Investing with Impact

This edition explores impact investing and how you can help drive positive change through capital.

and

Oct 4, 2022

Hey humans 👋 We’ve been taking a short siesta and are stoked to be back with a fresh new format. Expect snappy insights from members of the Humans For Good community, across a wide range of interesting & thought-provoking topics - kicking off with impact investing.

Sustainable investing has grown from a relatively small part of the landscape, to becoming a much more mainstream concept - and can be found across everything from everyday banking products, to fixed interest and more exotic options like venture capital. Keep scrolling for 8 things that are worth knowing about this space, a few good reads if you’d like to learn more, and to round it off, some discounts on good products and services.

8 things we need to know about impact investing, by Todd Soulas

Todd has drawn on his background in strategy, consulting and angel investing to bring us a few hot tips for being conscious with our capital.

Impact investing isn't new but it is still early and as issues such as gender equality, social injustices and climate change continue to grow, the attractiveness of impact investing as a tool to solve problems will likely accelerate further
Sustainability and ‘impact’ are starting to influence traditional investment processes and those that don’t embrace it are likely to be left behind, as we may see a great repricing of assets in the shift to sustainability
ESG, SRI and impact investing are all different and have their place in the investment landscape, but they all share the fact that they look beyond the ‘bottom line’ (profits)
Impact investing often relies on frameworks for assessing and understanding impact, but there are a number of these and they have large amounts of subjectivity and ambiguity. The key is often to use them as lenses through which to view opportunities and support your decision making process, rather than rigid and dogmatic rules to follow
One of the biggest challenges in impact investing is being able to quantify impact and compare investment opportunities, but tools like Giant Leap’s Impact Calculator are closing this gap
As the field of impact investing continues to grow, there are incredible opportunities to not only learn, but contribute to and shape its direction by getting involved with events and organisations like Impact Investing Australia or the Centre for Social Impact
You don’t need to start a fund to impact invest. Platforms like Birchal and even syndicates through Aussie Angels are making it possible without one
Impact investing sits within the broader investment landscape, so make sure you engage in different communities across startups, innovation, investments, and social impact to understand how it all fits together (and to find the best opportunities)

Food for thought

“It is the best investment to make an impact on others, because even when you’re dead, money alone will not bury you.” — Gift Gugu Mona, Philanthropist

“We need to start to talk about money in ways that dethrone it and make it subject to human ethics and standards of love and decency.” — Joel Solomon, Investor

“One who picks fruit is forgotten quickly, but one who plants trees is remembered enduringly.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo, Philosopher

A few good offers

Claim $10 free giving credit to gift to any charity on Little Phil
Attend Purpose Conference (an immersive, two day event for the purpose-driven business community) from the 19th - 20th October with a $50 discount using the code HUMANSFORGOOD - or volunteer by signing up here
Use your time as effectively as possible and access Rocket’s focus features for 55% off the first 6 months, using the code HFG55 (or download the free version)
If you’re considering becoming a B Corp, email michelle@definitii.co with the code HFG to book a consulting session with a 10% discount
Read Dent Global’s book ‘Become a Key Person of Influence,’ free of charge

Thanks for reading and sharing!

Keep in touch:
🌟 Join us on Slack to find events, opportunities, and a diverse bunch of humans with a shared desire to have a positive social & environmental impact
☕ Reach out to good people for good chats with our Coffee Club

Spread the good:
👀 Browse our database of small actions with big impact
💸 Offer a discount for great humans and businesses

Until next time,
— Georgia, Todd and the team from Humans For Good

Humans For Good