editorial director at ImpactAlpha
Tonya Allen speaks with McKnight Foundation partners in Minnesota.
Return on Inclusion | May 8, 2024
McKnight Foundation’s Tonya Allen: Philanthropy has the right and responsibility to counter attacks on DEI (Q&A)
Tonya Allen won’t take the bait. The president of Minnesota-based McKnight Foundation isn’t retreating in the face of right-wing attacks on diversity, equity …
The Brief | May 8, 2024
The Brief: McKnight Foundation’s Tonya Allen on countering the attacks on DEI
Greetings Agents of Impact! In today’s Brief: Featured: Returns on Inclusion McKnight Foundation’s Tonya Allen: Philanthropy has the right and responsibility to counter …
Agrifood Tech | May 8, 2024
Kenya’s iProcure, used by a million farmers, is the latest African funding crunch casualty
The Agtech startup iProcure launched a decade ago to untangle supply-chain logistics for Africa’s hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers. Now the company …
Photo by Olympus Terminals.
Climate and Clean Tech | May 8, 2024
TPG Rise Climate acquires renewable fuels storage and delivery company Olympus Terminals
California-based Olympus (formerly Chemoil), transports and stores renewable fuels, such as renewable diesel. The fuel, made from fats and oils, such as soybean …
Impact Voices | May 8, 2024
ESG will be key to supplying ‘green’ metals needed for the energy transition
Achieving net-zero emissions requires transitioning from a fossil-fueled economy to one energized through metals and materials. Nearly $2 trillion in investment in mining …
Clean Energy | May 7, 2024
Zanskar snags $30 million for AI-based geothermal energy exploration
Geothermal energy, which taps into the Earth’s heat for energy, is gaining adoption across the globe for industrial and residential use. Salt Lake …
The Liist | May 7, 2024
The Liist, May 2024: $500 million impact funds for climate resilience in Asia, regenerative farmland, and green infrastructure
Amid protracted wave of extreme heat in Southeast Asia, responsAbility’s new $500 million Asia-focused climate fund is right on time. The Zurich-based impact …
The Brief | May 7, 2024
The Brief: Half-billion dollar climate resilience funds
Greetings Agents of Impact! In today’s Brief: Featured: The Liist Trio of $500 million impact funds tackle climate resilience in Asia, regenerative farmland …
Smart consumption icons set outline vector. Vehicle autonomous. Carbon smart neon color isolated
ImpactAlpha Open | May 7, 2024
ImpactAlpha Open: Big Tech carbon-market strategies + Puerto Rican’s inclusive revival
Greetings, Agents of Impact! Welcome to the latest ImpactAlpha Open, our free weekly newsletter. 👋 Did you know that professionals from J.P. Morgan Chase …
Financial Inclusion | May 7, 2024
MAA General Assurance Philippines enlists backers to strengthen microinsurance
The weeks-long heatwave broiling the Philippines (and Southeast Asia broadly) underscores the archipelago’s vulnerability to weather extremes, which disproportionately affect low-income populations. “Access …
Climate Finance | May 7, 2024
UN kicks off $100 million fund to protect displaced communities from climate shocks
There are more than 110 million displaced people worldwide – an all time high, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. More …
John Palfrey, Don Chen, Tonya Allen, Tamara Larsen at MIE 2022 National Conference | Photo Credit: Mission Investors Exchange
Catalytic Capital | May 6, 2024
Foundation Playbook: Leading endowments seek to model seek diversity, equity and mission alignment
“There has never been a more crucial moment to bring together the leading impact investors into one city and one room,” Matt Onek …
Photo by Invest Appalachia.
The Brief | May 6, 2024
The Brief: Leadership moment for philanthropic endowments
Greetings Agents of Impact! We’re looking forward to seeing many of you out and about this week. Zuleyma Bebell and I are in …
Dealflow | May 6, 2024
Invest Appalachia closes $35.5 million for place-based impact in Central Appalachia
ImpactAlpha, May 6 — The MacArthur Foundation has led a new batch of limited partners to help the Invest Appalachia fund reach a …
Agrifood Tech | May 6, 2024
S2G Ventures and At One Ventures back Miraterra to help farmers monitor soil health
ImpactAlpha, May 6 — Healthy soils are critical for food security, farming profitability and carbon sequestration. Vancouver-based Miraterra launched in 2022 to provide …
Catalytic Capital | May 6, 2024
Pension funds help catalyze gender-lens investments in Asia
In the dynamic economic environment of the Asia-Pacific region, a significant investment opportunity is emerging: institutional investors’ capacity to champion gender equality through …
Matt Onek at MIE 2022 National Conference | Photo Credit: Mission Investors Exchange
Catalytic Capital | May 3, 2024
Inspiring impact at Mission Investors Exchange 2024 national conference
This article is part of a partnership between ImpactAlpha and Mission Investors Exchange (MIE) to present new ideas and perspectives in impact investing. …
The Brief | May 3, 2024
The Week in Impact Investing: Market Making
TGIF, Agents of Impact! 🗣 Investing with intentionality. Agents of Impact move markets. Fed up with the pace of Puerto Rico’s disaster recovery, Eduardo Carrera of …
Photo by Sebastian Unrau on Unsplash.
Dealflow | May 3, 2024
The Week’s Dealflow: May 3, 2024
ImpactAlpha’s deal news coverage for the week: Agrifood investing. AgDevCo acquired a minority equity stake in Agris, a Kenyan sustainable producer and distributor of fruits …
careers | May 3, 2024
The Week’s Jobs: May 3, 2024
Foundations, private equity investors and fund managers are on the hunt for impact talent around the world. This week: In New York The Pop Culture …
Podcasts | May 2, 2024
The state of blended finance, restoring forests and carbon market credibility, and investing endowments for DEI
Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: The rebound in blended finance; how Big Tech …
Impact Investing | May 2, 2024
How Big Tech can restore forests – and credibility in voluntary carbon markets
In the state of Michoacan in western Mexico, indigenous communities have secured Forest Stewardship Council certification for their sustainably managed biodiverse temperate forests. …
The Brief | May 2, 2024
The Brief: Can Apple, Microsoft and other tech companies revive forest carbon credits?
Greetings Agents of Impact! And a special shoutout to those of you in Philadelphia for ImpactPHL’s Total Impact Summit. Say hi to ImpactAlpha’s …
Deploy! | May 2, 2024
10,000 Communities: With partners, Milken Institute is building a market to drive investment in community infrastructure
The recent announcement of 60 winners under the $7 billion Solar for All program capped the Environmental Protection Agency’s rollout of the Greenhouse …
Clean Energy | May 2, 2024
India lists a yen-denominated green bond for renewable projects
About 70% of India’s electricity comes from dirty fuels, especially coal. The government is aiming to generate 50% of its power from renewable …
Credit: Vaulted Deep
Climate and Clean Tech | May 2, 2024
The Frontier tech alliance inks offtake agreement with Vaulted Deep
Houston-based Vaulted Deep takes carbon-rich waste from landfills, feedlots, paper mills and other industrial facilities and converts it to biomass to be buried …
The Brief | May 1, 2024
The Brief: Foundation investments in health equity through a diversity lens
Greetings Agents of Impact! In today’s Brief: Featured: Inclusive Communities Foundations are putting racial equity at the center of impact investments in health. …
Photo Copyright 2023 Caroline Yang. Used with permission from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Inclusive Economy | May 1, 2024
Changing how capital flows through communities to improve health
This series of guest posts is part of a partnership between ImpactAlpha and Mission Investors Exchange to present new ideas and perspectives in …
Latin America | May 1, 2024
BTG Pactual’s Timberland Investment Group secures $1.2 billion for timberland in Latin America
Timberland Investment Group, a division of Brazilian bank BTG Pactual, closed its inaugural Latin America timberland fund with $860 million in 2015. The …
Yuvo Health team photo | Photo provided by Cal Wellness
Impact Voices | May 1, 2024
Investment manager diversity matters when investing for health equity
Editor’s note: This article is part of a partnership between ImpactAlpha and Mission Investors Exchange (MIE) to present new ideas and perspectives in …
Credit: Farm to Feed
Agrifood Tech | May 1, 2024
Renew Capital invests in Farm to Feed to curb food waste in Kenya
“Imperfect produce” startups that salvage fresh foods destined for the landfill can be found throughout the US and Europe. Nairobi-based Farm to Feed …
Catalytic Capital | May 1, 2024
Catalyzing local investment and liquidity models to meet Africa’s sustainable finance needs
This past month’s extreme flooding in Kenya, heatwave in West Africa and drought in Southern Africa reveal a continent on the frontlines of …
Eduardo Carrera of Platform for Social Impact showcases the Oasis development in San Juan | Photo credit: PSI
Latin America | April 30, 2024
In Puerto Rico, mobilizing billions for economic mobility with capital from across the spectrum
Puerto Rico has a window in which to turn disaster recovery into economic revival. “We didn’t choose it, but this is our time,” …
Catalytic Capital | April 30, 2024
Blended finance rebounds in 2023 with focus on climate and bigger deals
Blended finance is back. The use of catalytic capital to de-risk renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, small business lending and health and education in …
The Brief | April 30, 2024
The Brief: Puerto Rico’s inclusive economic revival
Greetings, Agents of Impact, and welcome to all of the new subscribers who signed up during our 10th anniversary celebration. The third edition …
Platform for Social Impact's site visit to the Oasis development in San Juan | Photo credit: PSI
ImpactAlpha Latin America | April 30, 2024
ImpactAlpha Latin America: Turning disaster into revival in Puerto Rico
Saludos, Agents of Impact! 👋 Welcome to the latest edition of ImpactAlpha Latin America. Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to join Eduardo Carrera (above) in …
ImpactAlpha Open | April 30, 2024
ImpactAlpha Open: Impact investments in AI + climate capital at family offices
Greetings, Agents of Impact! Welcome to the latest ImpactAlpha Open, our free weekly newsletter with the top news and opportunities in impact investing and …
Photo by Sunwealth.
Dealflow | April 30, 2024
RSF Social Finance adds trio of ‘high-impact social enterprises’ to its loan portfolio
San Francisco-based fund manager RSF Social Finance has drawn capital from a social investment fund to allocate a combined $5.5 million to three …
Latin America | April 30, 2024
Latin American family offices add investing tools to philanthropic toolkit
Latin America is witnessing a transformative trend in family office philanthropy: the shift towards impact investing. Traditionally, philanthropy in the region has been …
FLII's Carolina Puerta at FLII 2024
Latin America | April 30, 2024
These impact investors are finding opportunities and doing deals in Latin America (videos)
How will more investors increase their allocations of capital to Latin American impact funds and ventures scale up? One by one. “We think …
ImpactAlpha Latin America | April 30, 2024
How Fundación Bancolombia invests in Colombia’s small businesses for rural economic development
Rural economic development is a complex issue, including in Colombia. Rural regions are often culturally diverse areas, but have limited access to quality …
Credit: Cusi
ImpactAlpha Latin America | April 30, 2024
IMPAQTO Capital backs Ecuadorian healthy snacks company Cusi (video)
Cusi sources quinoa, yucca, green plantains, cocoa and other local plants for its line of healthy snack foods from 60 smallholder farmers and …
Corporate Impact | April 29, 2024
Better Brew: Josh Gotbaum on what the Starbucks fight means for labor – and impact
Who’s center-stage in this pivotal year for US organized labor? Amtrak Joe Biden, the self-proclaimed labor-friendliest president in history? More like the baristas …
The Brief | April 29, 2024
The Brief: Making labor’s case to shareholders
Greetings Agents of Impact! In today’s Brief: Featured: Worker Power Better brew: Josh Gotbaum on what the Starbucks fight means for labor – …
Climate Finance | April 29, 2024
Investors re-up in carbon creditor South Pole after a turbulent year
South Pole appears to be steadying the ship after the fallout of an expose on “faulty credits” last March. The episode was a …