Across the country, innovative investors, social entrepreneurs, and donors are using return-seeking investments to accomplish their philanthropic goals. From equity investments in companies aiming to make the world greener to low-cost loans that bring businesses, schools, and even groceries to underserved communities, impact investors increasingly generate philanthropic impact and financial returns at the same time. How do they do it? The four briefs below explore examples of impact investing in each of our four home cities: New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
Download the New York Report (433 KB)
Download the San Francisco Report (425 KB)
Download the Chicago Report (423 KB)
Download the Washington, D.C. Report (434 KB)
To help philanthropists pursue their goals more strategically in 2012, we gathered key insights from leaders we know. Impact 2012 captures the insights of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and 11 other prominent leaders from the public, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors.
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Funders and philanthropic intermediary organizations are often looking for ways to assess the capacity of a broad swath of nonprofit organizations to inform the Design, Inc. of capacity-building initiatives. Beginning in 2009, Blueprint Research + Design, Inc. worked with the national office of Feeding America to develop and implement a customized member capacity assessment tool (CSAT). This report captures the findings from that work, as well as recommendations for the national office, for members, and for funders. Blueprint Research + Design, Inc. was acquired by Arabella Advisors in 2011.
Download Full Report (1.3 MB)
As America’s schools continue to struggle, donors have taken the lead in encouraging innovation and offering support to educators and students. This brief details challenges, trends, and opportunities for philanthropists to make a lasting impact and help prepare kids for the future.
Download Issue Brief (1.1 MB)
This report, published with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, demonstrates how funders can improve their policy strategies by integrating some of the core elements of field building. It provides illustrative examples and identifies tools and best practices for funders to strengthen their fields of interest. This report was produced by Blueprint Research + Design, Inc., which was acquired by Arabella Advisors in 2011.
Download Full Report (613 KB)
