Dear Reader,
According to the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), impact investments “…aim to solve social or environmental challenges while generating financial profit.” As so-called “sustainable capitalism” gains momentum, there is need for a mechanism – for both investors and fund-seekers alike — to define and evaluate what characterizes this burgeoning industry.
This coming July will mark the official launch of the Global Impact Investing Rating System (GIIRS). As you will read in this issue, GIIRS is a project brought to life by the not-for-profit B Lab, in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation, USAID, Prudential Financial, Deloitte, Investors’ Circle and the GIIRS Pioneer Funds. GIIRS will include ratings features on companies, funds, markets, industries, performance and more.
In this issue, you will find different perspectives on impact investing and learn about the GIIRS potential. Read about the GIIRS Beta Tour and why a system like GIIRS is important. In our “Face-to-Face,” one of the GIIRS Pioneer Funds, the Grassroots Business Fund, spoke to us about their mission, business model and views on GIIRS. And in our op-ed piece, Morgan Simon of Toniic shares her evolving “Eye On” the importance of impact evaluation.
As always, we want to hear from you! If you have any comments, thoughts or feedback, leave a comment on a specific post or get in touch.
The Editorial Team
Contents
This spring, GIIRS staff took off on a world tour of nine countries and more than 200 companies to test their new impact investing assessment tool.
We look at five challenges facing the impact investing space and how the GIIRS assessment can mitigate those challenges.
Grassroots Business Fund participated in the GIIRS beta tour. Beyond Profit spoke to Soha Ehsani about GBF’s work, impact investing and the future.
Around the world, government policies are directly affecting the impact investing landscape and the magnitude of impact in global markets.
Morgan Simon, Co-Founder of Toniic, writes about her views on impact evaluation and the importance of community involvement.
Michael Stulman Said,
March 24, 2011 @ 9:43 pm
re: Face-to-Face [Grassroots Business Fund participated in the GIIRS beta tour. Beyond Profit spoke to Soha Ehsani about GBF’s work, impact investing and the future.]
The link above wasn’t working but from the homepage you can find the article at http://beyondprofit.com/at-the-grass-roots-level/
Nisha Kumar Kulkarni Said,
March 25, 2011 @ 11:16 am
Hi Michael,
We checked all the links that were sent out and all links, including the Face-to-Face, are working fine. Please contact the BP team if you are having any further problems accessing articles in this issue.
Thank you!