Description

(Cross-listed as ENV 188) This course explores the impact investing capital continuum from government agencies to ESG funds, banks, advisors, endowments, impact funds and individual investors and ways they can bridge traditional investment expectations with those required by an economy focused on positive impact. The course focuses on the role impact investors can play to fill ‘capital gaps’ to advance sustainability and equity, defined by the intersectional needs of social entrepreneurs and impact investors. By drilling down into the practical correlations between mission, cost structure and financial returns, the course explores opportunities and challenges for impact capital to advance a sustainable and equitable agenda. Students will gain insight into capital limits and matchmaking opportunities for different segments of capital providers, including philanthropy, ESG funds, regulated financial institutions, place-based funders and other potential sources of impact funds. Given the rapid emergence of the field, students will be exposed to an array of contemporary learning experiences including case studies, workshops, lecture, and guest speakers. Students will leave this course with the conceptual and practical framework required to deploy catalytic capital and to distinguish this segment of the impact investing space from aligned and complimentary strategies.