Month: March 2023

BETHESDA, Md., March 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – ImpactAssets announced today that it has released the ImpactAssets 50 2023 (IA 50), a free publicly available, searchable database of impact investment fund managers for impact investors, family offices, corporations, foundations and institutional investors.

In its twelfth year, the IA 50 continues to raise awareness of impact fund managers across impact areas, maturity, and geography, serving as a basis for deepening understanding of the field.

The IA 50 breaks out managers in three categories, including the core IA 50 list, IA 50 Emerging Impact Managers list and IA 50 Emeritus Impact Managers list. Across all three categories, a record 163 impact fund managers were included totaling $122.48 billion in assets, invested across a range of asset classes and impact themes.

“This year’s IA 50 showcase is a watershed, as the industry continues to allocate more investable assets into social and environmental solutions with both time-tested strategies and creative, new approaches,” said Jed Emerson, ImpactAssets Senior Fellow, IA 50 Review Committee Chair and Chief Impact Officer at AlTi Global. “Established funds continue to impress, while new funds are bringing fresh approaches and insights that move the needle in critical areas through impact investing.”

Some takeaways from this year’s IA 50:

Maturing Industry: While many investors see impact investing as the “next new thing,” this year’s IA 50 highlights the long roots and deep experience of an industry focused on making measurable, beneficial social or environmental impact alongside a financial return. More than four in ten (43%) IA 50 2023 fund managers have been managing assets for more than 10 years, and nine fund managers have been selected in all 12 IA 50 showcases.

Growth in Billion Dollar Funds: As impact investing continues its rapid ascension—the Global Impact Investing Network estimates the global impact investing market at $1.16 trillion—the IA 50 has seen a steady increase in the number of billion dollar funds in its ranks. This year, 18 managers with assets exceeding $1 billion were selected, up from 15 in 2022, while an additional 11 had assets under management between $500 million and $1 billion, up from ten in 2022.

Investment Themes and SDGs: A quarter (25%) of IA 50 managers across all three lists focused on clean technology, alternative energy, and climate change, making it the top impact theme. Microfinance, low-income financial services, and micro-insurance (12%) comprised the second-largest impact focus. The most represented UN Sustainable Development Goals cited by fund managers included Decent Work and Economic Growth (20%), Climate Action (17%), No Poverty (12%) and Reduced Inequality (11%).

Increased Diversity & Representation: IA 50 fund managers embrace diversity in contrast to the asset management industry as a whole—asset managers who are women, Black, Indigenous or People of Color manage just 1.4 percent of $82.2 trillion in U.S. assets. Nearly half (48%) of fund managers reported their investment teams are 50% or more People of Color; 43% reported investment teams with 50% or more women. Similarly, 37% of fund managers reported their senior management is 50% or more women, while 35% said senior management is 50% or more People of Color.

Aligning Incentives with Impact: IA 50 managers are finding new ways to commit to impact. This year, 19% of core IA 50 managers, 17% of Emerging Impact Managers and 10% of Emeritus Managers said they tie fund compensation structure to achieving impact. A total of 17% said they have had their impact reporting verified by a third party.

Private Equity is the Largest Asset Class: Focused on deep impact in private markets, 60% of IA 50 fund managers are primarily investing in private equity, while 32% are primarily invested in private debt. Early Stage Venture Capital in Developed Markets is the most popular category, representing 12% of all funds.

Impact Doesn’t Mean Financial Sacrifice: A total of 76% of IA 50 managers target market rates or above market rates of return, and 98% reported delivering either in line or above their initial target returns.

Additionally, nearly one in five fund managers named to the IA 50 2023 is a signatory to the Operating Principles for Impact Management, a framework for investors to ensure that impact considerations are purposefully integrated throughout the investment life cycle. According to an independent analysis by BlueMark, a provider of impact verification services and intelligence for the impact and sustainable investing markets, 17 of these 31 fund managers have already completed an independent verification, as is required by all signatories.

“What makes the IA 50 so special is its independent Review Committee, comprised of a diverse mix of industry veterans, expert practitioners and impact champions,” said Margret Trilli, CEO and Chief Investment Officer at ImpactAssets. “Throughout the IA 50’s 12-year tenure, we have honed a rigorous application, analysis and scoring process to support the Review Committee in selecting interesting fund managers for the IA 50 directory. In doing so, the IA 50 has become a staple resource for investors to source impact investment ideas to consider for their own due diligence.”

In addition to Jed Emerson, the ImpactAssets IA 50 Review Committee is comprised of some of the leading thinkers and doers in impact investing— people who built the industry and are leading investors, managers and practitioners.

The IA 50 Review Committee includes: Andrew Lee, Managing Director, Global Head of Sustainable and Impact Investing, UBS Global Wealth Management; Christina Leijonhufvud, CEO, BlueMark and Co-Founder, Tideline; Cynthia Muller, Director of Mission Investment, W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Danielle Reed, Senior Vice President, ESG & Impact Investing, Jordan Park Group; Jennifer Kenning, CEO & Co-Founder, Align Impact; Justina Lai, Chief Impact Officer and Shareholder, Wetherby Asset Management; Karl “Charly” Kleissner, Ph.D., Co-Founder of Toniic and KL Felicitas Foundation; Kate Starr, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Flat World Partners; Liesel Pritzker Simmons, Co-Founder and Principal of Blue Haven Initiative; Malaika Maphalala, CPWA® Private Wealth Advisor, Natural Investments, LLC; Margret Trilli, CEO and Chief Investment Officer, ImpactAssets; Mark Berryman, Managing Director of Impact Investing, The CAPROCK Group; Ronald A. Homer, Chief Strategist, Impact Investing, RBC Global Asset Management (US) Inc.; and Stephanie Cohn Rupp, CEO and Partner, Veris Wealth Partners.

The application and fund analysis for the IA 50 is conducted by ImpactAssets.

About the ImpactAssets 50 

The IA 50 is the first publicly available database that provides a gateway into the world of impact investing for donors and/or investors and their financial advisors, offering an easy way to identify experienced impact investment firms and explore the landscape of potential investment opportunities. The IA 50 is intended to illustrate the breadth of impact investment fund managers operating today, though it is not a comprehensive list. Firms have been selected to demonstrate a wide range of impact investing activities across geographies, sectors and asset classes. 

The IA 50 is not an index or investable platform and does not constitute an offering or solicitation to buy or sell securities or a private placement, or recommend specific products. Nor is this an endorsement of any of the listed fund managers. It is not a replacement for due diligence. To be considered for the IA 50 2023, fund managers needed to have at least $25 million in assets under management, more than three years of experience as a firm with impact investing, documented social and/or environmental impact and be available for US investment. Additional details on the selection process are available here.

The IA 50 Emerging Impact Managers list is intended to spotlight newer fund managers to watch that demonstrate potential to create meaningful impact. Criteria such as minimum track record or minimum assets under management may not be applicable. 

The IA 50 Emeritus Impact Managers list illuminates impact fund managers who have achieved consistent recognition on the IA 50. 

About ImpactAssets 

ImpactAssets is an impact investing trailblazer, dedicated to changing the trajectory of our planet’s future and improving the lives of all people. As a leading impact investing firm, we offer deep strategic expertise to help our clients define and execute on their impact goals. Founded in 2010, ImpactAssets increases flows of money to impact investing in partnership with our clients through our impact investment platform and field-building initiatives, including the IA 50 database of private debt and equity impact fund managers. ImpactAssets has more than $2 billion in assets in 1,700 donor advised fund accounts, working with purpose-driven individuals and their wealth managers, family offices, foundations and corporations. ImpactAssets is an independent 501(c)(3) organization.

Originally published by The Wrap

By Raquel “Rocky” Harris

As part of their Content for Change initiative, Showtime and Paramount Global have donated $300,000 to North Community High School, home of the student football team featured in the new Peter Berg-directed docuseries “Boys in Blue.”

Continue reading here.

LINCOLN, Neb., March 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Arbor Day Foundation Chief Operating Officer Katie Loos was recently promoted to president of the organization. Loos is just the third president of the 51-year-old global nonprofit organization.

“Katie’s skills as a leader, strategist and collaborator will help make everyone on our team better, myself included,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “She cares deeply about people. She’s passionate about the Arbor Day Foundation, the work we do and the team members who make it happen.”

Loos is an eight-year veteran of the Arbor Day Foundation, first joining the team as the director of related business ventures. Over the course of her career, she has played a critical role of leadership during a period of rapid growth. In 2021, Loos stepped into her position as chief operating officer and continued to guide teams in areas of impact. 

Now, Loos will collaborate with Lambe to direct the overall strategy of the nonprofit. As steward of the Foundation’s operations, structure and systems, Loos will lead the advancement of the nonprofit’s ability to plant, nurture and celebrate trees around the world.

“I am incredibly humbled to be able to serve as the new president of the Arbor Day Foundation,” said Katie Loos, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Our team is innovative in its pursuit to plant trees in areas of greatest need and the demonstrated impact of the work we’ve helped accomplish is inspiring. As president, I will continue to foster an environment where our team members can thrive and reach new levels of success.”

With Loos overseeing more of the day-to-day operations, Lambe will devote more time to elevating the visibility of the Arbor Day Foundation and fostering partnerships to maximize the Foundation’s positive impact on the planet.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the world’s largest membership nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. With a focus in communities and forests of greatest need, the Foundation — alongside its more than 1 million members, supporters and valued partners — has helped to plant nearly 500 million trees in more than 50 countries. Guided by its mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees, the Arbor Day Foundation is committed to unlocking the power of trees to help solve critical issues facing people and the planet. Learn more about the impact of the Arbor Day Foundation at arborday.org.

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia and PARIS, March 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – In collaboration with the Malaysian Ministry of Plantation and Commodities, The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) Human Rights Coalition (HRC) today hosted a practical workshop for Malaysian palm oil companies on best practices for implementing a pragmatic business approach to human rights due diligence (HRDD). The workshop was the first held in a learning series hosted by the HRC’s People Positive Palm Project (P3 Project), jointly implemented by the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and the International Organization for Migration, which aims to leverage collective action and eradicate forced labour from the Malaysian palm oil industry.

The workshop was opened by YAB Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah Yusof, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, and Minister of Plantation and Commodities. In his remarks, he expressed support for the P3 Project as a key initiative for driving business innovation in Malaysia by helping suppliers to enhance their productivity and resilience in the face of global challenges, secure product exportability, and increase attractiveness for investors. By increasing Workers’ wellbeing, the Malaysian palm industry can lead a regional and sectoral transformation towards people positive business practices, ultimately making Malaysia a trendsetter on practical and effective approaches to HRDD. He also highlighted the need for continued private-public sector collaboration to address the systemic challenges facing the industry.

Thirty-five organisations attended the event, including HRC members, palm suppliers, government groups, and local civil society organisations. Throughout the day, representatives from FLA facilitated dialogues among companies on the role of due diligence in identifying, addressing, and preventing forced labour risks, how it can be implemented in practice, and the impact of mandatory due diligence legislation on business practices. Companies emphasized the importance of proactivity in adopting responsible recruitment practices in order to build a more resilient industry in times of many sustainability challenges and regulatory changes. They also focused on the ethical recruitment and employment of migrant Workers, which make up 70 percent of the sector’s workforce. After technical discussions on how to implement the six steps of HRDD, the workshop concluded with companies agreeing to continue taking a collective approach to eliminating forced labour in order to effectively address its systemic roots.

Launched in 2022, the P3 Project fosters collective action and advocacy to address root causes of forced labour in a sustainable and structural manner. Its scope focuses on the Malaysian palm oil sector given the progress many suppliers have made in the sustainability field, making Malaysia an opportune environment to test strong due diligence practices and set an example for other countries and commodity sectors.

Through its learning series, the project seeks to support palm oil suppliers to develop necessary management systems for addressing forced labour and align their practices with current and upcoming legal requirements on HRDD, including Malaysia’s National Action Plan on Forced Labour. The workshop will be followed by a roundtable dialogue between business, civil society, and government actors on responsible recruitment, set to be hosted in spring 2023 in Kuala Lumpur.

The project also builds on the CGF’s history of work addressing forced labour related to palm oil production, including a groundbreaking report on forced labour risks in the Malaysian and Indonesian palm oil sectors issued by the CGF and FLA in 2018.

Didier Bergeret, Director of Sustainability, The Consumer Goods Forum, said, “We are pleased to see our People Positive Palm Project launch its first learning series workshop with the support of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities, and some of the largest palm oil producers in Malaysia. In bringing these key actors together with our members, we are building an effective coalition of leaders who will be able to drive the action needed to transform the Malaysian palm industry and ensure human rights are protected, respected, and remedied throughout the value chain.”

Paul Lalli, Global VP, Human Rights, The Coca-Cola Company, and HRC Co-chair, said, “I believe today’s workshop, supported by The Consumer Goods Forum’s Human Rights Coalition, will support the critical human rights journey of palm oil suppliers in Malaysia, whose engagement is essential to ensure respect for the rights of vulnerable workers in many of our members’ supply chains. Through these trainings, our goal is to build know-how and a commitment to drive changes in mindsets and practices in order to make a lasting difference in the lives of workers and their communities.”

Sharon Waxman, President and CEO, Fair Labor Association, said, “The Fair Labor Association welcomes the opportunity to organize this workshop with the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities as part of the People Positive Palm Project. We hope the workshop will facilitate the implementation of Malaysia’s National Action Plan on Forced Labor and lay a strong foundation for a mandatory human rights due diligence framework that will benefit palm suppliers, including small-holders.”

– ENDS –

About the Human Rights Coalition 
The Human Rights Coalition is the leading collective of consumer goods companies strengthening due diligence throughout their business practices to ensure Workers’ rights are protected, respected, and remedied at every step of the value chain. As a CEO-led initiative hosted by The Consumer Goods Forum, the only organisation to convene manufacturers and retailers globally, the HRC supports companies to effectively address salient human rights impacts, notably around forced labour, in their business practices through aligned, accelerated action driven at the highest levels of leadership. The work of the HRC continues the CGF’s long history of engagement on the issue of forced labour within consumer goods supply chains by building on the CGF’s Social Resolution on Forced Labour, the first of its kind in the industry; its Priority Industry Principles; and ongoing relationships with key stakeholders in the industry. To learn more about the Human Rights Coalition, visit www.tcgfsocial.com.

About The Consumer Goods Forum 
The Consumer Goods Forum (“CGF”) is a global, parity-based industry network that is driven by its members to encourage the global adoption of practices and standards that serves the consumer goods industry worldwide. It brings together the CEOs and senior management of some 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other stakeholders across 70 countries, and it reflects the diversity of the industry in geography, size, product category and format. Its member companies have combined sales of EUR 3.5 trillion and directly employ nearly 10 million people, with a further 90 million related jobs estimated along the value chain. It is governed by its Board of Directors, which comprises more than 55 manufacturer and retailer CEOs. For more information, please visit: www.theconsumergoodsforum.com

For additional information, please contact: 

Didier Bergeret 
Director, Sustainability 
The Consumer Goods Forum 
Social Sustainability (Human Rights)

Madelaine VanDerHeyden 
Manager, Communications 
The Consumer Goods Forum 
Email

Episode Summary

Sealed Air employees Alessandra Faccin, President of the Asia Pacific Region, and Pauline Lewis, Vice President of Customer Service for the Americas Region, join guest host Sonja Kurcz for Episode 8 of Sealed Air’s “Better Together” podcast, which focuses on embracing equity in honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. Kurcz, Sealed Air’s Executive Director of Culture, DE&I and Change Management, leads a discussion about topics ranging from work-life balance and gender equality to women in leadership and navigating barriers.

Listen to the episode here.

About the Podcast

Believing employees can strengthen connections by learning from the experiences of co-workers, global packaging provider Sealed Air (also known as SEE) created “Better Together,” a DEI-focused podcast that gives employees the opportunity to share personal stories and perspectives that spark understanding and respect. The corporate podcast encourages employees to embrace their identities and look beyond differences to help foster inclusion in the workplace. “Better Together” is hosted and produced by Akilah Garvin, Sealed Air’s Senior Manager of Supply Chain Communications.