Top 10: Social Impact Investing Opportunities

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Top 10: Social Impact Investing Opportunities
The top social impact investing opportunities come from firms including Citi Foundation, JPMorgan Chase’s Impact Finance and Advisory (IFA) & Vital Capital

Social impact investing is a continuously developing space, offering investors unprecedented opportunities to generate positive change alongside financial returns.

The field, which seeks to address pressing social and environmental challenges through strategic capital allocation, has grown significantly over the past 25 years.

Social impact investing represents a paradigm shift from traditional investment models, focusing on creating measurable social benefits while still pursuing financial gains.

This approach allows investors to align their portfolios with their values, catalysing capital towards initiatives that tackle issues such as climate change, poverty, inequality and access to education and healthcare.

10. Community Reinvestment Fund, USA

CEO: Matthew Roth

VP, Strategic Partnerships and Development: Randi Zeller

Headquarters: Minneapolis, USA

Community Reinvestment Fund, USA logo

Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF) is a national non-profit organisation founded in 1988 with a mission to empower people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities through innovative financial solutions. 

CRF specialises in providing capital to community development lenders, which in turn support small businesses, affordable housing, and community facilities in underserved areas.

Since its inception, CRF has driven nearly US$4bn in loans, investments and bonds to transform economically challenged neighbourhoods into thriving communities. 

The firm’s innovative approach includes securitising community development loans, allowing them to access capital markets and increase their impact.

For investors, CRF offers an opportunity to support economic development in underserved communities while potentially earning returns.

9. Better Society Capital

CEO: Stephen Muers

ESG & EDI Manager: Annelise Sauter

Headquarters: London, UK

The Better Society Capital team celebrating their name change in 2024

Better Society Capital, previously Big Society Capital, is The UK's leading social impact investor.

Established in 2012, Better Society Capital is an independent financial institution with a social mission, working to improve the lives of people in the UK through investment. 

As a wholesale social impact investor, it doesn’t invest directly in charities and social enterprises but instead invest in fund managers who do. Focus areas include:

  • Housing
  • Financial inclusion
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Community resilience

8. Bain Capital

CEO/President: Michael Ward

Head of ESG: Patricia Winton

Headquarters: Boston, USA

Michael Ward, CEO / President of Bain Capital

Founded in 1984, Bain Capital has evolved beyond its private equity roots to become a multi-asset alternative investment firm with a strong focus on impact investing. 

In 2015 it launched Bain Capital Double Impact, a dedicated impact investing fund that invests in mission-driven companies.

The fund focuses on three themes: 

  • Sustainability
  • Health and wellness
  • Community building

Bain Capital's approach combines their traditional value creation strategies with a rigorous impact measurement framework.

Its portfolio includes companies like Penn Foster, an education and skills training provider, and Impact Fitness, a network of health clubs in underserved communities. 

For investors, Bain Capital offers the opportunity to invest in a fund managed by a firm with a strong track record in private equity, coupled with a genuine commitment to creating positive social impact.

7. The Reinvestment Fund

CEO: Donald Hinkle-Brown

Director, Clean Energy & Sustainable Finance: Elizabeth Friend

Headquarters: Philadelphia, USA

The Reinvestment Fund logo

The Reinvestment Fund, established in 1985, is a mission-driven financial institution that combines finance, policy and data to create economic opportunities for low-wealth people and places. 

It focuses on critical areas such as affordable housing, healthcare, education and healthy food access. 

The fund has pioneered several innovative financing models, including the first healthy food financing initiative, which became a model for federal and regional programmes.

It has a strong track record of delivering both financial returns and social impact, having deployed more than US$2.4bn in capital as of 2021. 

The Reinvestment Fund offers investors the opportunity to participate in community development through various investment products, including promissory notes and targeted investment funds.

6. BlueOrchard Finance

CEO: Philipp Mueller

Head of Impact Management: Veronika Giusti-Keller

Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland

Veronika Giusti-Keller, Head of Impact Management at BlueOrchard Finance

BlueOrchard Finance is a pioneer in microfinance and impact investing. 

Founded in 2001, the company manages the world's first commercial microfinance fund and has since expanded its offerings to include a range of impact investment solutions. 

BlueOrchard's focus areas include financial inclusion, climate change and sustainable infrastructure.

It has a global reach, having invested more than US$8bn across more than 90 countries, impacting more than 230 million lives. 

The innovative BlueOrchard Microfinance Fund has consistently delivered attractive returns while providing access to finance for underserved communities. 

BlueOrchard offers a unique opportunity to invest in a well-established impact investment manager with a proven track record of delivering both financial returns and measurable social impact.

5. LGT Venture Philanthropy

CEO: Oliver Karius

Global Environment Lead: Oliver Karius

Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland

LGT Venture Philanthropy was founded in 2007

LGT Venture Philanthropy is the philanthropic arm of LGT Group, owned by the Princely Family of Liechtenstein.

The organisation was founded in 2007 and focuses on improving the quality of life of disadvantaged people in developing countries.

It also supports organisations with outstanding social and environmental impact in the sectors of education, health, and environment. 

The company’s approach combines philanthropic capital with business acumen and operational support, aiming to create sustainable, positive change. 

With a global portfolio spanning Africa, India, Latin America and Southeast Asia, LGT VP offers investors a unique opportunity to contribute to impactful ventures whilst potentially earning returns.

4. Triodos Investment Management

Chair of the Management Board: Dick van Ommeren

Chief Commercial Officer: Jacco Minnaar

Headquarters: Zeist, Netherlands

Jacco Minnaar, Chief Commercial Officer at Triodos Investment Management

Triodos Investment Management, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Triodos Bank, was established in 2000 to expand the bank's impact investing activities. 

With more than 25 years of experience in impact investing, Triodos IM has become a global leader in this field, managing more than US$6.3bn in assets as of 2024. 

The firm's investment strategy is built around five interconnected transition themes:

  • Energy and climate
  • Sustainable food and agriculture
  • Financial inclusion
  • Impact equities and bonds

These themes are directly aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring that every investment contributes to positive social and environmental impact.

3. Vital Capital

CEO: Alon Yegnes

ESG & Impact, India: Shweta Chauhan

Headquarters: Cyprus

Shweta Chauhan, ESG & Impact, India at Vital Capital

Vital Capital, founded in 2011, is a leading impact investment firm that has rapidly established itself as a pioneer in the field of high-performing investments in growth markets, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. 

The firm's unique approach combines deep operational expertise with a commitment to addressing critical social and environmental challenges, demonstrating that it's possible to generate market-rate returns while creating significant positive impact.

2. JPMorgan Chase’s Impact Finance and Advisory (IFA)

Head of Impact Finance & Advisory: Shuman Chakrabarty

Executive Director, Impact Finance & Advisory, Head of Venture Investing & Advisory: Katherine Hunter

Headquarters: New York City, USA

Shuman Chakrabarty, Head of Impact Finance & Advisory at JPMorgan Chase

JPMorgan Chase's Impact Finance and Advisory (IFA) team, established in 2018, provides capital tools and advisory solutions to advance the firm's environmental and social impact objectives.

The team invests JPMorgan Chase's capital to support inclusive, sustainable growth and racial equity by lending to, investing in and advising financial intermediaries, funds and companies.

The IFA team focuses on five strategic areas:

  • Careers and skills
  • Financial health and wealth creation
  • Community development
  • Business growth and entrepreneurship
  • Environmental sustainability

“Through our Impact Finance & Advisory team, JPMorganChase is able to expand the tools it uses to drive change beyond traditional philanthropy,” says Shuman. 

“This effort enables us to bring the full resources of the Firm to bear, including our lending and investing expertise, to address some of the most pressing challenges society faces today.”

1. Citi Impact Fund

Head of Citi Impact Fund: Meredith Shields

Headquarters: New York, USA

Youtube Placeholder

The Citi Impact Fund, launched in 2020, invests in community innovations to expand economic opportunity. Today, the Citi Impact Fund is a US$500m “double-bottom line” fund making direct equity investments from Citi’s own balance sheet into US-based companies that are supporting underserved communities in the areas of financial resilience, social infrastructure, future of work and climate resilience.

It aims to catalyse solutions to social and environmental challenges, propel innovations that help close market gaps for underserved communities, and generate strong financial returns through investing in companies that can achieve impact at scale.

The Citi Impact Fund also aims to leverage the breadth of Citi’s capabilities and expertise to support its portfolio companies, adding value through access to banking solutions, networking power and knowledge sharing, and curated strategic support.


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