A new wave of corporate social investors is drawing on the best of two worlds, philanthropy and corporate responsibility. A parent firm’s firepower brings advantages – but also challenges, as the Sanofi Espoir Foundation in France reveals.
Since 2012 Open Road Alliance has been stepping in to help when nonprofits and social enterprises hit unexpected roadblocks. We heard their tips on finding your way through uncertainty.
Nonprofits urgently need two- to five-year bridge financing right now – but foundations could step in by pledging some of their assets as collateral. Mark Kramer, co-founder and managing director of FSG, calls for bold leadership.
Bite-sized stories this week from the impact economy around the world: a “historic shift” among impact investors on impact measurement, insights on family giving, Starbucks backs coffee cup recycling drive, and more.
What happens when a philanthropic foundation starts offering repayable finance? Anything from stronger relationships with investees to “awful situations”, as we heard recently. Pioneers Post digs a little deeper.
Social investors are too busy looking to the rooftops, instead of spending time helping investees build strong and solid foundations – leaving a clear role for impact-first foundations moving into this space.
Foundations are uniquely placed to support social ventures, but they won’t be taken seriously as impact investors until they deploy their endowments as well – and until we help them do so.
Established social enterprises are increasingly frustrated with the lack of access to growth capital. UnLtd’s director of ventures calls for more new products and a major rethink for philanthropy.
