Franklin Templeton’s social infrastructure fund invests in hospitals, schools and care facilities

The firm has raised more than €150 million ($167 million) for the fund and made six investments, including a German university complex, a Swedish school, Italian and Danish hospitals, and health center and nursing home facilities in the U.K.

Beyond Coal: Three tech-driven projects model a more diverse and sustainable Appalachian economy

In part two of ImpactAlpha’s series on Appalachia’s post-coal future, three projects offer a potential roadmap for other communities looking to diversify away from coal.

Beyond Coal: Seeding Appalachia’s sustainable future with public and private capital

The signals that the world is moving beyond coal are clear. What comes next in communities long-dependent on coal jobs and economic activity is less so.

Prudential backs Aura to help underbanked customers build their financial futures

Aura is a community development financial institution that offers starter lines of credit to the 66 million un- and under-banked adults in the U.S.

Aunt Bertha raises $16 million to help people connect to community services

Healthcare-focused investment firm Noro-Moseley Partners led Aunt Bertha’s funding round. Digitalis Ventures, Techstars Ventures, Techstars Impact, Capital Factory also participated.

NeedsList raises $1 million for nonprofit crowdfunding platform

The organization closed a $1 million funding round from Amplio Ventures, Marigold Capital, Omidyar Network, Next Wave Impact, Silicon Valley Social Ventures and the Kuo Sharper Fund.

Getting smarter about place-based investing

"Place-based impact investing is no longer a solo endeavor for many foundations across the United States,” write Mission Investors Exchange's Melanie Audette, MacArthur Foundation’s John Balbach and Urban Institute’s Shena Ashley.