UK Impact Investing Program
19 March 2013 at 2:33 pm
An Impact Investing Program has been established in the UK to bring together philanthropic and finance professionals from around the world to develop an advanced understanding of the growing field of impact investing.
The program has been established between the Said Business School at the University of Oxford and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF).
Impact investments are investments made to companies or organisations with the intention of creating a positive social or environmental impact as well as a financial return.
"This new program is created with 21st century business challenges in mind," University of Oxford's co-programme director and lecturer in social entrepreneurship Alex Nicholls said.
"Our goal is to inspire participants to understand the complex system in which they find themselves with practical tools of doing deals that will result in significant social, environmental and financial change."
The four-and-a-half day program is said to equip social investors, philanthropists, funders and financial professionals with a deep understanding of venture capital, financial instruments, how to value loans, identifying how to exit projects and importantly, how to measure the social impact of an investment and communicate returns on investment.
“The program will help participants refine their impact investing strategy and will equip them with the practical skills to design innovative transactions to maximize societal change.”
“This program is a wonderful opportunity for two global leaders to collaborate and expand the field of impact investing,” Sterling Speirn , WKKF President and CEO said.
"At the foundation we see mission driven investing as an additional tool to go beyond traditional grant-making, which enables us to achieve our triple bottom line – social returns, financial returns and learning returns – for the fields of philanthropy and business.
A report into the experiences and expectations of impact investors around the world has revealed that the growing market is predicted to commit US$ 9 billion to impact investing this year – up from 8 billion in 2012.
The program has already attracted participants from around the globe, representing diverse countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, China, Malaysia, Russia, Georgia, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, the U.S. and the U.K.
Other organisations supporting the program include GIIN (Global Impact Investing Network), Council on Foundations, MaRS Centre for Impact Investing, European Venture Philanthropy Association and the MacArthur Foundation, a global grant-maker and impact investor that will be contributing cases and content for the program.
