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Top Stories
Allianz’s SDG Loan Fund leverages a $25 million guarantee to catalyze $1.1 billion
Catalytic Capital | November 29, 2023
Toniic members help CRDC Global raise $3.3 million for a concrete solution to plastic waste
Climate and Clean Tech | November 29, 2023
French nuclear startup NAAREA raises €60 million to build modular reactors
Clean Energy | November 29, 2023
November 29, 2023
The Brief - Daily Insights into Impact Investing
Featured: Catalytic Capital
Allianz’s SDG Loan Fund leverages a $25 million guarantee to catalyze $1.1 billion. A novel financing mechanism has stacked a small guarantee and a larger first-loss reserve to raise $1 billion from the German insurance giant Allianz and Swedish bank Skandia. The purpose: expand financing for small and growing businesses, resilient agriculture and climate solutions in emerging markets. The new SDG Loan Fund, one of the largest “blended finance” funds to date, could serve as a model for efforts to put private capital to work for the Sustainable Development Goals. “It has proven very difficult to create the vehicles that work for that mobilization, so this one was created to show it could be done, and it could be done at scale,” says Debra Schwartz of the MacArthur Foundation, who worked with Allianz and the Dutch development bank FMO to structure the fund (disclosure: MacArthur Foundation leads the Catalytic Capital Consortium, which supports ImpactAlpha’s coverage of catalytic capital). Blending finance to mobilize private capital for climate action will be high on the COP28 global climate summit agenda getting underway this week in Dubai.
Dealflow: The Transition
French nuclear startup NAAREA raises €60 million to build modular reactors. NAAREA, short for Nuclear Abundant Affordable Resourceful Energy for All, is looking to raise €150 million to build a nuclear reactor about the size of a bus that can be operated independently from electrical grids. The vision is to have reactors that “produce power and heat as close as possible to industrial customers to relieve the grid,” said NAAREA’s Jean-Luc Alexandre. The initial funding includes €50 million ($55 million) from French family offices and €10 million from the French government. NARREA is looking to build a full-scale prototype to produce 40 megawatts of electricity, enough to power a car factory or large desalination plant, by 2028.
Signals: Climate Finance
From ‘carve-outs’ to ‘aligners,’ five family-office archetypes for climate investing. Wealthy families are feeling the pull of climate investing. In a new report, the nonprofit CREO, which works with family offices and foundations to help them invest in climate solutions, identifies five archetypes to guide families wherever they are on their journey. From “Carve-outs” to “Aligners,” there is no one path. “Many [families] investing in climate for the first time are coming to CREO with more ambitious climate aspirations,” says CREO's Regine Clement. Many don’t know where to begin, or how to optimize their investments for impact. “All families can see themselves in at least one of the archetypes, in whole or part, whatever the stage or experience of their climate investing or philanthropic activities.”
Agents of Impact: Follow the Talent
The Climate Investment Funds names Tariye Gbadegesin of ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investments as CEO, effective in March. The first African to lead the multilateral lender, she replaces Mafalda Duarte, who left in July to lead the Green Climate Fund… AI Collaborative, a new initiative of Omidyar Group, appoints Martin Tisné, ex- of Luminate, as chief executive officer.
Recommendations for {{this.$store.state.user.first || 'you'}}
Impact Investing | November 17, 2023
Impact(ed): Steering pension funds toward impact with Tara Mei Smith and Marcela Pinilla (podcast)
Pension funds, with hundreds of billions in long-term assets, can be a key source of capital for impact investors and entrepreneurs. Black, Indigenous, …
books | November 21, 2023
Big Bets: How large-scale change really happens (excerpt)
Think of an extraordinarily tough challenge. Here’s a non-exhaustive list to start the conversation. Billions of people are mired in poverty, suffering malnutrition, …
Impact Management | November 21, 2023
Private equity is leaving billions of dollars in sustainability value on the table
Private equity has a significant opportunity to create financial and societal value through sustainability. PE firms that invest in improving the management and …
Top Stories
Allianz’s SDG Loan Fund leverages a $25 million guarantee to catalyze $1.1 billion
Catalytic Capital | November 29, 2023
Toniic members help CRDC Global raise $3.3 million for a concrete solution to plastic waste
Climate and Clean Tech | November 29, 2023
French nuclear startup NAAREA raises €60 million to build modular reactors
Clean Energy | November 29, 2023
From “carve-outs” to “aligners,” five archetypes for family office climate investing
Climate Finance | November 29, 2023
From carbon markets to curbing methane, the case for climate optimism at COP28
Climate Finance | November 28, 2023
Mission Driven Bank Fund secures $110 million for local lenders in low-income communities
Community Finance | November 28, 2023
Investors commit $1.7 million to Aquarech to support fish farmers in Kenya
Africa | November 27, 2023
Ten lessons for 10 years: Inconvenient truths from an impact-first investor
Catalytic Capital | November 27, 2023
Advanced Electric Machines scores £23 million to minimize extractive minerals in electric vehicles
Dealflow | November 27, 2023
Planet Farms raises $40 million for vertical farms in Italy and the UK
Agrifood Tech | November 27, 2023
Fiduciaries have a duty of care to their investors and to the world
Capitalism Reimagined | November 27, 2023
Big Bets: How large-scale change really happens (excerpt)
books | November 21, 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 | 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. …
Impact Careers | August 25, 2023
The Week’s Impact Jobs: August 25, 2023
ImpactAlpha, August 25 — Impact investors in the US and abroad are looking for analysts, managers, associates, interns and fellows ahead of a …
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
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
November 1, 2023
California kicks off the era of mandatory climate disclosure
November 1, 2023
Busting three common ‘scope 3’ myths
October 31, 2023
Urgency and optimism on the 2023 impact investing conference circuit
October 31, 2023
ImpactAlpha Open: Socap’s defiant optimists + US ‘green bank’
October 31, 2023
DOE awards $1.3 billion to ease transmission bottlenecks
October 30, 2023
TELUS’ Pollinator Fund for Good backs three impact tech ventures
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