Welcome to our monthly Impact News Roundup, where we highlight interesting news in the impact investing industry and some of our own highlights. We are dedicated to keeping our stakeholders informed and that starts here. Subscribe to our newsletter today!
How are Institutional Investors Thinking about Impact Investing?
Last week we published the first of three findings briefs from our fall 2020 Impact Investing Market Research.
We interviewed faith-based organizations and foundations, including a number of previous investors in Oikocredit. What did we learn?
Microfinance Industry Resilient in 2020 with Strong Growth: Equifax-SIDBI Study
Microfinance grew 16% in India in 2020 - will this growth be seen in the global market? Is this a small positive signal on the ability of the market to rebound?
From ESG to Impact, Aligning Your Investments with Your Values
But what even is impact investing? And does it have anything to do with the ESG (environmental, social, and governance), sustainable, or responsible public market funds that have exponentially increased in scale in North America in 2020?
Opinion: Maverick ‘Impact-First’ Investing Sits Between Philanthropy and Market-Rate Returns
Institutional investors understand the needs of impact-first investing with concessional returns... but what about action?
"65% of family offices believe they have a role to play in alleviating economic inequality, yet only a tiny amount of their collective wealth currently flows to the impact-first investments purpose-built to alleviate poverty, disease, inequality, social injustice ..."
Making Virtual Connections with Pro Mujer
On April 14, 132 attendees from around the globe took part in Oikocredit International’s Virtual Roadshow that highlighted its partner, Pro Mujer. Ronaldo Schmidt, Chief Financial Officer at Pro Mujer, spoke of their success in Bolivia. Their work has dispersed over $4 billion in loans to more than 2 million women while also providing access to health care.
Commentary: How Institutional is Impact Investing?
According to the International Finance Corporation impact investments represents just .05% of private capital - what will it take to change this?
Pursuing Justice Through Faith-based Impact Investing
We love this introduction to Amanda Joseph and why faith investors can and do make impact.
"In doing this work, we were part of a long and storied tradition. Faith institutions helped create the impact investing market as we know it today."