the campaign’s funders,” argue Cynthia Hanawalt of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and Denise Hearn of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment. Their guest post on ImpactAlpha breaks down the legal issues.
Dealflow: Pay for Performance
Investors earn a return on a ‘forest resilience bond’ in California. Nonprofit Blue Forest partnered with World Resources Institute, the US Forest Service, and the National Forest Foundation five years ago to pilot a financing mechanism for proven techniques to protect forests from devastating wildfires and other climate risks. The “forest resilience bond” raised $4 million from investors to restore and protect 15,000 acres in the Yuba watershed in the Tahoe National Forest. Blue Forest says the intervention, completed more than five years ahead of schedule, provided an “adequate” return to investors “in line with expectations.” Investors were repaid by the Yuba Water Agency, the US Forest Service, and California’s Climate Investment Program. The project “exemplifies how investments in nature can successfully accelerate solutions, benefit public lands and return capital,” Blue Forest said in a statement.
Impact Voices: Emerging Fund Managers
Funds of funds provide more than capital for local investors in small and growing businesses. Impact funds that invest in other aligned funds are common in private equity and microfinance. Funds of funds are now emerging in the global small business finance sector as a means of mobilizing the roughly $5 trillion a year needed by small and growing businesses, writes Susan de Witt of the Collaborative for Frontier Finance, which hosted annual gathering of small business-focused fund managers and investors last week in Cape Town. Funds of funds like the Dutch Good Growth Fund, Mastercard Foundation’s Africa Growth Fund and Kuramo Capital are proving to be a critical early supply of capital for fund managers in Africa and the Middle East, according to a new survey from CFF. “All employ a range of strategies to evaluate local fund managers’ risk,” such as creative risk assessments, anchor capital and back-office services, de Witt says. Such support, she adds, is “helping fund managers transition from raising from angel and high-net worth investors, family offices and foundations to institutional investors.”
Agents of Impact: Follow the Talent
Cornelius Lee, ex- of Promise54, joins Equitable Facilities Fund as vice president of talent… Overdeck Family Foundation appoints Katelyn Fletcher, ex- of the Brookings Institution, as portfolio associate… Impact Capital Managers seeks a talent and diversity director in New York… Also in New York, Blue Meridian Partners seeks two directors… Pollination has an opening for a nature and agriculture executive director in Washington, DC.
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Podcasts | December 1, 2023
All eyes on Dubai as COP 28 begins with Stephan Nicoleau
ImpactAlpha’s Amy Cortese speaks with Full Cycle’s Stephan Nicoleau at the start of COP 28 to hear what he’s expecting – and hoping …
Catalytic Capital | December 1, 2023
ImpactAlpha Deal Spotlight: Blending global insurance assets for impact
ImpactAlpha, December 1 — The new $1.1 billion SDG Loan Fund is significant for the use of catalytic capital, in the form of …
Impact Careers | December 1, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: December 1, 2023
ImpactAlpha, December 1 — Investment funds, foundations, banks and other firms are looking to fill up on impact talent by year’s end. Just …
Top Stories
Hosting COP28, United Arab Emirates commits $30 billion to catalyze climate investment – and deflect criticism
Climate Finance | December 4, 2023
Funds of funds provide more than capital for local investors in small and growing businesses
Africa | December 4, 2023
Investors earn a return on a ‘forest resilience bond’ in California
Catalytic Capital | December 4, 2023
ImpactAlpha Deal Spotlight: Blending global insurance assets for impact
Catalytic Capital | December 1, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: December 1, 2023
Impact Careers | December 1, 2023
With a startup accelerator, COP28 boosts climate tech in the Global South
Climate and Clean Tech | November 30, 2023
Equipping private equity managers to unlock value through sustainability
Impact Management | November 30, 2023
Conscious Investment Management secures A$50 million for social and affordable housing in Australia
affordable-housing | November 30, 2023
Vancouver Foundation anchors Spring Impact Capital to invest in Canadian health and climate ventures
Canada | November 30, 2023
How much science is there behind the Science Based Targets Initiative?
Climate Finance | November 30, 2023
Allianz’s SDG Loan Fund leverages a $25 million guarantee to catalyze $1.1 billion
Catalytic Capital | November 29, 2023
Ownership Economy
Ownership Economy | November 15, 2023
Building an ownership movement to close racial wealth gaps
This year’s Ben Affleck and Matt Damon movie, Air, is a classic story of American enterprise. It features people and organizations once on …
Ownership Economy | October 16, 2023
Multiplying transitions to employee ownership with private capital and public policy
ImpactAlpha, October 16 — Giving workers ownership stakes in the companies they work for improves employees’ motivation, productivity, retention and drives long-term business …
Ownership Economy | October 2, 2023
How Dearfield Fund helps Black women buy homes to build wealth and health
ImpactAlpha, October 2 — Equitable homeownership is a key strategy for narrowing racial wealth gaps. Centering Black women is key to the success …
Podcasts | September 29, 2023
Strategies for finding the employee-ownership edge
Host Brian Walsh shares highlights from this week’s agents of impact call, “The employee-ownership edge,” which explored the range of opportunities for investing …
Ownership Economy | September 29, 2023
Labor and capital align in new movement for worker ownership (Video)
ImpactAlpha, Sept. 29 – It’s the age-old struggle: labor vs capital, workers vs. owners. But what happens when employees get a stake in the …
Ownership Economy | September 28, 2023
Vernier Science Education transitions to a perpetual purpose trust
ImpactAlpha, September 28 — Vernier Science Education, a textbook, software and lab equipment provider for K-12 science and technology education, is converting ownership …
Signals | September 28, 2023
Overheard at the Congressional Black Caucus: Boosting Black ownership
ImpactAlpha, September 28 — Black ownership was the theme that echoed through the Walter E. Washington Convention Center at last week’s annual legislative …
Ownership Economy | September 25, 2023
Financing transitions to employee ownership delivers wins for workers – and investors
ImpactAlpha, Sept. 25 – It’s the age-old struggle: labor and capital typically are at odds in the workplace and the financial markets. Case in …
Return on Inclusion | September 14, 2023
Disruptive Discourse: Standing up to legal challenges to fund managers and business owners of color
ImpactAlpha, September 14 — Women leaders of color are stepping up ecosystem-building efforts to counter the recent legal attacks against minority-owned and led …
Ownership Economy | September 6, 2023
Challenging wealth supremacy to realize the dream of systemic change
This essay is adapted from Marjorie Kelly’s forthcoming book, “Wealth Supremacy: How the Extractive Economy and the Biased Rules of Capitalism Drive Today’s …
Ownership Economy | August 23, 2023
Blackstar Stability: Replacing predatory loans to build equity and wealth for homeowners of color (Q&A)
ImpactAlpha, August 23 — Over the decades, discriminatory practices in the US real estate industry have blocked many households of color from the …
Ownership Economy | August 22, 2023
Teamshares raises $245 million for small business employee stock ownership
ImpactAlpha, August 22 — Brooklyn, NY-based Teamshares has raised $245 million to build a national portfolio of 10,000 employee-owned small businesses. The opportunity: …
Muni Impact
Impact Muni Bonds | November 17, 2023
A $286 million bond seeks to grow north Texas out of its traffic jams
Editor’s note: ImpactAlpha has partnered with HIP Investor to highlight upcoming bond issues with social and/or environmental significance. Disclaimer: Nothing in this post …
Muni Impact | November 9, 2023
Southern California utility issues $162 million green bond to finance renewable power
Editor’s note: ImpactAlpha has partnered with HIP Investor to highlight upcoming bond issues with social and/or environmental significance. Disclaimer: Nothing in this post or on …
Muni Impact | October 18, 2023
Chicago tries a twist on tax increment financing to extend transport to low-income neighborhoods
ImpactAlpha, Oct. 18 – A new approach to a well-worn financing mechanism is attracting attention to Chicago. The city is employing a new …
Muni Impact | October 16, 2023
Texas issues $169 million water bond to future-proof the state against drought
Editor’s note: ImpactAlpha has partnered with HIP Investor to highlight upcoming bond issues with social and/or environmental significance. Disclaimer: Nothing in this post or on …
Muni Impact | October 11, 2023
Mispriced risks in bond markets mean Black communities pay more for climate resilience
ImpactAlpha, Oct. 11 – A community’s racial makeup, irrespective of economic variables, affects its cost of capital in the $4 trillion US municipal bond …
Impact Muni Bonds | September 26, 2023
San Diego school bond targets green improvements and equitable access
Editor’s note: ImpactAlpha has partnered with HIP Investor to highlight upcoming bond issues with social and/or environmental significance. Disclaimer: Nothing in this post or on …
Dealflow | September 18, 2023
$171 million bond for affordable student housing in Hawaii
Editor’s note: ImpactAlpha has partnered with HIP Investor to highlight upcoming bond issues with social and/or environmental significance. Disclaimer: Nothing in this post or on …
Muni Impact | September 11, 2023
Michigan issues $1.2 billion in bonds to rebuild roads and bridges
Editor’s note: ImpactAlpha has partnered with HIP Investor to highlight upcoming bond issues with social and/or environmental significance. Disclaimer: Nothing in this post or on …
Impact Muni Bonds | August 29, 2023
Wisconsin agency issues $185 million social bond for affordable homeownership
Editor’s note: ImpactAlpha has partnered with HIP Investor to highlight upcoming bond issues with social and/or environmental significance. Disclaimer: Nothing in this post or on …
Gender Smart | August 21, 2023
With gender bonds, Pro Mujer puts Argentina’s capital markets to work for female entrepreneurs
ImpactAlpha, Aug. 21 – The amounts are small, but the implications could be profound. When micro lender Pro Mujer earlier this year distributed …
Impact Muni Bonds | August 16, 2023
Long Island’s $400 million green bond to finance climate-resilient upgrades to the grid
Editor’s note: ImpactAlpha has partnered with HIP Investor to highlight upcoming bond issues with social and/or environmental significance. Disclaimer: Nothing in this post …
Impact Muni Bonds | August 10, 2023
$57 million green bond in San Francisco to fund water sustainability
Editor’s note: ImpactAlpha has partnered with HIP Investor to highlight upcoming bond issues with social and/or environmental significance. Disclaimer: Nothing in this post …
Impact Careers
View the latest impact investing career opportunities. Click here to view our job board
Impact Careers | December 1, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: December 1, 2023
ImpactAlpha, December 1 — Investment funds, foundations, banks and other firms are looking to fill up on impact talent by year’s end. Just …
Impact Careers | November 17, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: November 17, 2023
ImpactAlpha, November 17 — Foundations, fund managers and other investors are hunting for impact talent before the year comes to a close. Just this …
Impact Careers | November 10, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: November 10, 2023
ImpactAlpha, November 10 — Banks, fund managers and other investors are hunting for impact talent before the year comes to a close. Just this …
Impact Careers | November 3, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: November 3, 2023
ImpactAlpha, November 3 — Fund management firms, banks and other investors, particularly on the US east coast, are on the hunt for impact talent. …
Impact Careers | October 27, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: October 27, 2023
Foundations, pension funds and fund management firms are among the organizations on the hunt for impact talent this fall. Just this week: US East …
Impact Careers | October 20, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: October 20, 2023
ImpactAlpha, October 20 — Foundations, banks and fund management firms are among the organizations on the hunt for impact talent this fall. Just this …
Impact Careers | October 13, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: October 13, 2023
ImpactAlpha, October 13 — Impact investors are seeking new talent in the US and globally. Just this week: In the US In Washington, …
Impact Careers | October 6, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: October 6, 2023
ImpactAlpha, October 6 — Foundations, banks and fund management firms are among the organizations on the hunt for impact talent this fall. Just …
Impact Careers | September 29, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: September 29, 2023
ImpactAlpha, September 29 — The majority of openings on this week’s impact jobs board are in big cities such as San Francisco, New York …
Impact Careers | September 22, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: September 22, 2023
ImpactAlpha, September 22 — Impact talent is in demand. Fund managers, foundations and other impact investors are hiring in US and global cities. …
Impact Careers | September 15, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: September 15, 2023
ImpactAlpha, September 15 — Impact investors in the US, Europe and the rest of the world are looking to fill newly-vacant positions ahead …
Impact Careers | September 1, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: September 1, 2023
ImpactAlpha, September 1 — In the US, Europe and other international locations, impact investors are searching for talent to help maximize their impact. …
Agents of Impact
Bold leaders. Taking action. Driving impact.
Agent of Impact
Andrea Armeni, NYU: On a quest to transform finance
February 17, 2023
Rihanna: Shining star power on inclusion in music and business
December 2, 2022
Seth Bannon, Fifty Years: Big swings at big challenges (podcast)
November 4, 2022
Mia Mottley, Barbados: Shaping the global finance agenda.
October 7, 2022
Regina Kline, Enable Ventures: Closing the disability gap
September 23, 2022
Suzanne Biegel, GenderSmart: Making markets work for women and the world
Explore ImpactAlpha
December 4, 2023
Investors earn a return on a ‘forest resilience bond’ in California
December 1, 2023
All eyes on Dubai as COP 28 begins with Stephan Nicoleau
December 1, 2023
The Week in impact investing: Soft power
December 1, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: December 1, 2023
November 30, 2023
Equipping private equity managers to unlock value through sustainability
November 30, 2023
How much science is there behind the Science Based Targets Initiative?
November 27, 2023
Planet Farms raises $40 million for vertical farms in Italy and the UK
November 27, 2023
Fiduciaries have a duty of care to their investors and to the world
November 21, 2023
Big Bets: How large-scale change really happens (excerpt)
November 17, 2023
A $286 million bond seeks to grow north Texas out of its traffic jams
November 17, 2023
To be effective, climate solutions need a gender lens (video)
November 17, 2023
The Week in Impact Investing: Optimize
November 17, 2023
Organizations emerge to help communities access federal funds
November 17, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: November 17, 2023
November 16, 2023
Beyond Capital Ventures backs Lapaire for affordable eye care in Africa
November 15, 2023
Building an ownership movement to close racial wealth gaps
November 15, 2023
Impact investors brave Delhi’s smog to champion climate finance in India
November 14, 2023
These fund managers are putting climate + gender strategies into action
November 14, 2023
Five ways to supercharge energy retrofits
November 12, 2023
Novastar Ventures secures $40 million for African impact startups
November 10, 2023
Deal spotlight: Progress and gaps in global climate finance
November 10, 2023
The Week in Impact Investing: Buffers
November 10, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: November 10, 2023
November 10, 2023
Lessons from the Wilmington coup of 1898
November 9, 2023
Educating young investors to build impactful retirement portfolios
November 9, 2023
ALIVE Ventures backs Teclogi to support truckers in Colombia
November 7, 2023
KKR clinches $2.8 billion for second impact fund
November 7, 2023
Social Finance taps donor-advised funds for impact-first investments
November 7, 2023
ImpactAlpha Open: Lessons from impact failures + US hemp opportunity
November 6, 2023
Women-led Almouneer raises $3.6 million for diabetes care in Egypt
November 3, 2023
The Week in Impact Investing: Battle-Tested
November 3, 2023
Andrea Armeni, NYU: On a quest to transform finance
November 3, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: November 3, 2023
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