Tools and Resources for Investing in Social Change

What's New:

• Community Development Financial Institutions: Challenges and Opportunities
  Speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke at the Global Financial Literacy Summit, Washington, D.C. -- June 17, 2009
  "...Increased interest by socially motivated individual investors has expanded the pool of investment capital for community development... Even during the recession, new investors have been drawn by the appeal of supporting low- and moderate-income communities while earning relatively good rates of return..." Search Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) Member Locator for community development financial institutions (CDFIs) working in neighborhoods across the United States to provide affordable, responsible credit and to stabilize communities.
• Investing for Social and Environmental Impact
  A growing group of investors around the world is seeking to make investments that generate social and environmental value as well as financial return. This report explores how impact investing has emerged and how it might evolve to address global challenges. (The Monitor Institute, April 2009)
• PRI Activity Database
  Please submit your updates today!
• Handbook on Climate-Related Investing across Asset Classes - by Valerie LaVoie and David Wood, Boston College Institute for Responsible Investment (April 2009). The Handbook is a guide to market-rate investments that take into account climate risk and opportunity. It serves as a tool for institutional investors, consultants, fund managers, high net worth individuals and related parties to design and implement investment strategies that integrate climate risk and opportunity into their investment analysis.
• Program Related Investing in Tough Economic Times
  PRI Makers Network members see both threats and opportunities arising from the current crisis.
• PRIs: Greater Impact with Limited Resources
  Council on Foundations interview with Doug Stamm, Meyer Memorial Trust and Carol Lewis, Philanthropy Northwest

Getting Started:

• PRI Primer including What is a PRI?
• Building a PRI Program - Information and useful resources

Tools and Resources for Network Members:

• Check out PRI opportunities in the interactive, dynamic Deals Clearinghouse.
• Join an e-mail discussion group.
• Get in touch with other PRI Makers.
• Don't start from scratch! We have boilerplate and template documents for many stages in the PRI process.
• Check out the Member's Only PRI Activity Database of more than 1,400 searchable transactions and add your new data now!
• Plan to attend the next PRI Institute, an intensive, in-depth seminar for grantmakers and other social investors.
• Look up consultants and other service providers who work with PRI funders.

Interested in joining?

See information to become a member or contact Peter Berliner 206.443.8430.