Shifting federal policies and budget priorities could have a profound impact on Georgia’s economy, financial security, and access to essential services. Dramatic reductions to key federal programs and departmental staff reductions targeting employment, social services, and small business funding are likely to negatively impact Georgia as a whole as well as areas of the state already facing economic hardship…
On February 5, 2025, TruFund Financial Services held its Annual Ecosystem Breakfast – bringing together more than 30 key stakeholders from Atlanta’s entrepreneurial and small business ecosystem. A diverse mix of participants – representing traditional banks, CDFIs, quasi-government agencies, business support organizations, and private sector investors – contributed to a lively, generative discussion on the challenges and opportunities…
On January 28, 2025, GSIC hosted an educational webinar “Local Impact Investing, the Next Frontier of Community Leadership” to help Georgia’s community foundations to understand how peers across the country are embracing local impact investing…
New data from CDFI Friendly America highlights a critical challenge facing Georgia: it remains one of just nine U.S. states labeled a “CDFI Desert,” reflecting a severe shortage of community development financial institution (CDFI) investment. While significant progress has been made, large portions of Georgia – especially areas beyond Atlanta – continue to be underserved, limiting opportunities for economic growth and financial…
Nearly 30 years ago, Atlanta captured the world’s attention as the city played host to the 1996 Summer Olympics. Last week Mission Investors Exchange (MIE) – one of the country’s leading impact investing networks – announced that Atlanta will host its 2026 biennial conference…
Greetings – I’m thrilled to be writing this as Georgia Social Impact Collaborative’s new Executive Director! It’s been an exciting and busy first few months. For many of you, I’m a new name and face in your impact investing ecosystem.…
The Georgia Shared Ownership Convening, co-hosted by the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative, Goizueta’s Business & Society Institute, and Georgia Social Innovation Collaborative, brought together 50+ stakeholders to discuss the future of shared ownership models in our state. From ESOPs to cooperatives, these models are vital tools for promoting economic resilience and racial equity…
The Georgia Social Impact Collaborative (GSIC) is pleased to announce that Sydney England will serve as the new Executive Director. Sydney joins GSIC having spent the past decade working in various capacities in the field of impact investing.
Impact investing is often perceived as more burdensome than traditional investing due to the added complexity of addressing social and environmental issues alongside financial returns. This perception is supported by a 2009 Monitor Institute white paper and recent observations by London School of Economics academics, who highlight the challenges and perceived risks associated with impact investing. However, a survey conducted by Katherine Klein and the Impact Finance Research Consortium, involving over 200 impact fund managers, reveals that market-rate-seeking impact investors generally do not find their work more difficult than traditional investing, contrary to those targeting below-market returns who report higher levels of difficulty.
The survey’s counterintuitive results suggest that market-rate-seeking impact investors might simplify their work by integrating impact with financial performance, viewing them as intertwined. This belief allows them to gauge impact through financial metrics, reducing the perceived difficulty. In contrast, below-market-rate impact investors often emphasize rigorous impact assessment due to their mission-driven focus. The findings raise questions about whether impact investing is living up to its promise of additionality and distinctiveness compared to traditional investing, especially in addressing neglected social and environmental challenges.
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The Latin American Association (LAA) and the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia have partnered to support Latina entrepreneurs through a $100,000 investment from the Foundation’s Impact Investment Fund. This funding will enhance LAA’s Avanzando Juntas initiative, providing loans of up to $10,000 to help Latinas establish women-owned businesses. DePriest Waddy, CEO of the Community Foundation, stated that the goal is to empower Latina entrepreneurs and drive meaningful community change.
For over a decade, LAA has supported small business owners with micro loans, and this new funding aims to further economic development in underserved areas. Santiago Marquez, CEO of LAA, emphasized the partnership’s commitment to fostering economic growth and supporting aspiring entrepreneurs. This collaboration moves LAA closer to becoming a certified Community Development Financial Institution, reinforcing its role in economic development for underserved communities.
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