PLUS: Pioneering revenue-based fund launches in Scotland; Back Market raises $335m in “bullish” circular economy market; AU$8m boost for Queensland social enterprises; Dutch trio backs “truly disruptive” AI firm Envision – and more.
Despite the UK's rainy reputation, a sunny future lies ahead for Low Carbon Hub’s Ray Valley in Oxfordshire, set to power 6,000 homes and generate £10m locally, after a hugely popular community share offer and £4.4m loan from Triodos.
BlueMark's in-depth review of 30 investors – with a combined $99bn in impact assets under management – finds more than half not aligned with SDG targets, while cost constraints mean only 11% engage with stakeholders to assess their impact.
How do you cut through the spin and froth of 'impact washing' now that everyone seems to have an impact product to sell? And as impact investment snowballs, is fund manager impact keeping up?
PLUS: $100m MacArthur grant to end homelessness; Dutch VC fund backs digital-only fashion house; ImpactAssets custom investments surge; new pooled fund for southeast Asia; Resonance's launchpad loan for mums' mental health; and more.
Participatory funding puts decisions into the hands of those most affected by the money. It's a massive shift – but one that could make philanthropy and impact investing more open, transparent and community-driven.
PLUS: Scotland’s £30m Third Sector Growth Fund; Ford Foundation seeds Black Feminist Fund with £15m; Big Issue Invest backs Sport England; Neighbourly raises £3m; National Academy for Social Prescribing funds 37 projects; and more.
Major printmaking facility and arts charity Edinburgh Printmakers set to expand community services, including growing education programmes and providing new residencies for artists.
Commitment from Singapore's state-backed investment company to Australia-based impact investment group LeapFrog claims to be “the largest ever single commitment to an impact investor”.
