Beyond Business As Usual: Impact Investing Resources

Sami Jensen • November 8, 2019

On November 6, 2019 reSET joined forces with Leadership Greater Hartford to present Beyond Business As Usual: Impact Investing at The Hartford Club. This event was a response to a larger national shift in business away from profit as the only metric of success. Earlier this year, the Business Roundtable, an association of American CEOs, publicly stated that the purpose of business is no longer just shareholder value, but is stakeholder value ( source ). This includes customer value, treatment of employees, ethical supply chains, care for the community, and the environment. The event brought together investors and financial advisors to provide insights on how Impact Investing can help create self-sustaining businesses right here in our state. Impact investing is a mission-driven and community-based strategy that generates a return that includes both a profit and an impact defined by the investor and the business.

Panelists and Special Guests included:

  • Dorothy Adams (panelist) , Board chair of Capital for Change and experienced investor with a particular interest in social impact investing.
  • Susan Coleman (moderator) , reSET board member and University of Hartford Professor of Finance.
  • Erika Frank (panelist), Community Investments Officer at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, leading the implementation of the impact investing program, HFPG Impact!
  • Galia Gichon (panelist), Founder of Down to Earth Finance and author of My Money Matters.
  • Randall Strickland (panelist), Director, Cornerstone Capital Group, LLC, specializing in Sustainable/Impact Investment, & Adjunct Professor, Bard College’s Sustainable MBA.
  • Glendowlyn Thames (special guest), Deputy Commissioner and CFO/COO at CT Department of Economic and Community Development.

 

Here is a list of resources shared by our panelists and special guests to help you learn more about impact investing and take action:

Answers on grant proposals if nonprofits were brutally honest, part 3 article from Nonprofit AF, information on nonprofit finance.

Capital for Change’s Social Impact Investing page – contains statistics, annual reports, and impact reports.

Catalytic Capital: Unlocking More Investment and Impact – publication by Tideline with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Demand Dividend: Creating Reliable Returns in Impact Investing – published by Santa Clara University.

Financial Performance of Impact Investing through Private Debt – published by Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN).

Hey, you want nonprofits to act more like businesses? Then treat us like businesses – article from Nonprofit AF, information on nonprofit finance.

Innovative Deal Structures for Impact Investments – research published by Blue Dot Law.

Investing for Impact and Performance: The Essentials – research by Cornerstone Capital Group. More research by Cornerstone Capital Group here.

Kiva.org –  501(c)(3) non-profit organization and online lending platform connecting lenders to low-income entrepreneurs and students in over 80 countries. Kiva’s mission is “to expand financial access to help underserved communities thrive.” Lend as little as $25.

Lasting Impact: The Need for Responsible Exits – published by Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN).

Sacrifice Nothing – a meta study of the connection between ESG criteria and investment performance, across asset classes, conducted by Cornerstone Capital Group. More research by Cornerstone Capital Group here.
 
 

Get Involved at reSET

By awalsh April 8, 2025
Twelve Food Businesses to Present at Focus @ reSET on Monday April 14th in Hartford 
February 18, 2025
The Combined Organization Will Amplify Entrepreneurial Impact on Connecticut
By awalsh October 7, 2024
Pitches and Products to be Presented at the Parkville Pop-Up and Pitch Showcase on October 30th
By awalsh September 5, 2024
Sustainable CT Crowdfunding Campaign Launches to Support BBAU 2024, Gathering Innovators and Leaders to Explore Cooperative Economic Principles
By awalsh July 17, 2024
Transform Your Business This Fall: Applications Open for reSET's Retail Incubator and Digital Marketing Mastermind Programs Hartford, CT – July 17, 2024 – reSET, the Hartford-based entrepreneur support organization committed to nurturing businesses with a social mission, is excited to announce that applications are now open for two separate programs designed to help entrepreneurs grow with impact: the Retail Incubator and the Digital Marketing Mastermind. Both programs are set to run this fall, providing invaluable resources and mentorship to early-stage and established entrepreneurs alike. Applications close at midnight on July 21, with classes set to start mid-August and run through October. “Both of these programs were developed because of demand from our alumni and local entrepreneurs,” said Sarah Bodley, Executive Director of reSET. “The Retail Incubator has been popular with Hartford-area founders preparing for fall and holiday markets, or opening their own storefronts. We developed the Digital Marketing Mastermind to help local entrepreneurs build an online business presence and stand out in the online world.” Retail Incubator The Floor-Plan Retail Business Incubator is a partnership between reSET and Hartford-based Breakfast Lunch & Dinner, a community venture-building studio. Now in its fourth year, the program is designed to support product-based businesses in their stages of entrepreneurship. Participants will learn to understand customer needs, define pricing strategies, address key legal and financial topics, all to prepare their businesses for fall and winter markets. Entrepreneurs will gain insights from industry experts, access a supportive community, and receive practical tools to enhance their business acumen. For more information and to apply, please visit https://www.resetco.org/retail-incubator . Digital Marketing Mastermind The Digital Marketing Mastermind is tailored for entrepreneurs who already have a business and are looking to elevate their digital marketing efforts. This program will provide advanced strategies to boost online presence, engage with target audiences, and convert engagement into sales. Participants will learn from seasoned marketing professionals and peers, gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the digital marketplace. Entrepreneurs interested in more information on the program and application should visit https://www.resetco.org/digital-marketing-mastermind About reSET reSET is a nonprofit organization in Hartford, CT, whose mission is advancing the social enterprise sector. reSET specializes in social enterprise ― impact-driven business with a double or triple bottom line. In addition to providing coworking space, accelerator, and mentoring programs, reSET aims to inspire innovation and community collaboration and to support entrepreneurs in creating market-based solutions to community challenges. reSET’s goal is to meet entrepreneurs wherever they are in their trajectory and to help them take their businesses to the next level. Visit reSET | Where Great Companies Grow (resetco.org). # # #
By awalsh July 2, 2024
Winning Entrepreneurs Split Over $10,000 in Cash Prizes at the Conclusion of reSET’s Impact Accelerator
By awalsh June 4, 2024
Entrepreneurs to Present their Business Pitches for Over $10,000 in Cash Prizes
By awalsh May 7, 2024
12 Entrepreneurs Successfully Complete reSET’s Food Incubator Program Focus @ reSET on May 1 Showcased the Emerging Food Entrepreneurs in a Focus Group Setting
By awalsh March 26, 2024
Twelve Early Stage Food Companies Engage in reSET’s Two-Month Program to Grow Their Food Businesses
By awalsh March 6, 2024
Ten Businesses Working for Good in Greater Hartford
More Posts
Share by: