Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Some nice press
harp-weaver LLC was just featured in Chestnut Hill magazine, Life on the Hill. It provides a good overview of services provided and bit about the path that got me here. The article starts on page 39. I would welcome feedback and comments! Here is the link.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
ImpactBase
ImpactBase is a new online search tool, created to bring greater information and efficiency to the marketplace for impact investing funds.
The database provides investors, funds, foundations, family offices and other wealth amangers an efficient and organized mechanism for finding the information needed for the impact investing. Users can search for funds that may fit with their impact investment interests and objectives. It is a global platform which allows users to search across asset classes, impact themes, geographic targets, fundraising status, assets under management, and other parameters. Fund managers are able to upload information about their fund(s) and gain some exposure to a community of interested investors and the advisors who serve them.
This is a much needed component to building out the infrastructure to support iimpact investing as an asset class. Check out ImpactBase.
The database provides investors, funds, foundations, family offices and other wealth amangers an efficient and organized mechanism for finding the information needed for the impact investing. Users can search for funds that may fit with their impact investment interests and objectives. It is a global platform which allows users to search across asset classes, impact themes, geographic targets, fundraising status, assets under management, and other parameters. Fund managers are able to upload information about their fund(s) and gain some exposure to a community of interested investors and the advisors who serve them.
This is a much needed component to building out the infrastructure to support iimpact investing as an asset class. Check out ImpactBase.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Valentine's Day...Love Shared
Today is Valentine's Day. It is a day meant to celebrate love shared. On this Valentine's Day I write about loved shared between two sisters - Abigail and Aimee Sandler.
The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a story today on the front page of the Health section. Written by Stacey Burling, the story is about Aimee's Bulletin, which is inspired by the life of Aimee Sandler. This law took effect because of the love and dedication of her sister, Abigail.
Aimee was mentally disabled living in group-home. She got very sick in 2006 and that set off a conflict between Aimee's family and the home's administrators. It was then that Abigail raised the question as to who has legal say if families disagree with care providers.
Aimee's Bulletin clarifies how Pennsylvania laws affect decision-making for group-home residents near death who can't make choices. Abigail fought tirelessly for this and since Aimee's Bulletin has been signed she is dedicated to spreading the word to families that the Bulletin exists and that they have the ability to make decisions for their loved ones.
The Philadelphia Inquirer story can be read here.
The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a story today on the front page of the Health section. Written by Stacey Burling, the story is about Aimee's Bulletin, which is inspired by the life of Aimee Sandler. This law took effect because of the love and dedication of her sister, Abigail.
Aimee was mentally disabled living in group-home. She got very sick in 2006 and that set off a conflict between Aimee's family and the home's administrators. It was then that Abigail raised the question as to who has legal say if families disagree with care providers.
Aimee's Bulletin clarifies how Pennsylvania laws affect decision-making for group-home residents near death who can't make choices. Abigail fought tirelessly for this and since Aimee's Bulletin has been signed she is dedicated to spreading the word to families that the Bulletin exists and that they have the ability to make decisions for their loved ones.
The Philadelphia Inquirer story can be read here.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Night Out With Meaning: Building a Family
Last night I hosted Night Out With Meaning; a series of evenings for women to be inspired by the stories of women like Sue Badeau.
Surrounded by 35 women, Sue told her family's story through pictures and metaphors. She shared her experiences of adoption, foster care, and the unlikely, but powerful decision to welcome 3 terminally ill children into her family. It was an emotional and inspirational evening. Night Out With Meaning is about learning, connecting and reflecting.
Sue gave each of us a shell and talked about its imperfections and beauty a wonderful metaphor for her 22 children as she told a story about each of them. I have been thinking about her family's journey and their unexpected destination. I have been thinking about choices and fate. I have been thinking about permanence and what a lovely concept it is. I have taken that concept of a permanent family for granted. I have been thinking about unconditional love. One of the biggest takeaways for me hearing Sue's story is that when she encountered something she didn't think was right, she listened to her call to action. Thank you, Sue and thank you to Chelsea, Joelle, SueAnn, Florinda, and Renee. More information on the Badeau family can be found at www.badeaufamily.com.
Consider this an early invitation to you and a friend for the next Night Out With Meaning held on May 12, 2011. The topic of interest is "Empowering Women". I have lined up a truly interesting woman to talk about her journey which started with being the first single, American woman to adopt internationally. Marjorie Margolies joins as our storyteller. She is founder of Women's Campaign International (WCI). Marjorie started WCI in 1998 to help increase the participation of women in political and democratic processes around the world "to make sure there were more women at the table." Marjorie is an Emmy winning journalist, a former Congresswoman, an advocate for women, and a teacher.
Surrounded by 35 women, Sue told her family's story through pictures and metaphors. She shared her experiences of adoption, foster care, and the unlikely, but powerful decision to welcome 3 terminally ill children into her family. It was an emotional and inspirational evening. Night Out With Meaning is about learning, connecting and reflecting.
Sue gave each of us a shell and talked about its imperfections and beauty a wonderful metaphor for her 22 children as she told a story about each of them. I have been thinking about her family's journey and their unexpected destination. I have been thinking about choices and fate. I have been thinking about permanence and what a lovely concept it is. I have taken that concept of a permanent family for granted. I have been thinking about unconditional love. One of the biggest takeaways for me hearing Sue's story is that when she encountered something she didn't think was right, she listened to her call to action. Thank you, Sue and thank you to Chelsea, Joelle, SueAnn, Florinda, and Renee. More information on the Badeau family can be found at www.badeaufamily.com.
Consider this an early invitation to you and a friend for the next Night Out With Meaning held on May 12, 2011. The topic of interest is "Empowering Women". I have lined up a truly interesting woman to talk about her journey which started with being the first single, American woman to adopt internationally. Marjorie Margolies joins as our storyteller. She is founder of Women's Campaign International (WCI). Marjorie started WCI in 1998 to help increase the participation of women in political and democratic processes around the world "to make sure there were more women at the table." Marjorie is an Emmy winning journalist, a former Congresswoman, an advocate for women, and a teacher.
Monday, January 31, 2011
"Productizing" Social Impact Investing
I have been researching and meeting with people involved in social impact investing and I am convinced that this emerging asset class is about to take-off. Social impact investing aims to solve social or environmental problems while generating financial profit. These investments in social enterprises come in many forms – but what has been typical is a private equity structure. The investments range from producing a return of principal capital to offering market-rate or even market-beating financial returns.
A growing number of individuals, families, foundations and pensions believe that the assets set aside for investment should be invested in such a way that supports and complements their philanthropic work and values.
There are organizations and companies in the field who are taking steps to add some infrastructure so that this investment opportunity can be more readily consumed.
Investors Circle is a network of social impact investors who collaborate on deals. They are making strides in adding some infrastructure to this growing segment of the market.
Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) is in the process of creating a data engine that contrasts - and quantifies - the tangible social benefits of these investing opportunities in addition to a more traditional benchmark to gauge financial return. The data engine is set to launch in February.
There is also BLab, which is a Philadelphia-based organization supporting the emergence of the B Corp - B stands for Benefit - this is a formal structure for a social enterprise.
In November of last year, JP Morgan, Rockefeller Foundation and GIIN produced a report called: Impact Investments: An emerging asset class. The report estimates significant market opportunity for impact investment over the next ten years. After analyzing selected segments of five sectors - urban affordable housing, rural access to clean water, maternal health, primary education, and microfinance - serving the population at the "base of the economic pyramid," the authors identify a potential profit opportunity between $183 and $667 billion and a potential investment opportunity between $400 billion and $1 trillion in the next decade for just these segments of the impact investing market.
This is real innovation in philanthropy and something to keep an eye on as the infrastructure continues to grow.
A growing number of individuals, families, foundations and pensions believe that the assets set aside for investment should be invested in such a way that supports and complements their philanthropic work and values.
There are organizations and companies in the field who are taking steps to add some infrastructure so that this investment opportunity can be more readily consumed.
Investors Circle is a network of social impact investors who collaborate on deals. They are making strides in adding some infrastructure to this growing segment of the market.
Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) is in the process of creating a data engine that contrasts - and quantifies - the tangible social benefits of these investing opportunities in addition to a more traditional benchmark to gauge financial return. The data engine is set to launch in February.
There is also BLab, which is a Philadelphia-based organization supporting the emergence of the B Corp - B stands for Benefit - this is a formal structure for a social enterprise.
In November of last year, JP Morgan, Rockefeller Foundation and GIIN produced a report called: Impact Investments: An emerging asset class. The report estimates significant market opportunity for impact investment over the next ten years. After analyzing selected segments of five sectors - urban affordable housing, rural access to clean water, maternal health, primary education, and microfinance - serving the population at the "base of the economic pyramid," the authors identify a potential profit opportunity between $183 and $667 billion and a potential investment opportunity between $400 billion and $1 trillion in the next decade for just these segments of the impact investing market.
This is real innovation in philanthropy and something to keep an eye on as the infrastructure continues to grow.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Next Billion
I love to explore. I love seeing where one Google search takes me. I love how watching one TED talk by the founder of the Acumen Fund, Jacqueline Novogratz, leads me to find NextBillion.net. In their words, Next Billion is a website and blog bringing together the community of business leaders, social entrepreneurs, NGOs, policy makers and academics who want to explore the connection between development and enterprise. It is a discussion forum, networking space and knowledge base for individuals and organizations interested in the "next billion". Their goal is to highlight the development and implementation of business strategies that open opportunities and improve the lives of the world's approximately 4 billion low-income producers and consumers.
Next Billion bases itself on creating business models that engage low income communities as producers and consumers. While development aid and political reform are essential components in poverty eradication, successful business models can sometimes tackle development challenges more quickly and effectively than government and aid mechanisms.
Next Billion uses the term BoP, an acronym for "base of the (economic) pyramid." This term was first introduced by Professors C.K. Prahalad and Stuart Hart in their 2002 article, "The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid." It has come to designate not the poverty but the potential of the world's poorest citizens as entrepreneurs, employees and discerning consumers. It also refers to the approximately four billion people whose incomes are less than $3000 per year (PPP), based on analysis done at the World Resources Institute.
The site has a blog, research, news and career links all related to this idea of
bringing smart enterprise to low income communities so that they become self-sustaining. I have tagged this site on delicious and am following it on LinkedIn and Twitter. Seems like a great resource.
Next Billion bases itself on creating business models that engage low income communities as producers and consumers. While development aid and political reform are essential components in poverty eradication, successful business models can sometimes tackle development challenges more quickly and effectively than government and aid mechanisms.
Next Billion uses the term BoP, an acronym for "base of the (economic) pyramid." This term was first introduced by Professors C.K. Prahalad and Stuart Hart in their 2002 article, "The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid." It has come to designate not the poverty but the potential of the world's poorest citizens as entrepreneurs, employees and discerning consumers. It also refers to the approximately four billion people whose incomes are less than $3000 per year (PPP), based on analysis done at the World Resources Institute.
The site has a blog, research, news and career links all related to this idea of
bringing smart enterprise to low income communities so that they become self-sustaining. I have tagged this site on delicious and am following it on LinkedIn and Twitter. Seems like a great resource.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Night Out With Meaning: Women & Giving
I am thrilled to talk about and promote Night Out With Meaning: Women & Giving; a series of evenings for women to be inspired by the stories of women.
Held at The Philadelphia Cricket Club in February, May and November, each Night Out With Meaning focuses on a topic and features a wonderful storyteller. Night Out With Meaning is for women to connect with others, to learn from extraordinary women through their stories, and to find meaning in personal giving.
Come to one or all of the Nights Out With Meaning and invite a friend so you can continue the conversation!
The second Night Out With Meaning will be held on February 10th at 6:30pm. The topic is "Buidling a Family." Sue Badeau joins as our storyteller. Sue has been working as a child welfare professional for over thirty years. Sue sees a world where every child, regardless of the circumstances or place of birth, race religion, ability or disability has an opportunity to grow strong, deep roots with a family.
The cost of Night Out With Meaning is $65 for dinner including two glasses of wine. To register and pay, go to the Night Out With Meaning page on the harp-weaver website.
Night Out With Meaning is hosted by harp-weaver the firm I recently founded to help individuals and families with their personal giving. I look forward to sharing the Night Out With Meaning with you!
Held at The Philadelphia Cricket Club in February, May and November, each Night Out With Meaning focuses on a topic and features a wonderful storyteller. Night Out With Meaning is for women to connect with others, to learn from extraordinary women through their stories, and to find meaning in personal giving.
Come to one or all of the Nights Out With Meaning and invite a friend so you can continue the conversation!
The second Night Out With Meaning will be held on February 10th at 6:30pm. The topic is "Buidling a Family." Sue Badeau joins as our storyteller. Sue has been working as a child welfare professional for over thirty years. Sue sees a world where every child, regardless of the circumstances or place of birth, race religion, ability or disability has an opportunity to grow strong, deep roots with a family.
The cost of Night Out With Meaning is $65 for dinner including two glasses of wine. To register and pay, go to the Night Out With Meaning page on the harp-weaver website.
Night Out With Meaning is hosted by harp-weaver the firm I recently founded to help individuals and families with their personal giving. I look forward to sharing the Night Out With Meaning with you!
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