Road to Free Agent: August 2011

2011/08/31

Giving Insights: Talking results: Six tips for good impact reporting

Jigar Shah: Impact Investing Defined

Socially responsible investments might be emotionally compelling investments, but do they necessarily have compelling financial returns?

The term "Impact Investing" has taken on many meanings in the past few years. I want to end the confusion and underscore that impact investing must by definition deliver impactful and compelling financial returns.

Impact investing has been labeled as a subset of socially responsible investing (SRI). But, it is not a subset of SRI.

The basic premise of socially responsible investing is to avoid investing in businesses that cause harm to the environment or society. Since SRI's approach to investing is narrow and passive, it is by definition often a niche investing strategy, which in many cases has delivered lukewarm returns.

SRIs don't necessarily impact an industry, impact investments necessarily do. Yet, many organizations still treat SRI and impact investing like synonyms - causing confusion.

For example, here is the definition of SRI from ecolife, a website that is an online guide to green living:

"Socially responsible investing is an investment strategy employed by individuals, corporations, and governments looking for ways to ensure their funds go to support socially responsible firms. The concept goes by names like sustainable investing, impact investing, community investing, ethical investing, and socially-conscious investing; it is a non-financial gauge that is used when selecting various investment options that takes into account factors such as environmental, social, and ethical values."

The reality is that some socially responsible investments can be impact investments, but not all impact investments are socially responsible investments. So, SRIs are really a subset of impact investing. According to the Monitor Institute's new report "impact investors want to move beyond 'socially responsible investment'."

All impact investments have the potential to move towards a new economy - an impact economy, not all SRIs will. In fact, most SRIs won't.

Why? Impact investing is socially responsible and must have compelling returns. Returns that make the professional investor consider it seriously as a critical piece in the portfolio. According to Dr. Arjuna Sittampalam, research associate with EDHEC-Risk Institute, "in other words, the investor makes an active decision to seek a social or developmental return alongside their financial return."

Since impact investments create compelling returns, they have a greater chance of attracting more serious professional investors than SRIs -- a necessity for creating worldwide social change and impact.

The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) defines impact investments as those that: "aim to solve social or environmental challenges while generating financial profit. Impact investing includes investments that range from producing a return of principal capital (capital preservation) to offering market-rate or even market-beating financial returns. Although impact investing could be categorized as a type of 'socially responsible investing,' it contrasts with negative screening, which focuses primarily on avoiding investments in 'bad' or 'harmful' companies - impact investors actively seek to place capital in businesses and funds that can harness the positive power of enterprise."

This definition is more on target with the real definition of impact investing, but to revise part of GIIN's definition: Impact investments only include investments that can offer market-rate or even market-beating financial returns.

So, my definition -- impact investing must achieve four significant goals:

1. Make an impact in solving a pressing problem of our time,
2. Generate compelling returns for investors,
3. Generate growth for economies, and
4. Generate prosperity for developed and developing nations.

An example is my own case-in-point. I founded SunEdison that created the power purchase agreement (PPA) model for the solar industry. This business model used net metering, streamlined interconnection standards, ways to connect to the grid, and actually provided a new solar power service to customers.

Investments in PPAs are delivering 7-12% unleveraged after tax returns. In today's financial environment; these are compelling returns given the low risks.

Plus, PPAs have lowered the use of fossil fuels to deliver electric energy; created thousands of jobs worldwide and are growing. They have impactful financial returns and impact a big problem.

According to the Monitor Institute's new report Investing for social and environmental impact: a design for catalyzing an emerging industry "it is certainly plausible that in the next five to 10 years investing for impact could grow to represent about 1 percent of estimated professionally managed global assets in 2008. That would create a market of approximately $500 billion. A market that size would create an important supplement to philanthropy, nearly doubling the amount given away in the U.S. alone today."

But that is only a start, a start to an "Impact Economy." To really make a difference - to leverage impact investing to create an impact economy, it must be larger. Some estimate that we need to invest over $1 trillion to combat issues like climate change, poverty, and lacking global health, to put the world back onto a stable more equitable footing.

So, let's put our money where the impact is. Stop selling impact investors short.

Jigar Shah is CEO of the Carbon War Room, a nonprofit that harnesses the power of entrepreneurs to implement market-driven solutions to climate change and create a post-carbon economy.

via huffingtonpost.com

轉寄︰环球协力社简讯第七十二期 2011年8月

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"When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." George Washington Carver

What is Social Entrepreneurship?

Statement of Faith
You can find other "Market with Meaning" but you definitely want to see "Profit with Purpose".
I personally "Believe in Kingdom Transformation" because I know there is only ONE "Life for Significant".

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傳送日期︰ 2011年08月31日 (週三) 2:54 PM
主題︰ 环球协力社简讯第七十二期 2011年8月

环球协力社简讯

第七十二期 2011年8月

亲爱的朋友：

本期介绍了8月份网站和博客的主要内容，以及环球协力社的最新动态。如果您的朋友对我们的简讯有兴趣的话，请自由传阅。"环球协力简讯"用中英两种语言发送，请访问环球协力社网站(www.glinet.org)。

编者的话：

慈善不仅仅是给予，而是推动社会进步和变革的巨大能量。前不久在美国举办的战略慈善研讨会上，来自中美两国的参会者对两国慈善业的现状和挑战做了一番分析和比较。拥有全世纪最大非营利部门的美国正在受到经济危机带来的冲击：公共和民间资助的锐减使得一些非营利组织面临前所未有的生存危机，这也推动了更多的新兴慈善家和公益机构打破传统慈善的僵局，寻求更有效的创新之路。中国的慈善公益业近两年正在以傲人的“中国速度”蓬勃发展，然而令人尴尬的状况似乎是基金会除了不缺钱以外，什么都缺。而无数嗷嗷待哺的非营利组织仍然没有买奶粉的经费。公益生态链的断层究竟应该如何去填补？

他山之石，可以攻玉。本次简讯集中介绍了美国公益慈善领域的一些最新状况和应对之道。

“慈善：下一步怎么走”一文是Monitor研究所基于多年研究对慈善业下一个十年走势所做的分析。面对越来越纷繁复杂的社会问题，光靠单个的非营利机构或者慈善家已经无法给出任何良方。“催化型慈善”是近两年在美国备受关注的慈善新模式。一个很好的例子就是由Ebay创办人资助创办的“成长之路社会投资公司”。成长之路相信商业运作是重要的工具，与此同时，非营利组织和小型社区企业也是促成改变的重要力量。成长之路投资的领域跨越营利和非营利，规模也各不相同。成长之路的愿景跨越整个21世纪，为此公司承诺至少十年以上的社会投资来支持地产地消、减少浪费和创造新可再生能源领域里的创新。

机构动态

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Ashoka新一轮社会创业竞赛报名开始

美国Ashoka和德国勃林格殷格翰制药公司（Boehringer Ingelheim）共同主办的社会创新主题的「爱创家（Changemakers）」网络在线竞赛即将开始，以『创造更多健康』（“Making More Health”）为主题的本次竞赛，征集从疾病治疗到生活方式的改善，从早期的检查到治疗所有与健康医疗领域相关的解决方案和共同研究课题。比赛截止日期为2011年9月21日。前3名参赛者每人可以获得1万美元的奖励，并可以通过爱创家中文网站直接用中文参与竞赛。

详细内容

慈善与社会创新

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催化型慈善

“催化型慈善”这一概念近两年成为美国公益界关注的一个热点。美国的慈善家们尽管花费了大量的金钱，也协助建立了世界上最大的非营利部门，但仍无法解决越来越纷繁复杂的社会问题。“催化型慈善”是一种已经被一些最具创新性的捐助者所实践的新方式。本文通过具体案例详细介绍了催化型慈善在实践过程中的四个特点以及其与传统型慈善的区别。(2011-08-24) 详细内容

成长之路(ULUPONO INITIATIVE)社会投资公司简介

成长之路（Ulupono Initiative）是由Ebay创始人Pierre Omidyar资助创办，扎根于夏威夷、为本地需求服务的社会投资公司。成长之路社会投资公司主要资助在推广本地种植、减少浪费和创造新可再生能源领域里充满创意的本地机构和公司，以此来改善本地的经济和环境，提高夏威夷居民的生活水平。（2011-08-22）详细内容

慈善，下一步怎么走？(上)

本报告基于由凯洛格基金会（W.K. Kellogg Foundation）和罗伯特•伍德•詹森基金（Robert Wood Johnson Foundation）联合资助的一项关于慈善界走向的多年研究，并在2005年初稿的基础上进行了修正和补充。最终报告强调，慈善世界的新变革将要求资助者不仅要运用当今的最佳方法，而且应引领“下一步行动”—即适应未来世界更为网络化、动态化及相互依存的公共问题解决境况的有效方法。我们详细描述了十项下一步方案，希望以此帮助资助者在日益紧迫的社会和环境问题上发挥更大的影响力。（2011-08-23）详细内容

慈善，下一步怎么走？(下)

“扩大行动力”与“增加适应力”代表着一系列能使慈善业变成一股更为强大、更具变革性的力量举措。虽然这些“下一步方案”中的任何一项独立运作起来都会富有成果，但若能将它们结合到一起，影响力会更加惊人。(2011-08-23) 详细内容

慈善捐赠的问题及应对之道

美国的慈善业正面临着很大的危机。如今的基金会运营太过官僚作风、僵化与谨慎，并且过于关注短期目标。赠款流程常常太迎合基金会和其受托人的需求，而不是非营利机构的要求。

同时，经济萧条正加剧这一危机。公共和私人基金的锐减，将许多重要非营利组织，尤其是地方层面组织，带入了危险境地。为此基金会应该通过增加对非营利机构常规运营的支持，增加常年资助等方式来应对。（2011-08-23）详细内容

最佳实践

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企业家为社区儿童搭建玩耍乐园

美国有一半以上的孩子（居住的）社区没有活动场所。居住在费城的达雷尔•哈蒙德（Darell Hammond）看到了一则由于没有社区活动场所，两个孩子在废弃汽车里玩耍时窒息死亡的新闻故事。这一现实让达雷尔极度困扰，于是他建立了一个机构，为儿童建造可以玩耍活动的地方。在过去将近15年的时间里，该团队已帮助建造1800余个活动场所了。该团体叫做“爆音（KaBOOM！）”。（2011-08-23）详细内容

协力员博客

协力员博客（http://glichina.blogbus.com/）是一个协力员互相交流的平台，信息主要是与社会企业、CSR（企业社会责任）、NGO&志愿者相关的各类点评和感想，欢迎大家登陆博客评论交流，也欢迎协力员们投稿，稿件请发 yfding@glinet.org

本月推荐：

草根故事“蜗居”小姑娘的快乐生活

同心实验学校是一所由打工者集聚社会力量创办、面向打工子女的学校，尽管条件艰苦，但仍然是皮村几百名学龄打工子弟的乐园。 详细内容

◆欢迎来稿◆

说出您的看法、写下您的故事。如果您是一位NPO的创立者，何不告诉大家您的创业故事和所做的项目，如果您是一位热心于公益的大学生，何不与大家聊聊你所参加的项目和所接触的公益组织，或者您是一位关注我们网站的观众，在任何时候您都可以发表您对我们或社会企业的看法……GLI中文网站、协力员博客欢迎大家踊跃投稿，并会及时将它们发布在我们的英、日网站上，请让世界看到来自中国的信息吧！

联系人：丁一帆 yamamaya808@gmail.com

轉寄︰ Business Revolution - Red Ochre Social Enterprise Bootcamp

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"When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." George Washington Carver

What is Social Entrepreneurship?

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傳送日期︰ 2011年08月30日 (週二) 5:23 PM
主題︰ Business Revolution - Red Ochre Social Enterprise Bootcamp

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Creating Change by Supporting Change

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轉寄︰ Business Revolution - Red Ochre Social Enterprise Bootcamp

my buzz & my blog

"When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." George Washington Carver

What is Social Entrepreneurship?

my facebook & my twitter & my linkedin

Cannot read this email, click here.

Creating Change by Supporting Change

www.redochre.org.uk

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2011/08/27

轉寄︰ YouGen newsletter August 2011

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"When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." George Washington Carver

What is Social Entrepreneurship?

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傳送日期︰ 2011年08月26日 (週五) 10:01 PM
主題︰ YouGen newsletter August 2011

August 2011

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	Hello I know it's only August, but this week I've seen a glimpse of autumn, which led to thoughts of heating. How timely, as the renewable heat premium payments scheme opened on 1 August. Grants are available for up to 25,000 domestic installations of solar thermal panels, biomass boilers and heat pumps between now and the end of March 2012. As 2,700 people had already expressed an interest in the grants before the scheme launched, it's worth getting your skates on if you want to benefit. best wishes Cathy Cathy Debenham, founder P.S. Please forward this newsletter to family or friends who might be interested.
	Highlights this month: Renewable energy is working well for community buildings Best of the blogs How competent are renewable energy installers? Tips of the month - on choosing a renewable energy installer

Off-grid solar pv panels at Stafford Marsh Field Studies Centre

Renewable energy is working well for community buildings

I think community use is one of the most exciting areas of renewable energy. I've been visiting some local community energy projects, and hope they inspire you as much as they did me.

How to get grants for solar panels: tips from a community shop
Solar PV has quartered school's electricity bills
Off-grid solar electricity at Stafford Marsh field studies centre
ASHP combined with solar PV works well for Donyatt Village Hall in Somerset

If you are a community group thinking of installing renewable energy, it's important to note that in future receiving grants from public funds will probably make you ineligible for the feed-in tariff.

Best of the blogs

Maintenance costs and how often to service it - these are things you want to know before you buy a new product. Here's what you need to know about biomass boilers and ground source heat pumps.
People sometimes think that you can only have an air source heat pump if you've got underfloor heating - but that's not necessarily the case. Here are 5 key things to consider before using an ASHP with an existing heating system.
Do you love your solar PV panels so much you want to get some more? Then you'll want to know about the feed-in tariff rules for additional installations.
Energy bills are a significant outgoing for most of us. If you're about to buy or rent a new home our guide to understanding an EPC is vital reading.

Picture by Michael Homan

How competent are renewable energy installers?

As more and more solar panels appear on rooves around the country it's easy to forget how young the industry is, and how much it has expanded in the past 18 months (from less than 1,000 MCS accredited installers to more than 3,000). I've been having a little look at the training requirements for installers and what the key aspects of MCS accreditation involve. I'd say there's room for improvement in both. In the meantime, ask potential installers about what training and experience the people who will be working on your job have, and check our directory to see if previous customers have recommended them. But I'm curious. What do you expect to be the key aspects of an accreditation scheme. Is it how well they manage the paper trail? Or the quality of the installations? Leave your comments here.

Tips of the month - on choosing a renewable energy installer

"I think you learn through the quotation process. Some firms clearly send 'sales' consultants whilst others send technicians - I'd prefer a technician any day. They know the facts and are more likely to be able to answer all your questions and suggest practical alternative solutions." - StephenS

"Be wary of the hard sell - doing good research beforehand will make it harder for a salesman to pull the wool over your eyes!

"Ask as many questions as you need to - a good supplier will answer fully and patiently!

"When weighing up costs, consider how well a system will perform in 25 years' time. The best option may not be the cheapest option.

"Don't be too afraid of the FIT paperwork - it is actually quite straightforward and all MCS accredited suppliers are supposed to help you register.

"Take a look at this short clip on choosing a supplier. GOOD LUCK in your choice!" - Shilpa

Picture by Sean MacEntee