Category: Impact Investing
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CNote’s 2023 Annual Impact Report
We are excited to unveil the CNote 2023 Annual Impact Report, documenting a year of robust growth and enduring commitment to economic and social justice! Despite the challenges posed by the SVB Bank crisis and other market turbulences, we’ve advanced our mission through impactful financial solutions and strong community partnerships, and were excited to share…
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CNote’s Q4 2023 Impact Report
CNote is excited to share our Q4 2023 Impact Report! Check it out here. You’ll read more about CNote’s proprietary impact framework developed to assess the positive impact made by community financial institutions on our platform. We also share updates on CDFI loan funds’ capital challenges, and how impact-driven depository institutions are embracing fintech partnerships…
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Beyond Banking: The Crucial Role of Impact-Driven Banks and Credit Unions in Underserved Communities
Impact-driven banks and credit unions forge a dynamic partnership with under-resourced communities, blending immediate solutions with lasting development. These institutions stand as pillars of community support. Anchored by tailored financial products and programs, spanning affordable housing loans to job creation initiatives, impact-drive banks and credit unions commit to both present concerns and the future prosperity…
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Why Deposits Are Crucial Right Now
There is a frightening issue for many community-minded financial institutions across the country and the under-resourced communities they serve: a lack of deposits at their local banks and credit unions. Depository institutions like banks and credit unions take in funds—called deposits—from those with money, pool them, and lend them to those who need funds in…
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What’s Behind the Growth of Impact Investing
The Rockefeller Foundation coined the term “impact investing” at a 2007 meeting of investors, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists in Bellagio, Italy. Fast forward two decades and we’ve seen demand for sustainable impact investments grow exponentially. Impact investing refers to investments that generate a measurable social or environmental impact along with a financial return. Over the years,…
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Does Impact Investing Equate to Lower Returns?
While it may seem like a new trend, impact investing has roots that trace back centuries and it’s here to stay. But like any alternative investment strategy, public endorsement of the approach has varied. Throughout the years, hesitation stemmed from concerns about financial returns, the ability to measure social impact and stability of the markets.…
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List of 2020 Institutional Impact Investing Conferences
We’ve rounded up some of the largest Impact Investing events around the United States for institutions and those in financial services that are interested in learning more about effecting change with their dollars. These events afford great opportunities to learn from and collaborate with like-minded investors in an inspiring setting. We hope to see you…
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What You Need to Know About Social Investment
Social investment, also known as socially responsible investing, social investing, and impact investing, allows investors to align their values with investment strategies that positively impact social issues while generating a financial return. Social problems such as natural resource preservation, better education and healthcare, animal welfare, corporate responsibility, inequality, and climate change are attracting those that…
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Positive and Negative Investment Screening Explained
If you have explored socially responsible investing (SRI), then you might also be familiar with the concept of investment screening. Socially responsible investing, a form of impact investing, is a strategy used to align investments with social goals. Investors understand that their money can produce positive outcomes in more than just a financial sense by…
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Making an Impact: How to Invest in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)
Large banks and foundations have been investing in community development financial institutions (CDFIs) for decades. But until recently, investing in CDFIs was challenging and usually limited to all but experienced large banks, foundations, and some high-net-worth investors. Now technology platforms like CNote are allowing investors of all types to easily deploy capital across a diverse…