Impact Investing: The Essentials
Date & Time
Location
Holmead Room
Holmead Room
For decades, foundations have made impact investments to complement grants, partnerships, advocacy, and other tools in the philanthropic toolbox. But how do you start your foundation down a path to use this emerging tactic? Incorporating impact investing into your foundation’s philanthropic strategy requires thoughtful planning among foundation leaders and trustees. This interactive, one-day workshop will explore whether impact investing is right for your foundation, what you need to consider, and what steps you need to take to begin incorporating impact investing into your foundation’s philanthropic strategy.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Breakfast, Registration, and "Who's in the Room?"
10:00 AM - 10:40 AM
Introduction to Impact Investing - The Landscape Today
There's no denying the growing interest in impact investing, but the term can mean many things to many people. In this session we'll begin by examining the range of options available to foundations and discuss some of the examples of foundations, companies, and nonprofits active in the space.
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Nuts and Bolts of Impact Investing
What are the steps you need to take before you start an impact investing program? How do you get your board, staff, donors, and stakeholders aligned around the strategy? And what are the pitfalls to look out for when you go to make your first investment? These questions and more will be addressed by foundation experts who will share their experience, tips, and tools to ensure you can be successful.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunch and Update on Sustainable Investment Research
Hear from the Council's Knowledge and Learning team about the latest research into foundation impact investing. The conversation will cover the growth of adoption as well as the impediments that might be holding others back.
1:00 PM - 2:15 PM
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
Foundations and Program Related Investments (PRIs) - Investing in Your Community
Is your Foundation interested in making Program Related Investments? Come hear a panel discussion about what it takes for a Foundation to invest in intermediaries and/or community projects ranging from affordable housing and community facilities to commercial development and small business loan funds. You’ll get an introduction to the tools and financial analysis techniques needed to appropriately size and structure mission investments that achieve real results and revolve to support new initiatives. Case studies based on actual foundation-funded deals will help participants explore how foundation PRI resources can be leveraged to finance pivotal community initiatives.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Case Study Roundtables
Break out into small groups to discuss active and completed impact investments. Ask questions of those who have been there before, and seed new ideas for how impact investing could be used in your community.
*Council events are not opportunities for solicitation of any kind, including asking for business, fund management, or grants. All types of solicitation are strictly prohibited. For more information, read our no solicitation policy.