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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The Georgia Social Impact Collaborative (GSIC) partnered with the GoATL Fund to host a Catalytic Capital Wine Night sponsored by BNY Mellon at El Vinedo Local, a minority-owned restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia. The event brought together impact investors, philanthropic foundations, and family offices to celebrate the growth of the social impact investing ecosystem in Georgia and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
By: Lavonya Jones, Director
The Catalytic Capital Wine Night showcased the power of partnership and collaboration in driving social change. The event offered attendees an opportunity to learn more about the work being done by GSIC, GoATL Fund, and BNY Mellon, and to explore ways to get involved. From impact investing discussions to sharing best practices, the night was filled with purposeful networking and idea exchange.
El Vinedo Local, renowned for its South American food and wine, provided the perfect setting for this networking event. The restaurant’s inviting atmosphere and flavorful cuisine served as a backdrop for meaningful conversations and connections among attendees. Attendees included Invest Atlanta, B Local Georgia, Village Micro Fund, Valor Ventures, Accion Opportunity Fund, Center for Civic Innovation, Habitat for Humanity, Mission Hope, Bank of America, Low Income Investment Fund, the Georgia Power Foundation, Yack Shack, and Helping Empower Youth, among others.
GSIC, formed by a group of community leaders, is dedicated to fostering a diverse, connected statewide ecosystem of stakeholders engaged in aligning capital with social outcomes. By bringing together leaders from various sectors, GSIC envisions an energetic and dynamic network of resources that uplifts Georgia’s social impact ecosystem.
The GoATL Fund, Georgia’s first diversified impact debt fund, aims to achieve both social and financial returns. GoATL Evolution, expanded in 2022, now comprises three funds focused on specific needs within metro Atlanta: affordable housing, economic inclusion, and community capacity. Through cost-effective loan capital, the fund addresses the region’s most pressing needs, such as safe housing, new schools, and equitable access to living-wage careers.
BNY Mellon, the event sponsor, has long demonstrated a strong commitment to community impact. As a leading global bank, BNY Mellon is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the communities it serves through philanthropy, employee volunteerism, and innovative financing solutions. Their sponsorship of the Catalytic Capital Wine Night is yet another example of their dedication to supporting initiatives that drive positive change and create lasting impact.
As the evening concluded, it was clear that the connections formed at the Catalytic Capital Wine Night would serve as a catalyst for future collaborations and growth within Georgia’s impact investing ecosystem. The event not only strengthened existing relationships but also forged new ones, paving the way for increased social impact across the state.
We extend our gratitude to BNY Mellon for sponsoring the event and to El Vinedo Local for providing a beautiful venue and exceptional South American food and wine. We look forward to hosting more events like this in the future, as we continue to build a robust network of impact investors and stakeholders committed to creating positive change in Georgia.