What is Impact Investing?
Impact investments are investments made with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. Impact investments attract a wide variety of individual and institutional investors, and target a diverse range of impact focus areas ranging from renewable energy to education, health to reducing inequalities. Learn more about the growing global impact investing sector from the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN).
What does impact investing look like in the Philadelphia region?
Impact investing is one tool that the Philadelphia region can utilize to become more equitable, environmentally sustainable, and resilient. By connecting impact investors with local impact-driven enterprises, we have the opportunity to grow and scale solutions for our region (and beyond). ImpactPHL, a local 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to growing the impact investing ecosystem in the Philadelphia region, provides investors with resources to learn more, engage, and move money into local investable opportunities. Learn more about ImpactPHL and the ways you can connect to the local impact investment community.
What is Ben's role in impact investing?
Ben Franklin Technology Partners identifies as an impact investor. In addition to advancing local economic development and job creation, many of Ben’s portfolio companies are addressing additional impact areas such as health and well-being and clean energy. Learn more about ImpactPHL Ventures, Ben’s $15 million collaborative to fund local impact companies.
How can local enterprises articulate, track and measure impact?
A growing number of impact investors - high net worth individuals, foundations, family offices, and more - are seeking investable local impact opportunities. If your enterprise is advancing clear, defined, and measurable social and/or environmental impact, then you may have an opportunity to attract and raise capital from impact investors. Working in partnership, Ben and ImpactPHL have created The Investable Impact Toolkit - a 101 guide for how enterprises can identify, track, and articulate their impact.
ImpactPHL has developed a useful toolkit to prepare your business for impact investment.
How can local impact enterprises like your organization get in front of a growing number of impact investors looking for regional opportunities?
ImpactPHL has recently launched OptImpact, an online platform that helps connect accredited investors with our region's investable impact opportunities. If your enterprise is advancing measurable social and/or environmental impact, is regionally focused, and has existed for more than a year.
You may be able to connect and raise capital from our growing number of impact investors interested in high-impact projects found on OptImpact.