Impact Dispatch - January 2026

We’re more than halfway through January, and several significant world events have shaken us already. Without getting into the details of the stories that are dominating conversations, newspapers and social media feeds, it’s fair to say 2026 is shaping up to be as unpredictable as 2025.

What this means is that for those of us in the impact industry – investors, field builders, standards setters, researchers – we have to move faster without losing our focus. I’ve always said that the role of impact investing is to find and fund solutions to problems, but by no means does this happen in a vacuum nor can this happen without peaceful international cooperation. Impact investing is one of many tools that the world needs in order to build a better future, and with Davos’ focus this week squared on exactly that, it’s an opportunity to elevate impact investing in a big way.

On that note, and per our annual tradition, I’m sharing the key trends we’re watching in the year ahead for impact investing:

• A renewed focus on affordability brings an increased focus on pensions: The momentum we’ve seen building around pensions’ participation in impact investing is going to significantly accelerate this year. As pensions represent the hard earned savings of working people, they have an embedded interest in stewarding capital toward the kinds of investments that represent those workers’ interests – like housing, healthcare and climate solutions. If you haven’t already, have a look at our recent research into how several pension funds and other asset owners are advancing their impact investing practices.
• Countries prioritizing their own backyards means more place-based investing: 2025 saw bold national government leadership in impact investing: The UK established the Office for the Impact Economy and Japanese regulators established the guidelines that enabled the Government Pension Investment Fund to pivot into impact investing. I expect we will see other countries, regions and cities follow suit this year and advance local investment modes to meet the needs and expectations of populations.
• Families continue to ramp up impact investing activities: I expect to see continued engagement in impact investing from wealthy families around the world. This is taking many shapes – from family members getting more active in direct investing to family offices adopting institutional multi-asset class strategies to family businesses supporting long-term sustainability goals through impact investing. We continue to see growing engagement across generations and a growing proportion of families interested in pushing the frontiers of impact through long-term, holistic strategies and more flexible approaches.
• Heavier emphasis on value for money means IMM is more important than ever: Regulatory pressures continue to heat up and budgets continue to tighten – all of which means a greater emphasis on value for money, especially in impact investing. This will bring a sharper focus on determining and prioritizing the things that matter most in terms of delivering better outcomes for people and the planet. Budget constraints, however, may lead to less spending tools or services, meaning people will be much more judicious and deliberate in their expenditures. That being said, I’m encouraged that the broad market acceptance of IRIS+ and the Impact Principles, as well as new tools like the Impact Quantifier and the Impact Target Setter, sets a strong baseline and helps keep IMM top of mind for investors.
• Impact investing ???? international development: In the wake of last year’s drastic and devastating changes for international aid, I expect we’ll see much more emphasis on mobilizing impact capital for development in 2026. This expectation is informed in part by last year’s International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) wherein impact investing, IMM and the GIIN’s IRIS+ system were prominently featured in the official conclusions document which will guide development finance priorities for the next decade. This is a powerful signal that intentional, outcomes-driven capital deployment is becoming central to international development strategies.
• Impact investors will harness AI for good: According to our 2024 research, only half of impact investors around the world are using AI, despite its rapid adoption across the financial sector. AI has the power to improve impact investing’s processes and practices in areas like due diligence, IMM, data convergence, frameworks and verification, among others. Beyond making impact investors’ jobs easier, AI also has the potential to improve impact outcomes as it’s been shown to democratize access to everything from essential services to education to financial security. However, we need to remain aware of how AI can widen disparities and further marginalize the communities we aim to empower if not equitably harnessed and distributed. With AI governance and regulation still maturing, impact investors have an opportunity to help shape its responsible use and extend the reach of its benefits.

We’ll be unpacking these topics and a whole lot of others throughout the year in Impact Dispatch editions, Impact Now episodes, member events and roundtables, Impact Forums and beyond. Registration is now open for our West Coast Impact Forum in San Francisco, and we hope you can join the conversation in person! As always, we’d love to hear what’s on your mind and what you’re keeping an eye out for. Let us know.

Until then, wishing you and your loved ones a happy new year.

• South Africa’s energy landscape is being reshaped by solar. Over the last six years, solar energy has risen to account for roughly 10% of South Africa’s electricity-generating capacity, largely driven by the drop in cost of Chinese solar panels and batteries.
• As Davos 2026 nears, the global agenda is shaping up around five key topics: cooperation, unlocking new sources of growth, investing in people, deploying innovation at scale and building prosperity for the planet.
• A recent article argues that strategic and effective climate action needs to prioritize investing in intermediate-sized cities (50,000 - 1 million people) especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The article highlights that these cities represent opportunities to urbanize differently than we did in previous decades when it comes to public transport, zoning, housing and mobility; via Stockholm Environment Institute.
• According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, foundations need to abandon the ‘side hustle’ approach to impact investing by aligning 100% of their endowment with their mission. This requires dismantling silos between CEOs and CIOs to prioritize measurable social outcomes alongside financial returns.
• A growing number of family offices, particularly in emerging markets, are advocating for impact investing, both vocally and through their investments.
• An op-ed in ImpactAlpha responds to a recent Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) article which declared “There Is No Such Thing as Impact Investing.” The recent op-ed argues that instead of having to choose between philanthropy and commercial investing, there is a third path which can be built by investing in “shared power, durable ownership and structures that allow enterprises and communities to thrive over the long term.”
• According to recent research, annual fundraising for private impact funds dropped by nearly 50% between 2022 and 2024.
• A report commissioned by the Macquarie Group Foundation explores how financial firms and other corporations can help unlock opportunities for greater social impact investing.

• Ahead of Davos, Amit Bouri joined the Think Change podcast hosted by ODI Global, to discuss where impact investing is delivering real outcomes, where expectations may be overstated, and how investors can apply rigor and accountability to deliver measurable outcomes.
• Registration is live for the GIIN’s annual gatherings in San Francisco: the Investor Training on April 7 focusing on impact measurement and management, and the West Coast Impact Forum on April 8. Sign up for special early-bird rates today. .As a reminder, GIIN members always receive discounted ticket prices to our events.
• The GIIN’s annual Impact Investor Survey is open until March 31, 2026. This survey powers much of our research, helping to provide critical insights to the impact investing market. Participants will gain early access to key findings through exclusive webinars in 2026 and optional recognition in survey reports. Learn more and get started today.

• Amit Bouri is on the ground at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos to discuss how we can reimagine growth, transform industries, protect workers and safeguard the planet. Later this week, he will join the Art of Creating Value convening for a panel on climate action, leadership and long-term value creation, as well as a roundtable discussion hosted by the Gates Foundation on the future of gender-smart financing.
• Stay tuned for the latest Impact Now episode coming out next week with Joanne Kellermann. Impact Now dives into how finance leaders can change the way the world invests capital, with each episode highlighting how investing can become a catalyst for systemic positive change and still generate financial returns. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date on episodes.