Stories

Mission Investing

  • Fighting Stubborn Poverty Numbers

    Despite improving employment numbers, the U.S. Census Bureau announced Wednesday the poverty rate in 2014 remained virtually unchanged from 2013 – its fourth consecutive year of statistical stagnation. At 14.8 percent, 46.7 million Americans lived in poverty last year (defined as $24,230 or less for a family of four). There has also been negligible change in income for three years in a row,...

    Martin Eakes
  • Essentials of Impact Investing: A Guide for Small-Staffed Foundations

    The Mission Investors Exchange , a national membership group of mission investing organizations, published Essentials of Impact Investing: A New Guide for Small-Staffed Foundations to offer advice, tools and real-world examples to help foundations shape effective investing strategies. For insight on building the capacity of community development financial institutions, MIE...

  • How Small Foundations Can Achieve Outsized Impact

    A foundation doesn’t need a large staff to make program-related investments (PRIs) that advance its mission. Investing through intermediaries l ike c ommunity development financial institutions (CDFIs) can increase philanthropic impact by generating measurable benefits and modest financial returns while recycling philanthropic capital.

    With their expertise for re-lending and...

  • Work & Worth: Building Healthy Communities

    The South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development is a statewide network of nonprofits, financial institutions, local governments and businesses focused on underserved areas, from urban centers to the rural countryside.

    SCACED works through its members to strengthen communities. One is the Center for Heirs' Property Preservation , which prevents low-wealth heirs’...

  • Building Healthy Communities in South Carolina

    After days of contentious and emotional arguments, South Carolina’s political leaders decided to remove the Confederate flag from the capitol grounds. One lawmaker opened the debate in the House by reading aloud the names of nine parishioners murdered inside Charleston's Emanuel AME Church. The man charged with killing them apparently posted a manifesto featuring photographs of himself...

    Bernie Mazyck