Impact Investing for Foundations: Lessons from Leaders

Increasingly, foundations are seeking to place a greater portion of their endowed assets in investments that will generate financial returns and enhance their positive social and/or environmental impact. As the field has matured in recent years, impact investing has steadily gained more attention in the philanthropic community in Canada in particular. The Canadian Task Force on Social Finance has set a target for Canadian foundations to invest at least 10% of their capital in mission-related investments by 2020 — which would collectively redirect an estimated $7 billion in assets toward greater impact.

 

This Impact Investing Guidebook, attached below has been developed in partnership between Community Foundations of Canada, Philanthropic Foundations Canada, and leading impact advisory firm Purpose Capital. We would also like to acknowledge the generous support from Miller Thomson, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Edmonton Community Foundation, Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon, Genus Capital, and the input from many Canadian foundations from coast to coast. See a video accompanying the guidebook here: