GIIN in the news Press releases

  • Rockefeller's High-Impact Investment

    via Huffington Postby David Bank

    September 18, 2012

    Summary

    The Huffington Post published an article from ImpactIQ that discusses the evolution of the impact investing industry and the Rockefeller Foundation's involvement.

    From original article: "Rockefeller is seeking to 'test ways of improving investment readiness on the demand side.' That's impact industry-speak for expanding the pipeline of investment-ready ventures with management teams, business plans and the ability to scale up operations."

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  • Goldman Sachs' Foray Into Impact Investing

    via Forbesby Willy Foote

    September 17, 2012

    Summary

    Willy Foote of Root Capital provides his thoughts on Goldman Sachs' involvement in the U.S. pay-for-success scheme.

    From original article: "Kudos to Goldman Sachs for taking a step into the nascent impact investing market—whether for PR reasons, or genuine concern, or a little of both. More and more investors crave these new opportunities to put their private capital to good social use. Let's hope more Wall Street leaders put skin in the game."

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  • Social investment bank in GBP 37m deals

    via Financial Timesby Sarah Neville

    September 12, 2012

    Summary

    The article covers Big Society Capital's announcement of its initial investments, worth GBP 37m.

    From original article: "Nick O'Donohoe, chief executive, told the FT that for the first time, investors would be able to invest in a professionally-managed fund dedicated to investing in specific social outcomes. Until now, he said, people who wanted to invest in social impact bonds had had to undertake their own research and analysis before deciding where to put their money."

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  • Marrying cash and change

    via Christian Science Monitorby Evan Weaver

    August 29, 2012

    Summary

    The article surveys the state of social stock exchanges around the world.

    From original article: "A question these new exchanges have been asked is why social businesses wouldn't simply list on traditional stock exchanges. Aggregating mission-oriented businesses on a separate exchange, but one which uses the same functionality and transparent vetting process as traditional exchanges, drives down transactions costs for all, including corporate brokers, market-makers, and social impact investors. It becomes a one-stop-shop for those interested in double- and triple-bottom lines."

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  • Being Good Pays

    via The Economist

    August 17, 2012

    Summary

    The magazine notes that a scheme aiming to help keep youngsters out of jail comes to America.

    From original article:

    "A social impact bond is an experimental financing method which connects financially-stressed municipalities with private investors to fund public projects at no initial cost to taxpayers."

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  • Making a profit from making a difference

    via Financial Timesby Sophia Grene

    August 04, 2012

    Summary

    The article notes the growing interest in impact investments by high net worth individuals and institutions alike.

    From original article:

    "Impact investing, most commonly defined as investments made with the intention of helping to solve a social or environmental problem as well as generating a financial return, has seen growing interest from investors, particularly since the financial crisis."

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  • Goldman to Invest in City Jail Program, Profiting if Recidivism Falls Sharply

    via The New York Timesby David W. Chen

    August 01, 2012

    Summary

    New York City will be the first in the U.S. to test social impact bonds.

    From original article:

    "New York City, embracing an experimental mechanism for financing social services that has excited and worried government reformers around the world, will allow Goldman Sachs to invest nearly $10 million in a jail program, with the pledge that the financial services giant would profit if the program succeeded in significantly reducing recidivism rates."

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  • Social impact investing catches on in the U.S.

    via Reutersby Manuela Badawy

    August 01, 2012

    Summary

    The article discusses the partnerships behind pay for success bonds in the U.S.

    From original article:

    "Taxpayers, investors and service providers are hoping to benefit from the pay-for-success contracts and social bonds, while those in need reap the rewards."

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  • How Impact Investing Can Revitalize Distressed Communities

    via Huffington Postby Geri Stengel

    July 30, 2012

    Summary

    From original article:

    "These investors are a mix of individual investors interested in real estate, financial advisors who manage money, and other assorted professionals who provide financial lending products, such as banks, community development financial institutions. They are interested in blending social with financial return, but are still exploring the options of this new sector."

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  • Advisors Learning the Ropes of Impact Investing

    via Financial Advisor magazineby Jeff Schlegel

    July 29, 2012

    Summary

    The magazine notes the gains financial advisors can realize by getting involved in impact investing.

    From original article:

    "For advisors, engaging in the impact investing space can add value to their practice by helping provide solutions for clients interested in this area. It also can be a differentiator when it comes to attracting new assets — particularly among the Gen X and Y crowds as they accumulate assets and seek financial planning help."

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  • Smart Money Says Invest in Women

    via Forbesby Geri Stengel

    July 24, 2012

    Summary

    The article discusses impact investing and Calvert Foundation's Women Investing in Women Initiative.

    From original article:

    "Investing for both return and social good is called impact investing. You're getting a two-fer: financial and social return. You don't need to earn big bucks or amass the kind of money needed to qualify as an angel investor."

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  • Piecing Together Impact Investing, $4 Billion at a Time

    via Huffington Postby Ben Thornley

    July 15, 2012

    Summary

    This piece says that one of the great myths about impact investing is that the practice is ill-defined and therefore lacks integrity.

    From original article:

    "The two clear-cut requirements of an impact investment provide a perfectly sufficient foundation: one, that impact investments are made with the explicit intent to create social and/or environmental benefits in addition to financial returns; and two, that those benefits are quantified."

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