Social screening falls into two broad categories within the realm of social investing: impact investing and social screening. An investor uses the social screening method to create a list of social standards that they want their investments to meet.
After getting rid of any company that doesn’t meet these requirements, the investor invests in “socially responsible” companies that do so in a way that meets their risk and return goals.
This strategy is utilized by a number of socially responsible mutual funds that have emerged. They use a social screening method, create a big basket of investments that meet those standards, and have their management company invest in that basket to help the mutual fund achieve its financial goals.
Impact investing, also known as “community investing,” is the second broad category of social investing. In impact investing, investments are made in socially responsible businesses rather than in businesses that do no harm.
Companies that fall under the umbrella of impact investing offer services with a charitable or social purpose and a business model that can support a financial investment and generate income. They operate in both the business and charitable sectors.
Impact investment businesses can be for-profit or non-profit, but they rarely take the form of large public companies that are listed in the capital markets. Consequently, it is more challenging to make an impact investment, which typically takes the form of a private investment in the form of a note or loan.
Sectors of Impact Investment What exactly are these enterprises of impact investment? Let’s take a look at some of the industries that are eligible for impact investments to get a better idea.
One area that most people are familiar with is affordable housing. A foundation, for instance, might support an organization like Habitat for Humanity by providing a low-interest loan to fund the organization’s projects. The majority of people support an organization like Habitat for Humanity by making donations.
Another area of impact investing is microfinance. In order to provide entrepreneur-minded individuals in developing nations with the opportunity to establish or expand their own business and lift themselves out of poverty, a microfinance institution makes small loans. Because it functions similarly to a bank, a microfinance institution is able to support investors and generate income.
There are numerous other similar industries that both have a social purpose at their core and generate income: social enterprises, community development organizations, fair trade, etc. Due to their social impact, businesses can frequently find investors in every industry who are willing to give up some financial return or take on a little bit more risk.
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