{"id":581,"date":"2020-06-09T22:05:10","date_gmt":"2020-06-09T22:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.stthom.edu\/encounter\/?p=581"},"modified":"2020-06-16T16:33:22","modified_gmt":"2020-06-16T16:33:22","slug":"a-different-take-on-doing-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.stthom.edu\/encounter\/2020\/featured-stories\/a-different-take-on-doing-good\/","title":{"rendered":"A Different Take on Doing Good"},"content":{"rendered":"

Impact investing reflects a bubbling moral revolution around the world. Taught in leading-edge business classes at University of St. Thomas, investing with a conscience is experiencing explosive growth and aiming to disrupt environmental and social outrages wherever they exist.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

UST\u2019s chief innovation officer, Dr. Beena George, discusses impact investing in her business class.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt its core, impact investing is faith in action \u2014 the faith that requires us to drive change through bold moves,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

It evokes a John Lennon world of passionate belief: Imagine there\u2019s no hunger, it\u2019s easy if you try.<\/p>\n

This relatively new asset class proposes to sustainably feed the hungry, fiercely defend the environment, stop climate change, genuinely educate marginalized communities, foster peace and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoing Good\u201d That\u2019s Different from Philanthropy<\/strong><\/p>\n

While the related investment funds focus on healing our planet and easing human suffering, they differ from pure philanthropy in that investors also achieve a desirable financial return.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s one reason the sector is growing so fast,\u201d George explained. \u201cWhile investing always carries some risk, it\u2019s now entirely possible to do well while doing good. Many investors were yearning for this. A study by Global Impact Investing Network found that more than 90% of impact investors meet or exceed their own earning projections.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sustainable Opportunities to Ease Suffering<\/strong><\/p>\n

Impact investor funds, such as Acumen, look for sustainable business models and substantial market opportunities.<\/p>\n

For instance, Bitwise Industries\u2019 Geekwise Academy trains marginalized people to code, giving them critical skills for today\u2019s job market; Indigo Ag develops crops capable of surviving climate change; and PEG Africa supports the growth of off-grid solar energy in West Africa, where traditional energy delivery is unreliable and costly.<\/p>\n

Other opportunities underscore gender equality or access to affordable education, housing and quality basic services. These choices tend to be rewarding in every way.<\/p>\n

International studies alumnus Mike Menendez \u201903, who also has an MBA from Cornell University, is an impact investment professional and president of<\/p>\n

Southern Impact Investing Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.<\/p>\n

\u201cFunds like Calvert Impact Capital are available even for small investors who long to make a difference and still grow wealth,\u201d Menendez said. \u201cYou can identify the causes that are dearest to your heart and invest in a company that\u2019s truly in alignment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Encouraging Continued Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n

In fall 2020, for the second year in a row, University of St. Thomas will lead the way to doing what is right as we host the Houston area\u2019s only financial conference dedicated to the topic. The event is titled \u201cImpact Investing: The Future is in Your Hearts and Hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

George, the conference leader, expects to see a number of students taking advantage of no-cost student admission to learn more about boldly building a world based on dignity.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeaders of the future fill UST\u2019s classes,\u201d George said. \u201cAt the conference, they will hear and connect with big thinkers who make ethical decisions that result in business success and sustainability.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here for our students and every person who is on fire to create hope for our world,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Watch for an announcement soon with details about the upcoming conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can identify the causes that are dearest to your heart and invest in a company that\u2019s truly in alignment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read Part II<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At its core, impact investing is faith in action \u2014 the faith that requires us to drive change through bold moves. Learn how impact investing focuses on healing our planet and easing human suffering, and how it differs from pure philanthropy in that investors also achieve a desirable financial return.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":592,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[272,258,259,260,255,262,261,273,11],"class_list":["post-581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-stories","tag-272","tag-conference","tag-ethical-investing","tag-growing-wealth","tag-impact-investing","tag-leaders","tag-philanthropy","tag-summer-2020-issue","tag-summer-issue"],"yoast_head":"\nA Different Take on Doing Good - Encounter<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.stthom.edu\/encounter\/2020\/featured-stories\/a-different-take-on-doing-good\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Different Take on Doing Good - Encounter\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"At its core, impact investing is faith in action \u2014 the faith that requires us to drive change through bold moves. 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