GIIN in the news Press releases

  • Social missions

    via Financial Timesby Sarah Murray

    May 17, 2012

    Summary

    The article discusses the momentum of impact investing, as well as the hurdles that hinder it from increasing scale.

    From original article:

    "What is needed before this emerging alternative-asset class can attract mainstream investors, argue its proponents, is a new ecosystem of legislation, tax laws, ratings providers, analysts and intermediaries."

    Read original article

  • Investing For Global Impact

    via Forbesby Michael Schlein, Diana Taylor

    May 15, 2012

    Summary

    Michael Schlein, Accion's President and CEO, and Diana Taylor, its Chairman of the Board, discuss Accion's approach to impact investing.

    From original article:

    "What's required on the financial front is patient investing, focused on businesses that are earlier in their development cycle than those normally considered 'investable.' This capital must be risk-tolerant, provided in combination with technical and strategic expertise, as well as access to potential partners and, when appropriate, later-stage investors."

    Read original article

  • Decoding Impact Investing's Alphabet Soup of Measurement Tools

    via CSR Wireby Beth Busenhart

    May 06, 2012

    Summary

    The author, from App-X, explains the differences between IRIS, GIIRS, and PULSE.

    From original article:

    "Before exploring their differences, it's helpful to recognize that PULSE, GIIRS and IRIS have a shared goal: To increase the flow of capital to investments that solve social and environmental problems while generating a financial return. Each solution, however, plays a unique role."

    Read original article

  • Omidyar Network gives $2 million for 'social impact bonds'

    via San Francisco Business Timesby Steven E.f. Brown

    April 30, 2012

    Summary

    Omidyar Network invests in social impact bonds.

    From original article:

    "Social impact bonds are meant to pay for projects that 'reduce the need for expensive emergency-response and safety-net services,' said Redwood City’s Omidyar Network."

    Read original article

  • Morgan Stanley Offering Advisors Sustainable Investing Platform

    via Financial Advisorby Dorothy Hinchcliff

    April 25, 2012

    Summary

    Morgan Stanley Smith Barney is launching a platform for its financial advisors to offer clients investments with positive social and environmental impact in what appears to be a major push to offer sustainable investing to mainstream investors.

    From original article:

    "MSSB said the platform will offer public and private market products to clients through their financial advisors and is the first phase of the firm's plan to meet investors' desires for investment opportunities with positive social and environmental impact without sacrificing investment performance."

    Read original article

  • Hillary Clinton opens Global Impact Economy Forum

    via UPI.com

    April 25, 2012

    Summary

    The U.S. State Department held the forum to increase collaboration among civil society, investors, businesses, entrepreneurs, and governments.

    From original article

    "We have an opportunity with the convergence of the recognition on the part of government, the private sector, civil society, that we can be so much more effective working together than working at cross-purposes."

    Read original article

  • Finance can fund a revolution in giving

    via FT Opinionby Alexander Friedman, Patty Stonesifer

    April 24, 2012

    Summary

    Alexander Friedman, CIO at UBS, and Patty Stonesifer, former CEO of the Gates Foundation, write in the Financial Times that finance can fund a revolution in giving.

    From original article:

    "Over the past 50 years, the financial industry has built a huge infrastructure to manage investments and along the way has been roundly criticised for seemingly subjugating the welfare of society to short-term profits. It now has an opportunity to change the debate by opening the capital markets to the social sector in a manner that is good for investors and great for the world."

    Read original article

  • LeapFrog to acquire stake in Ghanaian insurance firm Express Life with USD 5.5m investment

    via Ghana Business News

    April 23, 2012

    Summary

    Ghana Business News covers LeapFrog Investments' acquisition of a majority stake in a Ghananian insurance firm.

    From original article:

    "The $5.5 million investment will allow LeapFrog to acquire a majority stake in Express Life Insurance Company, a Ghanaian insurance firm founded by Obed Kweku Danquah, Executive Chairman of Express Group of Companies."

    Read original article

  • Big Society Capital likely to invest up to GBP 50m in first year

    via Third Sectorby David Ainsworth

    April 16, 2012

    Summary

    Third Sector Online reports on Big Society Capital

    From original article:

    "Nick O'Donohoe, Chief Executive of Big Society Capitol, told Third Sector that the majority of investments in the first year would be in new social finance funds. In most cases, BSC will be the 'cornerstone' investor—the first organisation to invest capital in the hope that this will attract cash from other sources."

    Read original article

  • Greed for Good

    via Slateby Vijay Vaitheeswaran

    April 08, 2012

    Summary

    Slate offers a perspective on philanthropy, philanthrocapitalism, and impact metrics.

    From original article:

    "Capitalism can transform from a model of greed is good to greed for good. Incentives and purpose matter, and enlightened corporations that take a long-term view will find taking on some of the world's difficult global problems can be profitable. That does not mean that the role for government or the individual is diminished."

    Read original article

  • Daniel Izzo on Brazil's First Impact Investing Venture Capital Firm

    via Forbesby Rahim Kanani

    April 06, 2012

    Summary

    Forbes interviews Daniel Izzo, co-founder and partner of Vox Capital, Brazil's first impact investing venture capital firm, which focuses on high potential businesses that serve the Brazilian low income population through products and services with the potential to improve their lives.

    From original article: "Vox Capital's current portfolio has 6 companies...The impact we, as a fund, have is completely related and dependent on the impact our portfolio companies deliver through their products and services...We are measuring the impact of our portfolio companies through IRIS and GIIRS."

    Read original article

  • Big Society Fund Launches with GBP 600 million to Invest

    via BBC News

    April 03, 2012

    Summary

    BBC News covers the U.K.'s Big Society Capital launch with almost USD 1 billion.

    From original article:

    "Big Society Capital has GBP 600m, of which the majority comes from unused cash in bank accounts that had been dormant for more than 15 years. The fund will back social enterprises that prove they can repay an investment through the income they generate."

    Read original article