Daniela Fernandez Shares How She’s Helping Accelerate Solutions to Protect the Oceans

Posted on October 16, 2018December 5, 2018 by Case Foundation

This interview is the sixth of nine in a series of Q and A’s with leading changemakers, representing the Millennial generation who are working across sectors to be the force for change on the issues they care about most.

Tell as a little bit about yourself and your work

I founded Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) as a college-room idea, spurred from a UN convening on oceans that I had been invited to as a college freshman. Five years later, I’ve built SOA as a global organization that cultivates and accelerates innovative solutions to protect and sustain the health of the ocean. SOA has created the world’s largest network of young ocean leaders—through establishing a presence in over 50 countries; launching the first-ever Ocean Solutions Accelerator to support ocean start-ups; and partnering with corporations such as Lindblad Expeditions and The Economist, NGOs and governments, including Indonesia and the European Union, to develop technological solutions that can address the greatest threats facing our planet.

What problem keeps you up at night? What do you think it will take to solve it?

The ocean is dying, to put it simply. The degradation to our ocean and the limited time we have to curve permanent changes to our climate and our ocean keeps me up endlessly. It will take diversity and inclusion across a variety of stakeholders and multiple sectors, not only civil servants making decisions, but business, technology, government and populations, to create long-lasting sustainable solutions.

With technology, the barriers to access information and stories, and move to taking action have continued to come down—how do you think that has influenced the way you and others take part in the environmental protection movement?

Young people now have unlimited access and connectivity across every corner of the world, allowing them to share their ideas and projects, and to help each other to protect the environment, and specifically in our case, the ocean. With Millennials being the most technologically-savvy and connected generation. It’s a generation that believes in transparency and social media has played an even bigger role in allowing young people to raise their voices to be heard. The conversation is no longer behind closed doors at high-level meetings, but out in the open for all to participate.

Why do you think it’s important and how do you think that causes can meet young people where they are in understanding their unique perspectives on the role of businesses to protect the planet?

Our model is unique in the sense that we ask young people about their passions, skill-sets and interests, as opposed to dictating what the solution is. They are the ones who come up with their ideas locally, and we support their efforts on a local and global scale.

What have been some of your biggest challenges?

Raising funds has been a challenge, especially being in a niche like the ocean space, but also with having a different model of how we should approach ocean sustainability – one that focuses on youth engagement and entrepreneurship. It’s been hard to find funders that understand the value and importance of engaging young people, and empowering them to develop their projects whether it is through the arts, humanities or entrepreneurship.

What has been your favorite success story?

My favorite success story has been taking an idea and building it into a global organization. There was so much risk associated with taking this leap of faith because it had not been done before through this avenue. Now with the creation of the organization, we have seen how 5 different ocean technology startups have been able to create a product in the marketplace that will strongly benefit the ocean.

What is one thing you think everyone should know about your generation?

Millennials grew up with climate change as a constant reminder of what the world will look like if we don’t act with urgency. It is because we’ve grown up in this ecosystem – seeing the world change before our eyes – that we as a generation understand that we have to be bold, innovative and build communities around our ideas in order to make them come to life.

What’s next for you? What are some of your dreams and goals?

We are continuing to build SOA into a global organization, with dreams of opening various regional offices, expanding our team, increasing our number of youth leaders and accelerating more ocean technology companies.

How can people interested in your cause learn more?

Visit www.soalliance.org for more information, and join us as a youth leader!

We will be featuring interviews from each of the leaders representing the Millennial generation on key movements and issues today who participated in our recent 10-day Instagram takeover. Stay tuned for the rest of this series and see their stories as part of an infographic detailing ten key traits about how Millennials engage with causes, based on our ten years of research, here.

Stephanie Cordes of the Cordes Foundation Shares How She’s Making Fashion More Ethical and Sustainable

Posted on October 9, 2018December 5, 2018 by Case Foundation

This interview is the fifth of nine in a series of Q and A’s with leading changemakers, representing the Millennial generation who are working across sectors to be the force for change on the issues they care about most.

Tell as a little bit about yourself and your work 

From a young age I was naturally attracted to the design, creativity and intentionality in art that the fashion industry embodied. Therefore, it came as no surprise to my parents when I decided to chase my dreams to New York City for internships with high-end designers and magazines throughout college. After these experiences, I ultimately pursued a full-time position at Conde Nast where I further delved into the world of luxury advertising and marketing. During this time, I also started learning more about the “not so glamorous” side of fashion, the side that is often kept hidden behind the beautiful pages of each issue. When I learned that this massive $2.5T industry that I had grown to love was rarely paying its garment workers enough to live on—while also forcing them to work long hours in unsafe working conditions—I became motivated to take action. Shortly thereafter I started working alongside my parents at our family’s foundation, the Cordes Foundation, where we began channeling our combined talents and passions towards making the fashion industry more ethical and sustainable. With my mom’s passion for providing economic opportunities to women and my dad’s passion for equipping the next generation of social entrepreneurs, we were naturally able to integrate my background in fashion to collectively support female-led companies and organizations that were using fashion as a positive force for social change. 

What problem keeps you up at night? What do you think it will take to solve it? 

The fact that we, as Americans, dispose around 12.8M tons of textiles annually is just crazy to me! On average that would amount to 80 lbs. per every woman, man and child in the US! Along with being horrible for the environment of course, it’s also a largely untapped market opportunity given that 95% of used textiles can be recycled. Luckily, we are seeing a rise in the circular economy with the emergence of companies like Evrnu, Worn Again, The Renewal Workshop and others who are creating innovative models to recycle clothing.

With technology, the barriers to understanding major issues have continued to come down—how do you think that has influenced the way you and others decide to act on major issues like improving ethics in the fashion industry?

A major turning point for the industry was the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse that tragically took the lives of 1,100 garment workers in Bangladesh. This was not only a huge wakeup call to brands but also made consumers all over the world start to question the factory conditions in which their clothing was being produced. This formed a global movement called Fashion Revolution which encourages everyone to take action via social media by asking our favorite brands #whomademyclothes. Through asking this simple question, we are calling for greater transparency, accountability and ethics in the fashion industry.

Why do you think it’s important to meet young people where they are to use their resources to address social issues, for example, through Impact Investing?

Every young person has their own unique set of resources, a personal toolkit if you will, that is built over one’s lifetime. It is by understanding and unleashing the various forms of capital in these toolkits that they are better able to identify how they individually want to address social issues. Whether they want to use their social capital to influence and galvanize people around a specific topic or their intellectual capital to share knowledge and facts about a particular issue or their experiential capital acquired through learning-by-doing, there’s a path for everyone. In the case of impact investing, it’s important to meet young people where they are at given that everyone is at a different stage and comfortability level in their journey. For someone that is brand new, a common first step would be to apply a negative screening on their portfolio to remove companies involved in weapons, gambling, tobacco, etc. For someone that is more advanced, they might go one step further and start seeking out companies that have high ESG (environmental, social, governance) ratings. Beyond the public portfolio, an individual can go even deeper by investing directly in social enterprises that align with their personal mission and values. 

What have been some of your biggest challenges?

Deciding where to focus my time! We are constantly hearing about so many amazing initiatives, organizations, conferences and communities—all of which sound incredible—that initially I wanted to be involved in everything. Realizing there are only so many hours in a day, it’s been challenging to scale back certain commitments but ultimately, I feel I’m able to make more of an impact when I can focus on a few core projects rather than trying to do everything at once.

What has been your favorite success story?

One story that comes top of mind particularly as of recently is that of Kennedy and Jess Odede and their organization SHOFCO (Shining Hope for Communities). We met Kennedy when he was a 2010 Cordes Fellow at the OC (Opportunity Collaboration) and were blown away by his personal story of growing up in the Kibera slum and starting SHOFCO as a teenager with 20 cents and a soccer ball in 2004. It was in 2007 that he was joined by Jess, an American study abroad student at the time, and together they built up the organization and eventually got married. Over the years our team has been proud to support their work and see their impactful programs on the ground in Kibera 3 threetimes. It’s been impressive to watch them grow from a small grassroots organization with one site to an internationally recognized NGO with six sights reaching more than 220,000 Kenyans. The icing on the cake was hearing that just last week they won the $2 million Hilton Humanitarian Prize!

Who are some fellow next generation leaders you admire? 

Sharing a mutual passion for ethical fashion and women’s rights, I’ve come to admire Emma Watson and the leadership role she has taken around these issues. I’m inspired by the way she leverages her platform and influence as a successful actress to advocate for causes that she cares about. She always comes across as thoughtful, articulate and bold when discussing complex topics and ways in which she wants to create change in the world.   

Another strong female next gen leader that I admire is Gwen Floyd, Co-Founder of the ethical jewelry company Soko. After selling her first company, she combined her background in architecture with her passion for sustainable fashion to create a brand that currently employs a network of 3,000+ artisans in Kenya. Soko has become a close partner of our foundation and it’s been amazing to watch them grow and gain traction with large retailers such as Nordstrom, Reformation and Urban Outfitters. 

What is one thing you think everyone should know about your generation? 

We tend to value experiences over possessions. While I can’t speak for my entire generation, I consider myself part of the vast majority that often prefer spending money on meaningful experiences rather than material things. As the rise in the sharing economy skyrockets and we continue to see a shift away from the traditional ownership model, we are beginning to reevaluate what we consider “necessities”. What were once key indicators of security—i.e. homes, cars, offices, etc.—are quickly changing as more and more people become digital nomads and have the ability to bring their work with them while they travel. Our generation is more inclined to choose jobs and opportunities where we know we will learn and grow by experience rather than taking it for salary alone. Personally, I see the importance of traveling and having a diverse set of experiences as it has given me a broader perspective on the world and has positively influenced my professional work. Through study abroad programs, backpacking, international volunteer work, gap years, etc. we gain so much more practical knowledge than a textbook could ever provide. This circles back to the fact that our generation is investing our time, money and talent differently than any before.   

What’s next for you? What are some of your dreams and goals? 

Married life! My fiancé and I got engaged earlier this summer so amidst wedding planning, there are lots of new and exciting things in store for 2019. When we eventually have children, my goal would be to raise them in a way where they are continuously exposed to different cultures, languages, people and places so that they grow up learning the importance of diversity, inclusion and global connection.

How can people interested in your cause learn more? 

They can check out our  Cordes Foundation website and follow @cordesfdn on social media to learn more about all of our amazing grantee and investment partners! My personal website and Instagram @sncordes share more ethical fashion tips and pictures from our travels!

Fagan Harris of Baltimore Corps Shares how He and the Organization are Investing in Baltimore’s Innovators

Posted on September 25, 2018December 5, 2018 by Case Foundation

This interview is the third of nine in a series of Q and As with leading changemakers, representing the Millennial generation who are working across sectors to be the force for change on the issues they care about most.

Tell as a little bit about yourself and your work.

I grew up in the Baltimore area and attended local public schools. Even in my earliest memories of the city, Baltimore’s story was always one of two cities: many of our neighborhoods enjoy tremendous affluence; yet, an even greater proportion are locked into and suffer from the daily grind of intergenerational poverty. The city’s hyper-segregation, fundamental inequity and chronic disinvestment play out in racial terms because its predominantly Black neighborhoods and communities struggle disproportionately.

When I returned home at 26, I started my work in Baltimore as an organizer, building infrastructure in communities that need it most. My early professional experiences made clear to me that we had the energy, talent and enthusiasm, but not necessarily the organization or institutional capacity necessary to address the city’s systemic challenges. As a social entrepreneur, I work to simply connect the talented individuals and leaders living in our communities to opportunities to make the biggest difference in the city, from tackling issues of addiction to addressing long-term unemployment to eliminating chronic absenteeism. Ultimately, Baltimore Corps represents a massive investment in our city’s talent base. The organization is tireless in its efforts to recruit talented people into the careers and projects that move the needle furthest on our toughest problems.

What problem keeps you up at night? What do you think it will take to solve it?

What keeps me up at night is that we still struggle to see one another, which unconsciously blinds us to genius and talent right in front of us. Yesterday’s barriers of legal separation of people have begun to fall away, but new obstacles like the de facto barricades of race, class, privilege, education and access to social networks compromise our ability to empower people to propel their own lives and improve their communities. Dreams continue to be deferred, which is a loss to the individual and larger society, alike. In what ways would the world, our nation, our individual cities and communities be different, if we more fully experienced the talents of all of our peoples?

It’s essential we acknowledge our shared humanity and create bridges for discourse that involves more voices, recognizing historical trauma and oppression and beginning to move us together to solve critically urgent challenges plaguing our communities. Systemically, we must name, interrogate and dismantle unjust systems, and ensure that no one is locked out of opportunity or internalizes messages of inadequacy. We must learn to appreciate and leverage talents manifested in people who do not look like us and who bring to bear different life experiences. We must realize—and act upon—the fact that our future is tied up in one another.

With technology, the barriers to act have continued to come down – how has that powered Baltimore Corps and your efforts to bring more young people to meaningful work in Baltimore?

At the core of our organization is infrastructure: we leverage CRM and other technological tools to connect, at scale, passionate and talented individuals to one-year placements, career opportunities, internships, apprenticeships, as well as capital for their small business or social venture. We track and qualify hundreds of these opportunities for our talent pools. Without technology, it’s impossible to scale our platform to achieve citywide scale. With technology, Baltimore Corps can execute efficiently, effectively and responsively to serve all of Baltimore.

What is one thing you think everyone should know about your generation?

I want people to know that our generation is frequently underestimated, misunderstood, and discounted as a force for good. Millennials are frequently stereotyped in the workplace as entitled, impatient or unsettled, hopping from job to job. Our research, data, and direct experience contradicts these claims.

I find that our generation is so hungry to contribute to their communities and larger world and, if invested in, will wholly devote themselves to important causes and struggles (often in spite of enormous personal costs). We live in consequential times and confront massive challenges in our democracy and throughout our communities; now, more than ever, we need young people to lead us boldly into the future.

When I look at the network of leaders that we’ve deployed at Baltimore Corps, I observe Millennial leaders architecting campaigns to stem the tide of heroin addiction in Baltimore, building durable workforce pipelines for the long-term unemployed, organizing their communities to inform and direct conscious community development, and much more. These leaders drive change with immense savvy—leveraging technology, online and offline organizing and strategic insight that’s actually up to the task of confronting our challenges. Our generation personifies the opportunity to tackle our challenges in a different way to achieve a fundamentally different result.

Why do you think it’s important to meet young people where they are to galvanize their support for causes and how have you been able to achieve that through Baltimore Corps?

We are witnessing something of a perfect storm as it pertains to engaging and working with young people to change the world. The largest generations in American history are aging into the workforce, building and leading institutions and innovating at a rate we have never seen before. To boot, they are highly mobile, extremely capable and deeply driven by values. They badly want the world to be different—they expect a world that is fairer, more equitable and achieves better results and life outcomes for everyone—and won’t stop until that vision is realized. And they are up for grabs. The cities, causes and industries that can harness the passion and leadership of young people will be in an amazing position to succeed moving forward. Those that miss it, will miss a profound opportunity to change their future for the better. That’s why it’s critically important that cities like Baltimore go above and beyond to engage, empower and enlist the next generation in the hard work of building stronger communities. This opportunity to bring different people to the table to achieve a different result won’t last forever. The time is now.

What have been some of your biggest challenges?

There are always challenges when building organizations and next-generation institutions that operate differently in terms of their values and who they enlist in the work. Building and aligning diverse teams is incredibly hard but essential; creating and leveraging technology in a sector that rarely invests in infrastructure is challenging. However, I have found that the biggest challenge is sustaining oneself in the work when the work, by definition, exacts a high, personal cost. For me, terms like self-care are no longer kitchy or theoretical—they represent an essential set of practices, habits and boundaries that are critical to driving ongoing success in the work.

What has been your favorite success story?

My favorite success story is every time an individual connects to their high calling through our platform. It has been gratifying to witness hundreds of individuals accelerate careers in social change and public service, launch new models of impact and build community with another as we endeavor to change Baltimore for the better, together.

Who are some fellow next generation leaders you admire?

Laura Weidman Powers, Chris Wilson, Wes Moore, Brittany Young, Sarah Hemminger, Sam Novey.

What’s next for you? What are some of your dreams and goals?

I recently had an opportunity to serve as executive producer on a film called Charm City, and it was fascinating to observe how the power of media can shift behaviors and mindsets at a global scale. It’s really fun to learn about and try to pull different levers for change. Ultimately, my bottom line is Baltimore and my community. I’d love to build several different kinds of organizations and institutions that all embrace the challenge of building equitable communities. We need so many different kinds of solutions to so many problems. I would, for example, be very interested in driving comprehensive community development as a complement to our work at Baltimore Corps (that builds diverse and equitable talent pipelines into the economy). We work hard to invest in the workforce potential of people living in our communities and neighborhoods; how can we further shape and strengthen those communities? What assets are now in evidence that we can leverage to bring more affordable housing, healthcare or education to a place that needs it? I am fascinated by these opportunities.

Interested in learning more about Baltimore Corps? Check out their website at baltimorecorps.org and follow them on social media at @baltimorecorps.

We will be featuring interviews from each of the leaders representing the Millennial generation on key movements and issues today who participated in our recent 10-day Instagram takeover. Stay tuned for the rest of this series and see their stories as part of an infographic detailing ten key traits about how Millennials engage with causes, based on our ten years of research, here.

15 Impact Investing Podcasts To Explore

Posted on August 6, 2018October 25, 2018 by Case Foundation

The past decade of growth in the Impact Investing movement has been impressive. More investors, entrepreneurs, corporations, foundations and nonprofits are investing with the intention of generating both financial and social return than ever before. As the field has expanded, we’ve built a series of tools like the Short Guide to Impact Investing and the 10-year Interactive Timeline to provide information, learnings and insights to those inside the movement as well as those looking to “stick their toe” into Impact Investing.

And others have joined us, with many taking to podcasts to give investors a window into the ins and outs of Impact Investing by showcasing conversations with professionals and leaders in the field. Here’s a rundown of some of our favorites:

Stanford Social Innovation Review Podcast features lectures and talks by leaders in the social change movement. These leaders come from all places and walks of life, but they have one thing in common: they are dedicated to using their businesses and crafts to make a social impact. By telling their own stories, these leaders are able to inspire the listeners to embark on a social impact journey of their own.

Beyond Reports is a monthly podcast that discusses the latest news in the world of sustainability. It features interviews with experts such as Amanda Feldman, Director of the Impact Management Project and Caroline Rees, President of Shift, the leading center of expertise on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This podcast will bring you the latest on global sustainability from experts in the GRI global community.

Returns on Investment is a podcast from ImpactAlpha. The brief episodes give you the opportunity to quickly learn from leading impact investors. The short tid-bits are a perfect coffee break activity if you’re looking to delve into Impact Investing. The episodes are light, conversational and put things in layman’s terms so anyone can listen in and learn something new.

Next Economy Now, produced by impact consulting firm LIFT Economy, the podcast features pioneering individuals and leaders who are working to use business as a force for good. Highlighting people such as Rose Marcario of Patagonia, John Fullerton of Capital Institute, and Rha Goddess of Move the Crowd, this podcast interviews leaders in a conversational atmosphere that gives them a platform to present how they are working to make a change and how you too can get involved in Impact Investing.

Investing in Impact is a short podcast series produced by The Fletcher Social Investment Group, a student-run organization committed to the study and practice of Impact Investing This group gives students and young entrepreneurs advisory services and information that makes Impact Investing accessible to them. This podcast is an extension of those services that dives deep into the practices of their featured guests, which include investors, organizations, and beneficiaries. Some of these guests include Yigal Kerszenbaum, Senior Program Associate for PRI of The Rockefeller Foundation and Mitchell Strauss, the Special Advisor for Socially Responsible Investment Finance.

The Impact Investing Podcast includes interviews and conversations with leaders in the Impact Investing movement to help build a community of new investors. By interviewing leaders in Impact Investing, it gives listeners an idea of how to begin and how to delve into socially responsible investing themselves. This podcast takes the larger idea of Impact Investing and boils it down to accessible and understandable information for listeners.

The SRIESG Podcast features relatively short episodes that give how-tos on the ins and outs of Impact Investing and socially responsible investing. The host, Bill Holliday, candidly and casually speaks about how you can make an impact in the world with your capital. Holliday highlights a range of topics that make it easy for readers to find their interest area.

Impact on Record is hosted by three Yale students who are interested in educating the public, and especially young adults, about Impact Investing. When encountered with confusion from their peers, Kodjo Adovor, Jenny Chan, and Kristina Whyte created Impact on Record in order to bring Impact Investing to the mainstream. The podcast features interviews with experts in the field who go through the logistics of Impact Investing and make it easy for listeners to learn how they can get involved.

Social Entrepreneur Podcast is hosted former Fortune 500 executive Tony Loyd. He invites changemakers on the show to spotlight individuals who are investing in impactful causes through their own businesses. He makes a point to invite underrepresented voices on the podcast in order to make Impact Investing accessible to everyone. The podcasts consists of cheerful and lively conversations with small business owners that give people a thorough idea of how they can get into Impact Investing. Some of these changemakers include Alicia Wallace of All Across Africa, Junita Flowers of Junita’s Jar, and Aine Mulloy of GirlCrew.

More Than Money focuses on how people can use their conscience to guide their investing. Host Dawn Carpenter created the podcast in order to bring her doctoral research on the responsibilities of wealth to the public. The podcast encourages listeners to use their ethics and values in order to inform investments. Carpenter presents Impact Investing as an alternative approach to asset management through interviews with leading impact investors.

Financing Social Entrepreneurs is a weekly podcast that interviews social innovation leaders like grant providers, impact investors, foundations and even independent individuals. These people share their backgrounds, how they got into their business, their successes, and failures. All this information gives the listener a well rounded image of what Impact Investing looks like, as well as how they can get involved.

The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business hosts a series of podcasts that present the idea of responsible investing that creates a social impact. The different podcasts come together to give the listener a well rounded image of the world of Impact Investing, featuring leaders from the Gates Foundation, the Wharton Social Impact Initiatives and more Impact Investing Leaders. The lively conversations emphasize the importance of using business and investing as a source for good.

Money + Meaning is a new podcast launched by SOCAP hosted by their own Linsday Smalling and Liz Maxwell. This podcast aims to widen the conversation around Impact Investing and the strategies to stimulating social change through finance and partnerships. They come out with new episodes each week filled with relevant and up to date information on Impact Investing today.

The CDC Podcast launched by Development Finance and the CDC, UK’s development finance institution, brings you discussions on the role of development finance firms in the fight against poverty. The podcasts features experts such as Philippe Le Houerou, the CEO of International Finance Corporation and Sir Suma Chakrabarti, president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The Bottom Line, hosted by Drucker Institute’s Rick Wartzman, highlights companies that are advancing social progress. The podcast features conversations with top executives who give insights as to how their companies are fighting against the world’s most pressing problems. Some of these experts include Deloitte Consulting’s U.S. Human Capital leader Erica Volina, as well as Tim O’Reilly, CEO of O’Reilly Media. The conversations with leading changemakers in the world of business will give you the foundation you need to dive headfirst into the Impact Investing world.

We hope these podcasts will help you learn how you can change the the world and invest with impact. Check out our Impact Investing page for more information on the field and to learn how people are joining the movement. Have any other Impact Investing podcasts you think we should keep on our radar? Tweet us @CaseFoundation.

Lisa Hall, Senior Fellow at both the Case Foundation and the Beeck Center, and Monica Pizzo, an intern at the Case Foundation, contributed to this article.

35 Impact Investing Conferences to Explore

Posted on June 21, 2018October 25, 2018 by Case Foundation

At the Case Foundation, we hit the road each year to spread the word about Impact Investing movement. We also look to learn about the latest thinking in Impact Investing and work alongside all those who are expanding the world of investors looking for both a financial and social return. Along the way, we are continuously reminded of the impressive global community of impact investors who are dedicated to sharing their discoveries, failures and best practices, and we find these experiences invaluable for our work.

Interested in learning more about Impact Investing? Want to brush up on new opportunities and the latest thinking? Our team has pulled together a list of some of our favorite annual conferences and events where Impact Investing is on the agenda or is a favorite gathering place for those who are committed to investing for impact.

Check out this list of the 35 Impact Investing Conferences to Watch in the coming year and beyond.

Vatican Impact Investing Conference, July 8 – 11, 2018, Rome – Hosted by Catholic Relief Services and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Impact Investing experts and Catholic leaders from around the world will convene in Rome to share and evaluate blended finance models and investible vehicles to address systemic challenges of great importance to both the Catholic Church and the global community. These challenges include: Climate Change, Health, Migrants and Refugees, and Youth Unemployment.
The Impact Conference at Sustainatopia, July 17-21, 2018, Moscow – This conference gathers leading Global Impact + SRI investors, funds, social entrepreneurs, foundations, nonprofits, B Corporations and policy makers. Attendees from more than 60 countries share their best practices from a global ecosystem of social, financial and environmental sustainability.

Impact Capitalism Summit Nantucket, July 18-19, 2018, Nantucket – Mainstreaming impact and showcasing stewards of capitalism are this year’s themes at the Impact Capitalism Summit run by Big Path Capital in Nantucket. This year’s conference will explore how institutional investors are finding market performance returns by looking at diversity as a potential source of arbitrage.

Endowments & Finance Summit, – September 6-7th, 2018, Washington, D.C. – This summit is a forum at the nexus of philanthropy, finance, investment and policy where C-Suite foundation leaders go to explore the shifting forces in the investment landscape, gain invaluable insights on trends, strategies, and new regulations and have candid conversations about threats to business models.

North American Family Impact Investing Conference, September 26-27, 2018, San Diego – During the two days of this conference, family business, office and foundation owners and executives share experiences of Impact Investing and debate the key opportunities and challenges that they face. Meanwhile, experts in academia and industry discuss the infrastructure and how Impact Investing can be scalable.

Mashable’s Social Good Summit, September 2018, New York – Held annually during the United Nations General Assembly week, the Summit unites a lively community of global citizens and progressive thought leaders around a common theme: #2030NOW. Attendees focus on how we can unlock technology’s potential to make the world a better place. Past speakers have included Jean Case, Shazi Visram of Happy Family, Kathy Calvin of the UN Foundation, Matt Keller of XPRIZE and many more. Watch last year’s summit HERE.

Wealth Management Impact Investing Forum, September 2018, location TBD – The RIA Institute’s Wealth Management Impact Investing Forum gathers an intimate group of senior RIA, multi-family office and single-family office executives together with thought leaders and elite providers for an afternoon of discussion and debate about Impact Investing opportunities and risks for wealth managers. The forum focuses on the most critical Impact Investing trends in the individual investor industry and the specific ways in which wealth managers can incorporate these strategies into their portfolio profitably and with measurable impact.

Impact Investing Forum North, September 12-13, 2018, New York – The Impact Investing Forum North unites top influencers, both public and private experienced investors, money managers, and service providers that are leading the charge in the Impact Investing space. Defining Impact Investing, portfolio construction, asset class opportunities, and the role of the investor are just a few of the stimulating topics to be covered at this event hosted each year by the Opal Group.

Exponent Philanthropy, September 28-30, 2018, Philadelphia – The National conference offers timely and relevant educational content for staff, donors, and trustees at all levels of experience and serving all types of foundations (including community and family foundations) as well as individual donors, donor advised fund holders and managers, philanthropic service professionals, and thought leaders in the field of philanthropy.

Net Impact, October 25-27, Phoenix – For more than 25 years, the Net Impact Annual Conference has inspired and informed attendees on the most cutting edge and impactful ideas to change the world. An annual favorite, this event creates a space for the brightest young impact leaders from around the world. With specific paths mapped out for students, new graduates, emerging leaders, and those changing careers, all attendees will leave with their own map of their path to purpose. The event will explore examples of transformational change that defy traditional expectations.

GSG Impact Summit The SRI Conference, October 8-9, 2018, New Delhi – The Summit unites hundreds of impact leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropists, corporates, social sector and government leaders and leading market builders. Together they will explore current and future actions by the GSG, the National Advisory Boards and partners to catalyze the impact economies of the future.

High Water Women’s Investing for Impact Symposium, October 17, 2018, New York – High Water Women’s Investing for Impact Symposium has evolved into an important gathering for female impact investors who want to connect with other investors, advisors, and investment professionals. Topics include the practical realities of building an impact portfolio, the opportunities and challenges for acting, the latest developments in Impact Investing and women in the impact investment marketplace.

SOCAP, October 23-26, San Francisco – SOCAP convenes thousands of innovators in finance, entrepreneurship, business, government and philanthropy from across social and environmental issue areas to accelerate the market at the intersection of money and meaning.

GIIN Investor Forum 2018, October 30-31st, Paris – The Forum provides a unique opportunity to gain insights from industry leaders, discuss cutting-edge research, and network with over 1,000 global practitioners. Whether you are currently making impact investments or exploring the opportunities, this is an opportunity to take part in the discussions shaping the future of the market. Speakers include executives from the the Rockefeller Foundation, Bain Capital, Blue Haven Initiative, MacArthur Foundation and Catholic Relief Services, to name a few.

The Fast Company Innovation Festival, November 2019, New York – Each Fall, thousands of attendees convene in New York City for Fast Company’s unique take on the field trip with 100 plus Fast Tracks. Attendees have the rare opportunity to go behind the scenes at New York City’s most innovative companies where they experience talks, workshops, demos, networking, and sponsor activations. The 92Y also host thought-provoking keynote sessions at companies like Charity: Water, Donors Choose, Swell Investing, Ellevest, Global Citizen, Instagram, Rent the Runway and more.

The SRI Conference, November 1–3, 2018, Colorado Springs -The SRI Conference on Sustainable, Responsible, Impact Investing (formerly SRI in the Rockies) is the annual gathering of investors and investment professionals working to make money and direct the flow of investment capital toward a truly sustainable future. The SRI Conference is the place for professionals interested in responsible investing to learn and network with colleagues, and to grow and deepen their professional understanding of how to make money and make a difference—at the same time.

Social Finance Forum, November 7-8, 2018, Toronto – Now in its 11th year, the Social Finance Forum, organized and convened by the MaRS Centre for Impact Investing, attracts more than 500 investors, entrepreneurs, finance professionals, charity leaders and public service visionaries who are reshaping markets and ensuring that every dollar makes a difference.

Sorenson Winter Innovation Summit, February 6–8, 2019, Salt Lake City – The Winter Innovation Summit is the premier cross-industry event in social impact, innovation and investing. Earlier this year the Summit brought together policy makers, funders, nonprofits, and social entrepreneurs to explore the future of social innovation across the globe. More than 700 guests unite for the latest breakthroughs in social impact, innovation, and investing, skiing the greatest snow on Earth and experiencing the 2018 Sundance Film Festival which takes place the same week.

World-Changing Women’s Summit, February 2019, location TBD – gathers the most successful women in conscious business for conversations on developing yourself as an authentic, conscious leader in the workplace, how to develop a more inclusive workplace culture, best practices for raising capital and how you can scale your company while staying true to your values. Last year’s gathering included female influencers from Google, the Beneficial State Bank, Solstice, SheO, Pipeline Angels, Seed Spot and B Lab.

Economist Impact Investing Forum, February 2019, location TBD – Join Economist editors and 200 financiers, institutional investors, policymakers, academics, impact investors and philanthropists at the second iteration of Investing for Impact: risk, return and the future of the world. This past February speakers included National Geographic Chair and Case Foundation CEO Jean Case, Audrey Choi of Morgan Stanley, Case Foundation board member Sonal Shah of the Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation at Georgetown University, Saadia Madsbjerg of the Rockefeller Foundation, Debra Schwartz of the MacArthur Foundation, Liesel Pritzker Simmons of the Blue Haven Initiative, Amit Bouri of the GIIN and Kesha Cash of Impact America Fund.

The Heart Series, February 14-15, 2019, El Segundo, CA – Explores topics like how your company can make an impact, maintaining your brand promise to your customers and the earth, interactive experiences that promote social change, how to activate Millennials and youth and dreaming up big impact partnerships. On site attendees also have plenty of cool eco inspired perks including wellness shakes, meditation resources and massages. That’s my kind of conference! Speakers include leaders from companies like SOKO, Share Our Strength, CLIP Bar, Nerd Wallet, Blavity and Swipe Out Hunger.

Greenbiz Summit, February 2019, location TBD – Leaders from global brands will meet as they discuss and learn the opportunities at the intersection of business, technology and sustainability. Last year’s speakers included executives from Target, Apple, Bloomberg, and the World Wildlife Fund.

Harvard Social Enterprise Conference (SECON), February 2019, Cambridge – SECON draws almost a thousand practitioners, academics, students, and young professionals. Speakers include influencers and leaders from Omidyar Network, Root Capital, Accion, Mastercard, One Acre Fund, Trillium, Twilio, the Rockefeller Foundation, Accenture and many more.

Duke Conference on Sustainable Business & Social Impact (SBSI), February 2019, Durham – SBSI focuses on the theme of working towards solving our greatest social challenges through innovative methods and cross-sector collaborations. The event has grown to one of the largest conference of its kind in the Southeast, with more 500 people attendees who are making the world a better place while looking to the future of social impact and sustainability.

SXSW Conference, March 8-17, 2019, Austin – Next year marks the 26th Anniversary of SXSW, the world renowned gathering that unites more than 420,000 people from across the globe. Each year SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people expand their knowledge and have the opportunity to meet fellow innovators on a mission to change the world. Conference goers take a deep dive into innovative ideas that contribute to a better and more equitable world. Browse past social impact sessions HERE.

Confluence Philanthropy’s 9th Annual Practitioners Gathering, March 4-7, 2019, Brooklyn – Confluence Philanthropy’s Annual Practitioners Gathering is a four-day conference where asset owners and their advisors meet at the cutting edge of mission-related investing. This Gathering represents the most advanced foundations, investment managers, and advisors in Impact Investing today. They are distinguished by a commitment to building the field through collaboration, innovation, and their investments. Join us for deep strategic thinking, critical discussion, sharing and most importantly, fun.

Skoll World Forum, April 2019, Oxford – Launched by the Skoll Foundation, the Skoll World Forum accelerates entrepreneurial approaches and solutions to the world’s most pressing problems by uniting social entrepreneurs in a pursuit of learning, leverage and large-scale social change. Past speakers have included president of the World Bank Group, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, Winnie Byanyima of Oxfam International and Hamdi Ulukaya of the yogurt empire Chobani.

Yale Impact Investing Conference, April 2019, New Haven – Impact On Record hosts the Yale’s Impact Investing Conference that includes a day of engaging conversation, presentations and interviews about impact investing. Topics include women and wealth, technology and impact, government and policy, impact funds, emerging markets and faith-based investing.

Milken Global Conference, April 2019, Los Angeles – Each year the Milken Global Conference brings together the strongest minds in business, government, technology, philanthropy, academia and media to examine global challenges and find actionable and collaborative solutions to some of the most important questions of our time. Watch videos from past conference speakers HERE.

Impact Capitalism, April 2019, location TBD – At Impact Capitalism, you will hear from prominent family offices, institutional investors and influential foundations about what is driving their impact investment decision-making and experience an exciting lineup of discussions, debates, and performances across asset classes and impact themes. Over 300 family offices, asset managers and fund managers representing over $150 billion in investable assets take part.

US SIF Annual Conference, May 2019, location TBD – US SIF Annual Conference gives you the opportunity to network with leaders of sustainable, responsible and impactful investing. Hear from leading investors, CEOs and policymakers, and to learn about new approaches, trends and policy developments in the field.

Engage For Good, May 2019, location TBD – If you work at the intersection of cause and commerce, there’s no other event that focuses exclusively on this work and how to engage consumers and employees with social good efforts. Nearly every global brand for good attends include executives from eBay, Fidelity, J.P. Morgan Chase, Omaze, PayPal, REI, Scholastic, The Home Depot Foundation, Univision Communications Inc. and more.

Social Innovation Summit, June 4-6, 2018, San Fransisco – The Social Innovation Summit is an annual event taking place in Silicon Valley which represents a global convening of black swans and wayward thinkers. Where most bring together luminaries to explore the next big idea, they bring together those hungry not just to talk about the next big thing, but to build it.

Mission Investors Exchange National Conference, TBD 2020 – Produced every other year, the conference is one of the most anticipated events for impact investors in philanthropy, offering an action-focused, collaborative, and personal space to renew and build partnerships, experience on-the-ground impact investments, share investment opportunities, meet leading voices in the field, and shape the future of the Impact Investing movement.

Sustainable Brands Conference, multiple dates, Buenos Aires, Vancouver, Detroit, Madrid, Bangkok and more – the events are held throughout the year in cities around the globe. The Sustainable Brands conference provides another welcomed perspective as sustainability and design leaders gather from around the world to share profitable business models that deliver brand purpose. Join business intelligence, finance and sustainability leaders to discover innovative tools, ideas and methodologies that capture tangible business value and translate it into financial performance.

These conferences bring together individuals who are pioneering the Impact Investing movement—and they create a platform for professionals who are committed to making a difference or want to learn more about this rapidly expanding field. We hope that they will bring new light to the importance of investing for financial and social returns and give a space for new people to join the movement!

We hope these suggestions help you take the next steps on your Impact Investing journey—whatever stage of it you’re on. Have a conference you want us to keep on our radar? Share it with us on Twitter @CaseFoundation!

Social Good in April: Stories You Don’t Want to Miss

Posted on April 30, 2018October 25, 2018 by Case Foundation

April was full of breaking news in social good, so we’re bringing you another edition of “This Month In Social Good,” rounding up our favorite stories from our Breaking Good newsletter so you don’t miss anything.

Of particular note this month, we saw a lot of great stories across the podcast circuit. Case Foundation CEO Jean Case talked to Wall Street Journal Podcasts about the importance of fearlessness in her journey to spark innovation in the social sector, and our VP of Social Innovation, Sarah Koch, was on Silicon Hills News and EU Now to talk about the need to support women in tech and entrepreneurship. We also revisited our roundup of Seven Fearless Founder Podcasts for those of you looking to brighten your daily commute.

April also brought us stories about industry leaders attaining B Corp certification, local communities embracing Impact Investing and female founders and investors coming together to change the face of entrepreneurship.

B Corps in the news

This month, a major player jumped into the world of B Corps: Danone North America. The certification, which makes them the world’s largest certified B Corp, comes just one year after Danone legally registered as a benefit company as part of their acquisition of WhiteWave. The North American entity is the eighth company under the Danone umbrella to be certified. The company has long been a proponent of corporate social responsibility and socially conscious business and the speed with which this large company achieved certification is a signal to other companies with social-impact goals that B Corp certification is attainable no matter their size. As an added bonus, the company worked with B Lab to create a case study of the steps they took throughout the year so other multinationals could learn from Danone’s experience and, hopefully, follow in their footsteps.

In April, we also got to hear firsthand about how Greyston Bakery, another B Corp, is making waves. For 30 years, Greyston Bakery has been focused on a big bet: to hire anyone, regardless of their background, as they bake gourmet brownies and cookies, including many of the brownies you see in Ben & Jerry’s Brownie Ice Cream, at their for-profit bakery located just north of New York City. On our latest episode of Be Fearless, we talked to CEO Mike Brady and the Greyston team about the success open hiring practices has brought for their company and their community and how they’re helping other companies do the same.

Impact Investing making inroads in local communities

From Atlanta to Lancaster to Baltimore, local foundations and governments are testing the waters with Impact Investing and alternative funding structures. At the beginning of the month, the Lancaster County Community Foundation announced that they would invest $500,000 in two local organizations aiming for both a social and financial return. The recipients were a housing and neighborhood revitalization organization and a financial inclusion organization. The investment is part of an ongoing effort from the foundation to leverage new funding mechanisms to support their community.

In Atlanta, the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta made a splash with a $10 million impact investment fund—the first local Impact Investing fund in the city. The fund, named GoATL will be distributed over the next two to three years and focused on five impact areas: arts, community development, education, nonprofit effectiveness and wellbeing.

Atlanta also is trying out innovative investing models with efforts to raise $12.9 million for an environmental impact bond through Neighborly, the municipal bond broker-dealer. The funds will go toward minimizing flooding and improving drainage. Baltimore is following suit with efforts to raise $6 million for an environmental impact bond aimed at reducing pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.

Seeing communities across the country take on Impact Investing to tackle local but large-scale challenges is a great reminder of the field’s potential to grow and scale globally as it continues to move to the mainstream.

Female founders and the changing face of entrepreneurship in America

In the world of Inclusive Entrepreneurship, Vanity Fair’s April feature gave us both something to celebrate and something to work on. The magazine teamed up with Kathryn Finney and digitalundivided to feature the 26 Black women who have raised $1 million or more in venture funding. And while these groundbreaking women are truly worth celebrating, this was yet another reminder of the need to support all women of color launching business, many more of whom deserve to join the ranks of this “million dollar club.”

Also on the founder side, we heard the stories of inspiring female founders like Maneesha Mukhi, a social entrepreneur who created an online marketplace called ImmiGo to help individuals and businesses find high quality immigration attorneys. We also heard from GirlCrew cofounder, Aine Mulloy, who took to #FacesofFounders to tell the story of launching a platform to connect women across the globe, while fighting for female representation across industries.

Female investors are taking a stand too. April also heralded the launch of AllRaise, a group of 34 women investors—representing over $1 billion in investable capital—who are committed to helping women entrepreneurs raise money. Recognizing that there’s a robust pipeline of female entrepreneurial talent, the group is committed to increasing the percentage of venture funding going to women while doubling the number of female partners at venture firms.

These stories have inspired us and motivated us to get to work this month and beyond—and we hope they’ve inspired you too. To stay up to date on all things social good sign up for our newsletter, Breaking Good. 

Is there anything we missed this month? Tell us about your favorite social good story you saw in April!

A Seat at the Table

Posted on August 23, 2017October 25, 2018 by Case Foundation

This article is contributed by Rehana Nathoo, VP of Social Innovation at the Case Foundation; Will Jacobson, Director of Business Development at Microvest; and Ben Thornley, Managing Partner at Tideline. The following was created based off of a panel discussion the three of them presented at Institutional Investor’s Senior Delegates Roundtable during the Fixed Income Forum.

Attend an investment conference these days and Impact Investing is part of every agenda. Sometimes it’s a panel of industry experts debating the necessary conditions for institutional-quality product development. Other times it’s the wildcard, pre-cocktail discussion of what impact means and how to measure it.

At a recent convening in Los Angeles last month, the three of us embraced the opportunity to lead a conversation on Impact Investing.

Impact Investing continues to grow rapidly, propelled by a range of actors interested in making a positive contribution. All the while still generating profit. Some Institutional Investors are doing their part to bolster the creation of solutions to urgent social and environmental challenges. But all of these efforts are happening in a fragmented fashion, and in small pockets of activity. This leads us to believe that with the trailblazing efforts of these early innovators, it’s time for traditional investors to jump in.

As with many nascent markets, the first Impact Investing products faced significant roadblocks. This style of investing was different, the breadth of managers who were well versed in the space was sparse, and benchmarks were non-existent or unrecognizable. But in the same way the sum total of carbon emitted in the production of the first Tesla Roadster hardly answered the call for environmental stewardship, there was immeasurable value in laying the groundwork for a paradigm shift. One that would see half of all cars in 2040 be electric.

Impact Investing can be at the helm of a similar global systemic change in the way we think and the way we invest. As the space has evolved, so too has the caliber of managers. DBL Partners has delighted many investors. TPG, Bain Capital, Morgan Stanley, and Blackrock have developed and established impact-oriented products and platforms away from the cocoonery of their CSR departments. And last we checked, none of these firms, funds, or managers are in the concessionary returns business.

Recent controversies, not least in Silicon Valley, show that the days of separating action from consequence are coming to an end. Historically, investors haven’t necessarily had to think about the specific, non-financial outcomes of their investment decisions. But getting educated on Impact Investing, and formulating a response, will provide an important on-ramp for what may ultimately become the future of all investing.

In the spirit or getting educated and moving to action, here are some core principles to keep in mind:

Be clear on your intention

It’s almost always possible to turn impact into action. Contrary to the scarcity myth, most impact “themes” are in fact investable. A general commitment to measurable economic development in the US, for example, may yield a range of products that support small business development in underserved parts of the country. A passion for changing the gender gap in business ownership, or course-correcting the global water scarcity are all focused, specific, and actionable. The more clarity investors have on their intentions, the easier it will be to find or develop investment opportunities for the problems they hope to solve.

Be specific with your objectives

Because Impact Investing is defined by the pursuit of “intentional” social and environmental outcomes, it would pay to develop a better understanding of what motivates the investment. Intentions of the actor are important, but so is the intended outcome of the investments. Is supporting a particular place important, as Newark is to Prudential? Or is it a particular theme or objective that motivates you, like investing in new products working to solve climate change across the globe? Being specific with a fund’s impact objective can help new investors see their place in that investment.

Be action-oriented

Perfect is no longer the enemy of the good. The field is increasingly embracing a broader definition of Impact Investing and lauding efforts to make important improvements in the totality of a portfolio’s impact. Relatedly, while Impact Investing also requires that hoped-for outcomes are measured, perfect rigor is less important than a commitment to putting in place a responsible, transparent process. The ethos of transparency is one of the reasons we’re seeing consistent thought leadership in onboarding new investors, the development of the Beta version of the Impact Investing Network Map and a multitude of other efforts.

We know that Impact Investing still has ample room to grow. We need stronger and longer track records, an increased culture of transparency and disclosure, responsible market segmentation, and greater clarity on what it means to create impact at different parts of the investment value chain—for asset owners, asset managers, and their investees. But it’s not too soon for traditional investors to take a closer look, and keeping the above principles in mind will help activate your impact investing journey today.

Looking to Build Momentum: A First Glimpse at the Impact Investing Network Map

Posted on June 28, 2017October 25, 2018 by Case Foundation

Our CEO Jean Case wrote in SSIR last week, “the most common question we hear when we are out speaking about Impact Investing is a simple one—‘who has done what in this space?’”

That’s why, over the last two years, the Case Foundation has worked hard to develop the Impact Investing Network Map.

Our vision is to build a tool that will answer these questions by showcasing the publicly available transactions between investors and companies within Impact Investing. We believe that by bringing the connections between actors to life—looking specifically at the investments that connect them—we can foster a better understanding of the size, breadth, depth and, importantly, the enormous potential of this field.

But that vision is part of a deeper desire to change behavior. We hope that the Network Map will spur investors to publicly share investment data and make transparency a hallmark of the Impact Investing sector. We firmly believe increased sharing of data and better mapping of the ecosystem will result in more robust activity from investors and entrepreneurs. Only with data that is both in-depth and accurate will a wider cross section of actors engage, and that is key to propelling the Impact Investing movement to tipping point.

To realize this vision, we need you.

Here are three ways you can join the movement:

#ShareYourData—visit our data partner, ImpactSpace, to submit your data today.
Be a part of early testing—stay informed by signing up for updates and to receive a link directly to the Network Map so you can explore it and give us your feedback.
Spread the word—share this Call to Action with your network and encourage others to join the movement.

Want a guided tour of the Network Map? Join our webinar on July 12, 2017 at 2:30 PM EST for a demonstration of all this tool has to offer. Register for the webinar today.

Be Fearless Spotlight: Baltimore Corps

Posted on September 30, 2015October 31, 2018 by Case Foundation

This Spotlight is authored by guest writer Caitlin Kelly as part of a special blog series by the Case Foundation featuring Be Fearless stories from the field. Follow along with us as we meet people and learn about organizations that are taking risks, being bold and failing forward in their efforts to create transformative change in the social sector.

Too many people still think of his city as a morass of strife and failure, says Fagan Harris, co-founder and CEO of Baltimore Corps, an innovative two-year-old organization working to change that perception.

In April 2015, after police arrested Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old African-American Baltimore resident who later died in police custody, the city erupted, with at least 20 police officers injured, 250 people arrested and hundreds of businesses damaged. Vehicles and buildings were burned and pharmacies looted. It looked like an episode of the unrelentingly grim television show that, for many, still defines the city, The Wire.

Harris, who grew up in and around Baltimore and who returned in his late 20s, is passionate about the city’s potential, despite the “fact that too many people, when they think of Baltimore, imagine a broken, dysfunctional city. The truth is Baltimore is home to creative thinkers and truly visionary leadership working everyday to strengthen community,” he argues. This understanding of the opportunities that lie within Baltimore—and many other cities that share a similar history—is what drove Harris to develop a bold approach to forging a new talent pipeline for the city.

Baltimore Corps is a committed group of 35 skilled professionals working closely with a range of cause leaders at leading nonprofits, social enterprises and government agencies to accelerate and scale the impact of effective models for social change. Each cause leader and placement organization pays their Fellow(s) stipend and a nominal program fee to Baltimore Corps. Fellows work full-time at their placement and commit for one year.

Fellows earn a baseline stipend of $32,000; Baltimore Corps aggressively markets its fellowship to talented Millennials across Baltimore and the country, and the organization saw 500 applicants last year for its 35 fellowship positions. To insure a strong mix of local knowledge and fresh thinking, “the best of both worlds,” adds Harris, half of those accepted are city residents.

“At Baltimore Corps, we’ve made a big bet that Baltimore is a frontier of social change,” says Harris, a graduate of Stanford and a Rhodes Scholar. “What New York City is to finance and San Francisco is to technology, Baltimore is for social change. If we can get it right here, we can get it right anywhere. We have more models for strengthening communities than many other places.”

The Corps’ work combines several simultaneous initiatives: to attract the best and brightest workers committed to effecting social change, to help local nonprofits and government retain them so they can grow and better achieve their goals and, through those combined efforts, to help Baltimore thrive. The riots lent an urgency to Baltimore Corp’s work as his staff “did a ton of volunteerism” and several fellows, due to begin their jobs in September, began in June instead. “We responded urgently to help clean and build up and relocate people. As a place-based organization, it’s critical that you’re a good neighbor.”

The city needs them to stay—and they need good jobs; nine of ten of the first class of fellows were hired full-time at the end of their work with Baltimore Corps, a result that thrills, but doesn’t surprise Harris. “We work hard to recruit for fit,” he says.

But initially attracting bright, ambitious fellows who’ll choose to make a life in Baltimore after their year’s commitment is a challenge, Harris admits. “It’s working so far, but it is a challenge.” Popularly, Baltimore is still seen as a second or third-tier city, Millennials are “very, very mobile” and many are deeply wary of any work involving government. To sweeten the offer, the program opens a deep network to fellows, offering ready access to corporate executives, even the city’s mayor, which would be nearly impossible in a larger city.

Baltimore Corps, unusually for a new, growing nonprofit, relies heavily on technology and data to keep careful track of fellows’ work, of their satisfaction and their work’s impact, checking in with each of them every 90 days. The hands-on approach can be emotionally draining, he admits. “This is risky, hard work. It can be heart-wrenching and lead to some soul-searching conversations.” The diversity of our corps and placement partners is powerful but it also challenges…A leader with an Ivy MBA tends to rely on different approaches than a leader who hasn’t graduated high school, and pairing the two has produced “abundant examples of friction,” Harris admits. “We ask for humility and patience. It’s not something we try to paper over.”

“We need more people in the fight putting their shoulder to the wheel and pushing,” says Harris. Bringing talent into Baltimore to partner with the city’s most promising cause leaders and social impact organizations propels ambitious professionals and graduates eager to accelerate their social justice careers, and the city has seen an out-migration of people in their 20s and 30s, leaving local groups and agencies hamstrung, he says. “When we think about scaling the most important and impactful work, we have to ask ‘What’s the hold-up?’ It’s not money or a lack of ambition. It’s deploying the right human capital to drive scale.”

After a local group, Thread, which helps underachieving high school students, found new blood through Baltimore Corps, the program scaled their organization by a third.

The fellows work with a wide range of partners, some with social entrepreneurs who are building organizations with only two or three people to large, bureaucratic and long-established agencies like the City Health Department. “That’s maybe non-traditional,” says Harris, “but we need to work with all of Baltimore. That’s really been a value of ours since Day One.” Doing so effectively means creating what he calls “a tapestry” of small and large social enterprises, nonprofits and government agencies and departments “working together to meaningfully promote the city.” Key to his vision is getting groups together to share information that typically don’t, who normally choose to “silo” their knowledge instead of cooperating.

The Corps’ five-member board “has been really tremendous,” offering “new energy and a new perspective” by attending staff meetings and giving plenty of feedback. “They’re very hands-on. They’re tremendous partners who are not just a board but five really terrific advisors.”

“Our number one goal is to identify what’s working here and grow it,” says Harris. “The families, the neighborhoods, the city–we really want to see things strengthen and improve.”

Feeling inspired? If you’re ready to begin your own Be Fearless journey start by downloading our free Be Fearless Action Guide and Case Studies.

Photo credit: Flickr user Cayusa, used via Creative Commons.

Better Businesses Make Better Mothers’ Day Gifts

Posted on May 5, 2015October 31, 2018 by Case Foundation

Here at the Case Foundation, we believe that where we shop matters, and we’re convinced that better businesses make better gifts. In an effort to help you wrap up your Mother’s Day shopping, we put together a collection of gift ideas from some of our favorite “better” businesses—companies driven to have positive social and environmental impact.

These gift ideas, curated with the help of our partners at B Lab, will fit nicely on your shopping list, while you support conscious businesses that create meaningful jobs, protect the environment and create a better world.

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms, grandmas, moms-to-be and caregivers!

Greyston Bakery – Greyston Bakery has open hiring practices to provide employment and professional development opportunities to everyone in the community.
Mom will get the satisfaction of aiding in its efforts, as well as enjoying some of their delicious baked goods.

The Honest Company – This B Corp believes that Mother’s Day is all about spoiling mom. Treat her to something indulgent from Honest Company’s pampering collection so she can enjoy a spa-like escape at home.

Dogeared – This California-based jewelry company lives by the philosophy that “what goes around comes around.” It puts this belief into practice by handcrafting pieces locally, respecting the planet and partnering with nonprofit organizations that share its vision for a better world.

A to Z Wineworks – Your wine-loving mother is sure to jump with joy when she receives a bottle from A to Z Wineworks. Its award-winning Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris are excellent not only in taste but also in their fair value and sustainability practices.

Prosperity Candle – Give Mom a hand-poured candle that smells good and does good! Each gift provides living wages to women artisans who are thriving as entrepreneurs.

Better World Books – The gift of a good book is something that never goes out of style. Give mom a novel from Better World Books, and someone in need will receive one as well.

Etsy – Are you still stumped about what to get Mom? Shop this community-based site that believes in making the world more fair, more sustainable and more fun. There are more than 1 million active shops – making it easy to find the perfect gift!

Have an idea of your own? Please share it with us on Twitter by tweeting at @CaseFoundation with the hashtag #CFBlog!

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Tell as a little bit about yourself and your work

What problem keeps you up at night? What do you think it will take to solve it?

With technology, the barriers to access information and stories, and move to taking action have continued to come down—how do you think that has influenced the way you and others take part in the environmental protection movement?

Why do you think it’s important and how do you think that causes can meet young people where they are in understanding their unique perspectives on the role of businesses to protect the planet?

What have been some of your biggest challenges?

What has been your favorite success story?

What is one thing you think everyone should know about your generation?

What’s next for you? What are some of your dreams and goals?

How can people interested in your cause learn more?

Tell as a little bit about yourself and your work

What problem keeps you up at night? What do you think it will take to solve it?

With technology, the barriers to understanding major issues have continued to come down—how do you think that has influenced the way you and others decide to act on major issues like improving ethics in the fashion industry?

Why do you think it’s important to meet young people where they are to use their resources to address social issues, for example, through Impact Investing?

What have been some of your biggest challenges?

What has been your favorite success story?

Who are some fellow next generation leaders you admire?

What is one thing you think everyone should know about your generation?

What’s next for you? What are some of your dreams and goals?

How can people interested in your cause learn more?

Tell as a little bit about yourself and your work.

What problem keeps you up at night? What do you think it will take to solve it?

With technology, the barriers to act have continued to come down – how has that powered Baltimore Corps and your efforts to bring more young people to meaningful work in Baltimore?

What is one thing you think everyone should know about your generation?

Why do you think it’s important to meet young people where they are to galvanize their support for causes and how have you been able to achieve that through Baltimore Corps?

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What has been your favorite success story?

Who are some fellow next generation leaders you admire?

What’s next for you? What are some of your dreams and goals?

B Corps in the news

Impact Investing making inroads in local communities

Female founders and the changing face of entrepreneurship in America

Be clear on your intention

Be specific with your objectives

Be action-oriented

Build Your BE FEARLESS Style On ReadBeFearless.com

Tell as a little bit about yourself and your work 

What problem keeps you up at night? What do you think it will take to solve it? 

Who are some fellow next generation leaders you admire? 

What is one thing you think everyone should know about your generation? 

What’s next for you? What are some of your dreams and goals? 

How can people interested in your cause learn more? 