How does impact investing differ from traditional investing?Group of answer choicesWhere traditional investing is focused on financial return, impact investing is focused exclusively on social or environmental change, not financial return.Impact investing is regulated by a multi-national non-governmental entity similar to the SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) in the USA.Impact investing is carried out by only the ultra-wealthy, whereas traditional investing is open to a broader segment of society.Impact investing balances both financial return and specific goals that relate to improving the environment and/or society.

How are large financial institutions playing a role in the development of impact investing?Group of answer choicesThey are increasing their focus on financial-only investments which is alienating an increasing number of customers who are looking for impact.They are launching products that fit squarely within this emerging space along with promoting considerations beyond just financial returns.They are paying for research that compares financial-only investments against investments that consider either ESG factors or impact.They are donating large sums of money to help this emerging asset class to stabilize by supporting impact investing think-tanks.

What is the key differentiator between ESG-based investing and impact investing?Group of answer choicesESG-based investing is focused only on short-term opportunities.ESG-based investing aligns very well with actual market prices.ESG-based investing is far more complicated due to legal constraints.ESG-based investing is not always in a company that has a social impact.

OverviewTask: Take a deep dive on the types of companies and markets served by a variety of impact investing entities and complete the template.Purpose: Reflect on your social issue and why it is or why it is not included in the investment portfolios.Instructor: Your instructor will grade your assignment based on the rubric.ContextThere are a wide range of impact investment entities. Some focus on a fairly narrow niche like investing in agricultural companies in sub-Saharan Africa. Others have a broad investment portfolio than spans multiple vertical markets such as financial inclusion, tech, healthcare, education, or clean power. Consider your social issue for the semester as you work through this assignment keeping in mind one of the primary premises of impact investing—that capital can be deployed to generate a return (more money than was invested) and facilitate impact on social and/or environmental concerns.RecommendationsYou need to understand where your social issue falls along the social innovation spectrum. Is it an issue that can be addressed through profitable market-based solutions? Or a social business model that is profitable but metered to align with impact rather than profit maximization? Or a nonprofit solution that has an earned revenue stream through offering impact aligned products and/or services? Or a philanthropic model that relies on grants and donations as monetization?InstructionsSelect a minimum of three of the options below and navigate their website to find the companies that they have invested in. Look for "portfolio," "partner companies," "investments," "entrepreneurs," or any other similar phrasing.AccionLinks to an external site.AcumenLinks to an external site.Bamboo Capital PartnersLinks to an external site.Elevar EquityLinks to an external site.LeapFrog InvestmentsLinks to an external site.Quona CapitalLinks to an external site.Once you have found the companies that they have invested in, take note of the types of companies. For instance, what are their products and/or services? You may need to visit the websites of the companies as needed to better understand them. Take note of the vertical markets that the entity is investing in.Develop a summary of each entity that you examine with a description of the types of companies that they invest in.Compare your social issue with the vertical markets that you have discovered. Ask yourself either, “Why is my social issue found in impact investment portfolios?” or “Why is my social issue not found in impact investment portfolios?”Your social issue does not need to be among the investment companies of all of the three (or more) entities that you examine. It is sufficient to note that it was found at all or not at all. Each entity will have a specific investment philosophy that may be more narrow or more broad.Synthesize what you have learned about impact investing this week with what you have learned about your social issue and business models that monetize. Reflecting on what you did for W10 Application: Hybrids and Social Businesses might be helpful to see what kind of profitable endeavors may or may not be reasonable for your social issue.Download and complete the Impact Investing TemplateDownload Impact Investing TemplateMinimize File Preview. The last part of the template is the most significant.Do not only write one or two sentences as you answer the “why” question.(Optional) Review the Application Assignment Guidelines.Ensure your work also demonstrates the following:Customization of the template.Mastery of and connection to the concepts from the W11 Study: Impact Investing materials.

According to Professor Loutskina, why does an impact investment need to be made in an entity whose core activities are focused on generating impact?Group of answer choicesThere are strict government regulations in multiple countries that limit what can be called an “impact” investment.If the entity cannot prove its impact through meaningful metrics then it is unlikely to attract impact investors.An entity that has a parallel activity that is not their core could discontinue that activity at any time.The financial rigor of providing market-rate returns demands that an entity focuses principally on impact.

If so little of worldwide assets are being invested in impact investing opportunities, why is it important to even consider it?Group of answer choicesThere is a moral obligation to keep our money clean by investing in only good companies.Prominent celebrities and thought-leaders are promoting impact opportunities.There are increasing regulations that will force investors to invest in impact opportunities.It is a rapidly growing asset class that aligns well with people’s desire for a better world.