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What's New in Mission Investing?
Packard Foundation Invests $5 Million to Combat Climate Change
(October 28)
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is making a $5 million equity investment in the Althelia Carbon Fund, to support REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) and agroforestry projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect natural ecosystems and benefit local communities in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The Foundation joins a cadre of European investors bringing the total commitments for the Fund to over $110 million.
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Mellon Capital Launches Carbon Efficiency Strategy With $100 Million From The McKnight Foundation
(October 20)
Mellon Capital announced the launch of its Carbon Efficiency Strategy with a $100 million investment from The McKnight Foundation. The strategy "invests in the broad U.S. stock market, underweighting inefficient carbon emitters, such as utilities over-exposed to coal generation, while overweighting companies with lower carbon intensities. Additionally, the strategy bars investments in coal mining and production companies." McKnight's $100 million investment is in addition to its June 2014 commitment of $200 million to support transitions to a low-carbon economy and sustainable regional development in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
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Recent Blog Posts
What is Mission Investing?
The illustration is a rendering of The F. B. Heron Foundation's Mission-Related Investment Continuum.
Mission investments are made by foundations and other mission-based organizations to further their philanthropic goals. Mission investments (like impact investments) include any type of investment that is intended and designed to generate both a measurable social or environmental benefit and a financial return. Mission investments include:
- Mission-related investments (MRIs) that are expected to generate a market-rate financial return on investment comparable to an ordinary investment of a similar type and risk profile. They are designed to have a positive impact while contributing to the foundation’s long-term financial stability and growth.
- Program-related investments (PRIs) or other concessionary (below-market rate) investments that are primarily made to achieve programmatic rather than financial objectives.
*Impact investments are investments made by any type of investor with the intention of generating both a measureable social or environment benefit along with a financial return. Impact investors include, but are not limited to individuals, foundations, institutions and funds. Impact investing is sometimes used to describe any investment that considers environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, as well as shareholder advocacy and/or screening.
Learn more here.
Featured Content
Green Bond Investment Opportunities covers why fixed income is an ideal asset class to start making green investments, the variety of green bond investment opportunities available to investors and examples of recently issued green bonds. Green bonds are broadly defined as fixed income securities that raise capital for a project with specific environmental benefits. (read more)
Mission Investors Exchange member the Case Foundation has created an online, truly short and very informative basic primer. The Case Foundation's A Short Guide to Impact Investing is easy and fun to read and is accessible for those unfamiliar with mission investing terminology. Here's the line-up by section: Preface; 1. A Call to Action; 2. Impact Investing: A (Short!) Definition; 3. A Flexible Framework; 4. Your Center of Gravity; 5. Why: Impact Sectors; 6. What: Impact Across Asset Classes; 7. Where: Emerging Markets to Developed Economies; 8. Impact Funds and Direct Investing; 9. Choose Your Risks – and Returns; 10. Social Returns: Measuring Impact; 11. Financial Returns: Tracking Performance; 12. Moving Forward; Glossary; Impact Investing Spotlights; Resources; Impact Investing Framework. (read more)
Published by Mission Investors Exchange
Through voices from the field and an overview of the work, community foundations are invited on a journey through impact investing. Let the Community Foundation Field Guide to Impact Investing: Reflections from the Field and Resources for Moving Forward just be the start of your exploration and activation of new capital tools you find are the right fit for your foundation. The guide's three main sections are (1) Learn, (2) Design and (3) Activate. The guide, published by Mission Investors Exchange and the Council on Foundations, includes 14 case examples from community foundations.
Strategies to Maximize your Philanthropic Capital: A Guide to Program Related Investments is Mission Investors Exchange's first publication. Published in 2012, it's a comprehensive primer to understanding and making program-related investments. This 44-page primer was commissioned by Mission Investors Exchange, authored by Linklaters LLP and underwritten by The Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Click here to explore all Mission Investors Exchange-published resources.
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Twitter Feed
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Easier than ever to find investments aligned w/your foundation's goals? @PeterBerliner1 explains why: https://t.co/zssWGcc295 #impinv — November 6, 2014
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RT @PackardFdn: New report from @ekoamp @NatureVest @jpmorgan @MooreEnviro @PackardFdn finds $23b market for conservation investing: http:/… — November 6, 2014
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RT @IRInvest: Community Foundations: #ImpInv & Public Policy Partners. New blog from David Wood for @MissionInvest http://t.co/7rwgmzh4TK — November 5, 2014
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RT @SWoodKearney: "Hope is not a mandatory pre-condition for action." @MissionInvest 's David Wood yesterday, calling on #impinv for #clima… — November 5, 2014
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RT @philanthropynw: Happy #NationalPhilanthropyDay! Our team will be at @AFPWA #Seattle lunch to hear @jefclarke & others speak on philanth… — November 5, 2014