TPI sponsors Impact Investing Webinars

TPI, in partnership with More for Mission, Council on Foundations and GPS Capital Partners, is sponsoring a webinar series hosted by PRIMakers Network on impact investing for community foundations.   

The 4-part series features a variety of community foundation impact investing practitioners who will describe key concepts and models, discuss critical questions including how to engage donors, and detail the steps to implementing a successful impact investing program.  It is intended for all community foundations – large or small – that are considering, getting started with or expanding their use of below market-rate and/or market-rate impact investments to achieve their philanthropic goals. 

The first webinar in the series, Part I: Introduction to Impact Investing, was held Wednesday, June 15th.  Speakers included Doug Kridler, The Columbus Foundation; Stuart Comstock-Gay, Vermont Community Foundation; Marc Rand, Marin Community Foundation.  The session introduced the potential strategic benefit of impact investing strategies to community foundations.  Presenters discussed models for how community foundations are leveraging their resources, engaging their donors, and expanding their impact through market rate and concessionary investments, and reviewed legal and regulatory issues relevant to community foundations.

The remaining three webinars in the series will be held in July, August and September.  A description of each session is below.  More details and registration is available at PRIMakers.

Part II: Developing and Implementing Place-Based Impact Investing Strategies

Wednesday, July 13, 9:30-10:30 am Pacific/11:30 am-12:30 pm Central/12:30-1:30 pm Eastern

Community foundations often begin making impact investments in response to a particular opportunity or need.  Increasingly, they are crafting impact investing strategies as a way to address regional issues, often in partnership with other foundations and donors. This session will discuss ways in which community foundations are initiating and carrying out strategic initiatives and programs based on the unique needs of their urban and rural communities.

Part III: Establishing an Impact Investing Program

Wednesday, August 10, 9:30-10:30 am Pacific/11:30 am-12:30 pm Central/12:30-1:30 pm Eastern

This session will discuss the internal and external processes and resources that community foundations engage to create and sustain an effective investment program. This includes how community foundations of all sizes vet impact investing strategies with stakeholders (including trustees), and how they develop internal processes and intermediary partnerships to assess, execute, and manage impact investments. 

Part IV: Optimizing and Evaluating Impact Investing Programs

Wednesday, September 7, 9:30-10:30 am Pacific/11:30 am-12:30 pm Central/12:30-1:30 pm Eastern

This session will discuss ways in which community foundations manage and optimize the benefits of their ongoing concessionary and market-rate impact investment activities. Topics will include the roles of staff, board, donors, and advisors; assessment and evaluation; and cost. In addition, we will cover evaluation strategies and discuss lessons learned.