GIIN in the news Press releases

  • In Developing Economies, Equity Beats Microfinance

    via Fortuneby Alan Patricof

    April 19, 2011

    Summary

    This article from Fortune details the growing investor interest in small and growing businesses in emerging markets, including the new Global Entrepreneurship Program from the US State Department.

    From original article:

    "While MFIs [microfinance institutions] do play an important role in development, there is an even greater need to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which have shown to have the greatest potential for job growth in most places around the world. These businesses can act as the catalysts for sustainable economic development, employment, and the production of affordable goods and services in both developed and developing countries.

    "SMEs provide over 30% of total employment and generate 16% of GDP in low-income countries. In middle-income countries, SMEs capture an even larger share at 57% and 39%, respectively. But they are often considered too risky for commercial investment and need much more investment capital than can be provided by microfinance."

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  • New Energy Crisis; New Investment Choices

    via Reutersby Nick Olivari

    April 12, 2011

    Summary

    According to this Reuter's artcile, the sustainable energy investment sector is moving from a niche market to the investing mainstream. As evidence, reporter Nick Olivari includes the perspectives of green fund managers who are aiming for market-beating returns.

    From original article:

    "The rise in the sector may be more sustainable and less energy-dependent, say the fund managers, who say that do-gooders often make good money by paying attention to environmental impacts.

    "'We are not a non-profit,' says Jack Robinson, 68, portfolio manager for the Boston-based Winslow Green Growth Fund. 'Our clients and shareholders want to make money but prefer to make their money consistent with their values.'"

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  • Jane Wales Of Global Philanthropy Forum On The State Of Philanthropy Today

    via Huffington Postby Rahim Kanani

    April 10, 2011

    Summary

    In this interview with the Huffington Post, Global Philanthropy Forum founder Jane Wales discusses the current landscape in philanthropy, including movement towards more rigorous impact measurement and the growing interest in impact investing.

    From original article:

    "I think we need to be intentional about creating an environment from which an impact economy can emerge... [a] requirement would be a set of clear standards so that you know success when you see it. These are the kinds of tools that enable impact investing and initiatives. The Global Impact Investing Network, or GIIN, is moving the field towards this important goal through its Impact Reporting and Investment Standards, known as IRIS."

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  • Company Aims to Offer 'Green' Dividend to Investors

    via Vancouver Sunby Peter Hadekel

    April 06, 2011

    Summary

    New funds are launching to meet the market demands of the newly emerging impact investing asset class. This article in the Vancouver Sun profiles one new fund.

    From original article:

    "The idea, says Moore, is to pursue a 'double bottom line' - making money while improving the environment or providing some other positive impact to society.

    "Impact investment is gaining visibility as an asset class. A recent report by J.P. Morgan and the Rockefeller Foundation says there are at least 1,000 such opportunities worldwide with an expected investment value of between $183 billion and $667 billion over the next decade."

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  • The Gates Foundation Reveals How It Makes Program-Related Investments

    via The Chronicle of Philanthropyby Nicole Wallace

    April 04, 2011

    Summary

    The Chronicle of Philanthropy highlights the program-related investment strategy of GIIN Investors' Council member the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which was described in detail by Senior Program Investments Officer Andrew Farnum at the Skoll World Forum.

    From original article:

    "All of the investments focus on the foundation's areas of interest - education in the United States, international development, global health - and are the result of close collaboration between program and investment officers. Since the program was announced in late 2009, the Seattle foundation has made investments totaling $150-million.

    "When a program officer suggests a potential investment, the investment team analyzes the deal to estimate what the financial return is likely to be and compares that to the 5 percent annual return that the foundation expects from its traditional investment portfolio."

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  • The Phone Booth

    via Forbesby Alvaro Rodriguez Arregui

    March 31, 2011

    Summary

    Alvaro Rodriguez Arregui, co-founder of Latin America-focused impact investing fund IGNIA, shares his motivations for investing in businesses providing critical goods and services to people living at the base of the socioeconomic pyramid.

    From original article:

    "The question always at the top of our mind is how to help deliver the rest of the world to the base of the socioeconomic pyramid, and the base of the socioeconomic pyramid to the rest of the world. Despite their proximity to urban areas, slums are often anything but with respect to access to goods and services."

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  • RFPs For Good

    via Financial Advisor Greenby Thomas Kostigen

    March 24, 2011

    Summary

    Author of Financial Advisor Green's impact investing blog, Thomas Kostigan, describes the open comment period underway by GIIN Investors' Council member the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to garner feedback on their upcoming call for impact investing proposals.

    From original article:

    "The call, to be issued by OPIC this month, will be open to equity, debt and hybrid strategies in any sector that relates to social and environmental impact investing in developing countries.

    "This is a big step in generating interest and investment activity among mainstream investment advisors for impact investing."

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  • New Orleans' Mardi Gras for Entrepreneurs

    via Daily Beastby Catherine Lyons

    March 24, 2011

    Summary

    GIIN Investors' Council member Calvert Foundation is joining other venture capitalists at the third annual New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, where social businesses present their ideas to impact investors.

    From original article:

    "Venture capitalists from the around the country are recognizing the opportunity New Orleans offers to entrepreneurs with crazy ideas. Daryn Dodson came down to New Orleans right after Katrina with a team of fellow MBA students from Stanford University. Three years later, he has returned to [New Orleans Entrepreneur Week] NOEW with Calvert Funds as a potential investor in some of New Orleans' companies.

    "'The venture-capital community flies between the East Coast and West Coast and hasn't recognized the emerging market economy of New Orleans' resurgence,' says Dodson, venture consultant to the board at Calvert. 'I work in impact investing, which is finding entrepreneurs that are impacting society with substantial return. If you're looking for a perfect place to do that, New Orleans is it.'"

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  • Can Impact Investing Make a Difference?

    via Investment Weekby Alex Weiland

    March 17, 2011

    Summary

    Investment Week profiles the emerging impact investing asset class in this piece by Alex Weiland, Chief Investment Officer of Truestone Impact Investment Management.

    From original article:

    "This new asset class is designed to generate market rate returns while investing in sub-sectors such as agriculture, sustainable forestry, renewable energy, housing, education, health, SME finance and micro-finance, mainly in the underdeveloped world but also in deprived developed communities.Pie in the sky?

    "Some skeptics might deem this to be pie in the sky but a recent report from J.P. Morgan predicts that impact investing could attract up to $1trn (GBP 620bn) over the next decade. The same report suggests that potential profits could be as high as GBP 667bn (GBP 422bn)."

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  • Toby Eccles

    via The Independentby Sarah Arnott

    March 16, 2011

    Summary

    The Independent profiles GIIN board member Toby Eccles for his work developing a social impact bond which will finance prison recidivism prevention programs in the United Kingdom.

    From original article:

    "Imagine a world where the might of private capital could be harnessed to address society's most intractable problems. It sounds obvious, but social issues are so complex they make it mind-bogglingly difficult to do. But Toby Eccles is convinced he can crack the problem.

    "The former UBS Warburg corporate financier has already launched the world's first ever Social Impact Bond. And that single pilot scheme could become a thriving, mainstream market funding everything from drug rehabilitation schemes to keeping children out of state care within as little as 10 years, he says."

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  • Want to Make a Difference? Invest Responsibly

    via Huffington Postby Amy Domini

    March 13, 2011

    Summary

    Huffington Post guest columnist Amy Domini, founder and CEO of Domini Social Investments and author of Socially Responsible Investing, takes note of the increased use of "high-impact investing" as a term to describe investments into highly impactful companies. Domini recognizes that the activities of today's impact investors build upon the work of the socially responsible investing movement.

    From original article:

    "What makes a manager a specialist in socially responsible investing? It's three things. One, they select investments by applying standards that include impacts on people and the planet. Two, they are activist owners and engage in issues either directly through filing shareholder resolutions or less directly through policy work. Three, they add investments into highly impactful entities such as community development loan funds for farmers, micro-credit funds and start-ups in positive change fields."

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  • Betting on Green

    via The Economist

    March 09, 2011

    Summary

    Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla is making aggressive impact investments in energy alternatives. This piece in the Economist profiles Khosla's approach and philosophy about impact investing in environmental solutions to climate change.

    From original article:

    "Mr. Khosla has a different plan to save the planet. He is investing over $1 billion of his clients' money in "black swans" - ideas with the potential for sudden jumps in technology that promise huge environmental benefits, easy scalability and rapid payback. The catch? Mr. Khosla expects nine out of ten of his investments to fail.

    ***

    "Although Khosla Ventures' two funds are fully subscribed, and have invested about $1.3 billion in over 40 companies, billions more dollars and many more start-ups will be needed to hatch a flock of black swans. Mr. Khosla estimates that the amount of investment required to replace all the petrol consumed in America with renewable fuels will run into the hundreds of billions of dollars. But other high-tech venture capitalists seem to be steering clear of risky green investments."

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