ImpactAssets

ImpactAssets is a pioneering nonprofit financial services firm based in Bethesda, Maryland, dedicated to accelerating capital for a more just and sustainable world. Established in 2010, the organization empowers philanthropists and individual investors to engage in impact investing through innovative financial solutions, primarily its Donor Advised Fund (DAF). Unlike traditional venture capital firms, ImpactAssets acts as a facilitator, enabling donors to recommend investments into a wide array of impact-focused companies, organizations, and funds across various asset classes, including private equity, private debt, and public markets. This unique model allows for significant flexibility and customization in aligning financial goals with social and environmental impact objectives.

The firm's strategic approach focuses on identifying and supporting high-impact opportunities that address critical global challenges. Their investment themes span climate solutions, health equity, economic opportunity, and racial justice, among others. ImpactAssets is well-known for its annual "ImpactAssets 50" (IA 50), a curated list of leading impact fund managers, which serves as a valuable resource for donors seeking to deploy capital into vetted impact investment vehicles. This initiative helps to channel significant capital towards innovative solutions in underserved markets and sectors.

ImpactAssets has demonstrated substantial growth and impact since its inception. As of their 2023 impact report, the firm reported managing over $2.5 billion in donor assets under management (AUM), reflecting the increasing appetite for impact investing among philanthropic and individual investors. Cumulatively, they have facilitated over $1.7 billion in impact investments to date, showcasing their significant role in mobilizing capital for positive change. While they do not make "first cheques" from their own balance sheet in the traditional sense, they enable a broad range of investment sizes. For instance, participation in specific ImpactAssets-managed funds, such as their Racial Justice Fund, can begin with a minimum of $25,000, while larger private fund allocations facilitated through their DAF can extend into multi-million dollar commitments, reflecting the diverse scale of their donor's philanthropic and investment goals.