Blog

11 Feb The Transformative 25 (Part 2 of 2)

The Transformative 25 25 funds transforming finance for people and planet (To download a PDF version, please subscribe to my newsletter here.) by Jen Astone, Integrated Capital Investing Philanthropy is missing a strategic opportunity for transformative finance. Given the multiple crises of structural racism, climate change, economic inequality and the...

16 Dec The Transformative 25 (Part 1 of 2)

25 funds transforming finance for people and planet

by Jen Astone, Integrated Capital Investing, jen@iciaptos.com

Philanthropy is missing a strategic opportunity for transformative finance. As foundations and mission-aligned investors swiftly shift their investments into ESG screened funds and direct investments in values-aligned companies and entrepreneurs, they overlook many visionary funds and fund managers who are forging the future that we need. These funds are myth-busters and courageous innovations. More than rethinking our financial system, they are creating viable alternatives to investing in people and planet for generations to come.

16 Nov Beneficial Returns

I met Ted Levinson when I was at the Swift Foundation and he was developing the idea for Beneficial Returns. As a former leader of the RSF Social Finance social entrepreneurship loan team, he has inspired me to rethink investment approaches to benefit people and...

20 Oct Racial Justice Investing

“A 2019 study sponsored by Knight Foundation found that asset management firms owned by women and people of color manage only 1.3 percent of the $70 trillion investment management industry despite demonstrating performance on par with if not better than majority firms.” ...

16 Jan What’s exciting

Congratulations to the Gwitch’in First Nation stopping Goldman Sachs from investing in oil and gas development in the Artic National Refuge through their effective lobbying. Candide launched the Olamina Fund to provide debt capital focused on Black and Native communities. Sean Sherman of the...

16 Jan What I’m reading

Underlying transformative philanthropy is the ability to stretch the imagination and challenge our mindsets. Here are some notable readings for philanthropy: Soil Wealth busts the myth that regenerative agriculture investments are nonexistent. In a comprehensive report on investments in regenerative agriculture, their team of researchers...