Impact Investing Benefits Baltimore; We Need More of It

credit:

"There always seems to be a shortage of resources to seize those opportunities," writes Baltimore Community Foundation President Shanaysha Saul in an op-ed in the Baltimore Sun.

"Even when hundreds of millions of dollars come our way, it feels like a drop in the bucket after decades of disinvestment."

That's why the foundation, which was established 50 years ago to be a permanent philanthropic endowment for the region, is stepping up its efforts in "impact investing," Saul writes.

"The potential for impact investing to transform our city is truly incredibleand its effects could be felt even more deeply if we expand the pool," Saul writes.

In Baltimore, for example, the BCF has co-invested more than $1 million into projects including small-business loans to minority- and women-owned businesses, micro- loans to refugees, and affordable housing.

"We often rail about the unfair portrayal of our city in national media, but among impact investors, we are seen as a leader to learn from and emulate," Saul writes.

"We must seize on this buzz and momentum, because from my vantage point, this is the real story of our charming citypassionate people coming together, seeking innovation at every turn, multiplying individual contributions into collective impact to build a better

Read the Entire Article

A customized collection of grant news from foundations and the federal government from around the Web.

How's Your Community Doing?
Check Out it's
Community Vital Signs

Chikamhi'S Book Inspires, Empowers Smes

"When I came to Harare from Zaka, I had nobody and knew nobody, but I had to define my career path and carve my own niche, hence the confidence that all these important people here now have in...more

Greater Hermiston Community Foundation Seeks Grant Applicants

The Greater Hermiston Community Foundation is accepting applications for its 2024 grant cycle. Local organizations serving Hermiston, Umatilla, Stanfield, Echo, and Irrigon are eligible to...more

Sparking Innovation and Inspiration
Foundation: Kellogg Foundation

For more than 30 years,Henrie Treadwell has been fighting for racial equity at the University of South Carolina, where she became the school's first black graduate since Reconstruction, the...more

Mercer Law, School of Music and Capricorn Partner for Entertainment Law Seminar

If you're an artist trying to break into the music business, there's a good chance you've never heard of entertainment law. But if you're a law student at Mercer University in Georgia, you may...more

Arc and Ace Unveil Groundbreaking Cohort for Georgia Veterans, Integrating Business ...

Amy Reese, a veteran and CEO of ARC Business Solutions, says she's "thrilled to see the impact" her organization's "Business Boots on the Ground" program will have on military veterans in...more

Fourth-Annual Summit Aims to Boost Staff Engagement, Community

The University of Colorado at Boulder is in the news this week for an unusual reason: It's hosting a two-day "staff summit" next week that's open to all staff members, reports the Daily...more

Youth Entrepreneur Org Gets $50K Grant Award from Park Heights Renaissance

Baltimore's Mitchell family is putting its money where its mouth is, awarding a $50,000 grant to Excellence & Ambition, a nonprofit that helps young people ages 14 to 21 launch and grow their own...more

Boot Camps, Business Accelerators: Rapid City, Sioux Falls Get Creative with Child Care Grants

South Dakota's Rapid City and Sioux Falls are two of 13 communities to receive a child care grant from the Governor's Office of Economic Development, and they're using it to do something about the...more

Chase Opens Innovative Branch in Bronx'S Grand Concourse Neighborhood

"Access to financial advice and banking services is essential for any community to thrive and our Community Center Branches are at the center of lifting up communities by creating opportunities for...more

Millennials and Gen Z Are Challenging Traditional Notions of Giving

When it comes to philanthropy, millennials and Gen Z are outpacing baby boomers in a big way, according to a new report from Instituto Beja and Oxygen. The report finds that 74% of millennials...more