Login Subscribe

Investing for a post-affirmative action economy

October 2, 2023

The Brief - Daily Insights into Impact Investing

Read more Read today's Brief
Featured: Ownership Economy

How Dearfield Fund helps Black women buy homes to build wealth and health. Equitable homeownership is a key strategy for narrowing racial wealth gaps. Centering Black women is key to the strategy’s success. Denver-based Dearfield Fund for Black Wealth has deployed $5.7 million in down-payment assistance loans to help Black families build wealth through homeownership. Dearfield has sharpened its strategy to better serve Black women, who make up 60% of the fund’s 150 borrowers so far. “We know that there’s an economic case for investing in Black wealth creation,” says Dearfield’s Aisha Weeks. “There is also a case to invest in Black women so they have a safe physical and emotional space to rest in a world that often doesn't allow Black women to rest and be at peace.”

Dealflow: Frontier and Growth Markets

With $58 million for African startups, Enza Capital will share profits with founders. Nairobi-based Enza Capital invests in tech-driven startups across Africa tackling challenges from climate change to mobility. The four-year old venture investor in seed-stage and growth rounds raised $58 million for its second fund. Enza’s portfolio includes Cloudline, a Cape Town-based maker of autonomous battery and solar-powered airships for cargo delivery; Lagos-based Autochek, which helps Africans get car financing and maintenance; and EarthAcre, a Nairobi firm that models ecosystems and helps landowners adopt regenerative practices. 

Signals: Return on Inclusion

Investing for a post-affirmative action economy. Since the US Supreme Court decision in June barring affirmative action in college admissions, conservative activists have stepped up legal challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, the military, schools, and even investment firms. Over the weekend, an appeals court in Atlanta ordered venture capital firm Fearless Fund to halt grants for Black women business owners, overturning a district court judge’s refusal to block Fearless from enforcing the racial eligibility criteria. Racial inequity remains a systemic risk to the economy, Monique Aiken and William Burckart of The Investment Integration Project, Tynesia Boyea-Robinson of CapEQ, and Policy Link’s Mahlet Getachew argue in a guest post. Racial disparities have cost the economy around $16 trillion in recent decades. “Investors should view this lost growth opportunity as the economic imperative that it is and double down on investing equitably to support all participants in our economy,” the authors write.

Agents of Impact: Follow the Talent

Don’t miss these upcoming ImpactAlpha partner events:

Recommendations for {{this.$store.state.user.first || 'you'}}

Top Stories

Investing for a post-affirmative action economy
Impact Voices | October 2, 2023

How Dearfield Fund helps Black women buy homes to build wealth and health
Gender Smart | October 2, 2023

With $58 million for African startups, Enza Capital will share profits with founders
Africa | October 2, 2023

Kua Ventures expands investments in East Africa’s social impact businesses
Africa | October 2, 2023

Labor and capital align in new movement for worker ownership (Video)
Ownership Economy | September 29, 2023

The Week’s Impact Jobs: September 29, 2023
Impact Careers | September 29, 2023

With catalytic climate financing, Energy Department looks to demonstrate, deploy and decarbonize
Catalytic Capital | September 28, 2023

Overheard at the Congressional Black Caucus: Boosting Black ownership
homeownership | September 28, 2023

Vernier Science Education transitions to a perpetual purpose trust
Dealflow | September 28, 2023

Infravision scores $23 million for drone-enabled grid upgrades
Climate and Clean Tech | September 28, 2023

Elevating our collective leadership and accelerating our shared momentum at the GIIN Impact Forum
Impact Investing | September 27, 2023

Kern Tec lands $12.8 million to make dairy alternatives from upcycled produce
Agrifood Tech | September 27, 2023

Ownership Economy

See More

Muni Impact

See More

Impact Careers

View the latest impact investing career opportunities. Click here to view our job board
Impact Careers | August 11, 2023

The Week’s Impact Jobs: August 11, 2023

ImpactAlpha, Aug. 11 – Impact investors recruiting talent to kick off a busy fall season. Check out the latest jobs and opportunities: East Coast …
Impact Careers | July 28, 2023

The Week’s Impact Jobs: July 28, 2023

ImpactAlpha, July 28 — Impact investors are looking for impact analysts, directors, officers and associates in the US and abroad. Just this week: …
Impact Careers | June 30, 2023

The Week’s Impact Jobs: June 30, 2023

ImpactAlpha, June 30 — Impact associates, managers, analysts and directors are in demand, both in the U.S. and globally. Just this week: US …

See More

Explore ImpactAlpha

Come for the article. Stay for ImpactAlpha’s full package of high-value features.

Agents of Impact who subscribe get our industry-leading morning newsletter, The Brief, as well as full access to subscriber-only Agents of Impact conference calls, podcasts, events, Slack channels and ImpactAlpha.com.

Start Here