ImpactAssets Releases Tenth Annual IA 50 Impact Investment Fund Manager Showcase with Emerging Impact Category
Radnor, PA, Feb. 23, 2021—The De-carceration Fund has been named as an Emerging Impact Manager in ImpactAssets‘ IA50 2021, a publicly available, online database for impact investors, family offices, financial advisors and institutional investors that features a diversified listing of private capital fund managers that deliver social and environmental impact as well as financial returns.
The IA 50’s Emerging Impact Manager list, which debuted in 2020 and spotlights newer fund managers that demonstrate potential to create meaningful impact, also saw significant growth. The number of emerging fund managers across a variety of themes and geographies included in this year’s list grew to 41, up from 16 managers in 2020. Total AUM increased to $917 million, up from $397 million last year.
“When we launched the IA 50, we knew there was tremendous potential for impact investing, but realized many interested investors weren't aware of the incredible range of impact fund managers available to them. As the field has evolved, we have also become aware of the large number of innovative fund managers not identified via our traditional networks," said Jed Emerson, ImpactAssets Senior Fellow and IA 50 Review Committee Chair. “More recently we have expanded the lens of our process to capture more breadth and diversity of impact fund managers and in doing so have also chronicled the progress made by impact investors as well as the work that still needs to be done.”
“We are very encouraged that criminal justice reform is beginning to gain much needed public support. The De-carceration Fund’s inclusion in this cohort of innovative funds will continue to expand a critical eco-system for private sector solutions that are aligned with public social benefit,” said De-carceration Fund, Managing Director Chris Bentley. “We look forward to using this platform to make meaningful and measurable progress to address the injustices of mass incarceration, prompting the ethical disruption of the criminal justice system.”
Emerging Impact Managers
The newly introduced IA 50 Emerging Impact Managers category represents fund managers in the early stage of their life cycle, and are often taking unique approaches to impact investing. Emerging Impact Managers may have less than $25 million in Assets Under Management and/or been operating for fewer than three years.
Emerging Impact Manager firms were selected according to a set of criteria developed to ensure a diverse set of firms with commitment to impact and representing a range of approaches, asset classes, and impact areas. Particular consideration was given to firms that demonstrate a unique strategy, under-represented impact theme, and diversity in leadership in view of the application pool.
“As the impact investing field evolves, we can’t lose sight of innovation,” said IA 50 Review Committee Member Julia W. Sze, CFA, of Julia W. Sze Consulting. “The emerging managers we selected have developed strategies in new sectors and geographies, are often led by women and people of color, and add new depth to the impact investment universe.”
“The growth we’ve seen in the IA 50 over the past decade is reflective of the growth, maturity, and increased diversity of the impact investing industry as a whole,” added Sandra Osborne Kartt, CFA, Director, Investments, ImpactAssets. “Along with the Emeritus and Emerging Impact Manager lists, this year’s IA 50 represents the vast array of impact themes and strategies available to impact investors today.”
Osborne Kartt and Jennifer Kenning, CEO and Co-Founder of Align Impact and IA 50 Senior Investment Advisor, led the ImpactAssets and Align Impact Investment teams in the application scoring and analysis process. The IA 50 Review Committee is comprised of an expanded group of impact investment experts and leaders.
About the De-carceration Fund
The De-carceration Fund is causing the "Ethical Disruption of the Criminal Justice System". The fund will invest and support highly innovative enterprises that are working to eliminate the suffering caused by the US Criminal Justice System through a radically different fund model that is focused on returning power to those who have had it taken away from them.
Learn more about our approach at www.decarcerationfund.com
View our ImpactAssets profile
About the ImpactAssets 50 The IA 50 is the first publicly available database that provides a gateway into the world of impact investing for investors and their financial advisors, offering an easy way to identify experienced impact investment firms and explore the landscape of potential investment options. The IA 50 is intended to illustrate the breadth of impact investment fund managers operating today, though it is not a comprehensive list. Firms have been selected to demonstrate a wide range of impact investing activities across geographies, sectors and asset classes.
The IA 50 is not an index or investable platform and does not constitute an offering or recommend specific products. It is not a replacement for due diligence. In order to be considered for the IA 50 2021, fund managers needed to have at least $25 million in assets under management, more than three years of experience as a firm with impact investing, documented social and/or environmental impact and be available for US investment. Additional details on the selection process are available here.
The IA 50 Emerging Impact Manager list is intended to spotlight newer fund managers that may demonstrate future potential to create meaningful impact. Criteria such as minimum track record or minimum assets under management may not be applicable.
The IA 50 Emeritus Impact Manager list illuminates impact fund managers who have achieved consistent recognition on the IA 50.
About ImpactAssets
ImpactAssets is the leading impact investing partner for individuals, families and philanthropists tackling the world’s greatest challenges by investing in the world’s brightest ideas. We make it easy for our clients to “discover, connect and invest” in game-changing entrepreneurs and funds. Founded in 2010, ImpactAssets increases flows of money to impact investing with our 100% impact investment platform and field-building initiatives, including the IA 50 database of private debt and equity impact fund managers.
The ImpactAssets Donor Advised Fund is an innovative vehicle that empowers donors to increase the impact of their giving by combining it with strategic, sustainable and responsible investing to build a sophisticated philanthropic endowment. The Fund currently has more than $1.4 billion in assets in 1,400 donor advised funds, working with 350 wealth advisors across 60 financial services firms.
Learn more at www.impactassets.org