Impact(ed)

Alicia DeLia of DeLia Impact Advisors joins the pod this week to talk about raising both grants and impact-first investments. Alicia shares why she’s passionate about getting capital to communities; how she supports leaders from diverse backgrounds to create authentic relationships with wealth holders, so fundraising doesn’t feel so transactional; and the importance of being an optimist.Timestamps:00:00 Breaking Down Silos in Impact Investing01:04 Understanding Fundraising in Impact Investing03:54 The Role of Investor Relations04:59 Alicia DeLea's Journey into Fundraising09:00 Resource Mobilization in Impact Investing11:58 Mindset and Self-Belief in Fundraising15:57 The Importance of Asking for More17:01 Defining Grants vs. Impact Investing20:09 A Week in the Life of a Fundraiser22:00 Transferable Skills in Fundraising25:58 The Power of Convening29:10 Advice for Future FundraisersLinks:Alicia’s LinkedinDeLia Impact Advisor’s websiteEric’s LinkedinLucas’ Linkedin

Kim Lyle of Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation joins the pod this week to talk about the importance and impact of community development finance. She shares her love for building things that don’t yet exist, passion to get money to people out there who hustle, and why green lending hits all of DBEDC’s impact areas. Editor’s Note: Since the time of this recording, the current administration has proposed a budget bill  that would have a significantly negative impact on the availability and flow of IRA funds. At the time of this post, the bill has passed the Senate but would need to be confirmed by the Senate before going into effect.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to CDFIs and Their Impact02:54 The Role of CDFIs in Economic Equity05:58 Challenges Facing CDFIs Today09:06 The Inflation Reduction Act and CDFIs11:59 Kim Lyle's Journey to Dorchester Bay15:09 Dorchester Bay's Mission and Operations17:52 Innovations in Green Lending21:05 Advice for Future Generations23:52 The Importance of Nonlinear Career PathsLinks:Kim’s LinkedinDorchester Bay’s website Eric’s LinkedinLucas’ Linkedin

Smit Naik of Sorenson Impact Institute joined the pod last fall to talk about his previous work at Gary Community Ventures, where he served as its Director of Impact Investing. We talked about the importance of deploying the right capital, at the right time, for the right purpose; how philanthropies leave so much potential impact on the table; and why even investors should approach their work with human-centered design. Smit’s new title is Managing Director of Impact Investing at the Sorenson Impact Institute where he oversees their early-stage venture capital investment strategy.Timestamps:00:00 Bridging the Gap: Understanding Community Needs01:06 Smitt Naik's Journey into Impact Investing02:21 The Role of Listening in Impact Investing04:46 Gary Community Ventures: A Theory of Change09:00 Innovative Approaches to Community Investment12:06 MySpark: Empowering Youth through Financial Choice15:39 The Unique Approach of Gary Community Ventures19:01 Innovating Foundations: Moving Wealth and Power20:28 A Day in the Life of an Impact Investor23:41 Advice for Future Impact InvestorsLinks:Smit’s LinkedinSorenson Impact Institute websiteGary Community Ventures websiteEric’s LinkedinLucas’ Linkedin

Joanna Kuang and Leila Mengesha of Illumen Capital join the pod this week to talk about how their lived experiences brought them to investing and impact measurement, the risks that could come from not managing impact, and how these types of roles barely existed a few years ago.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to Impact Measurement and Management06:37 The Evolution of Impact Measurement and Management12:09 Personal Journeys into Impact Investing20:47 Illumen Capital's Approach to Impact Investing28:41 Challenges and Opportunities in Impact Measurement36:57 Advice for Aspiring Impact InvestorsLinks:Joanna’s ⁠Linkedin⁠Leila’s ⁠Linkedin⁠Illumen Capital’s ⁠website⁠Eric’s ⁠Linkedin⁠Lucas’ ⁠Linkedin

Eric and Lucas are joined for conversation with Erin Sietstra from Hopelab a researcher, investor, and convener that supports equity-centered solutions for the mental health and well-being of Brown, Black, and Queer young people. Erin, rightly points out that in a world with more diverse checkwriters you don’t need to convince investors that an issue like black maternal health is a pressing problem that needs to be solved. Tune in to hear about her work as Head of Investments at Hopelab.Timestamps:00:00 Understanding Youth Mental Health and Access to Care01:04 Impact Venture Capital vs Traditional VC03:37 Hope Lab's Mission and Theory of Change07:11 The Role of Corporate Venture Capital09:07 Innovative Solutions for Youth Mental Health14:27 A Day in the Life of an Impact Investor26:09 Building Relationships in Investing32:55 The Power of Lived Experience in FoundersLinks:Erin’s LinkedinHopelab's websiteEric’s LinkedinLucas’ Linkedin

Todd Leverette from Apis & Heritage sits with us to talk about his circuitous path from Wall Street to financing Worker-Ownership with Private Credit and how, when he looks back on his career, much like Common’s third album “One Day It’ll All Make Sense.”00:00 Introduction to Employee Ownership and Buyouts04:47 The Case for Employee Ownership10:57 Knowledge Sharing in Employee-Owned Companies13:33 Apis and Heritage: A New Model for Buyouts19:55 Engaging Workers in the Buyout Process25:52 The Impact of Employee Ownership on Company Culture30:03 Real-World Examples of Successful Transitions34:14 Advice for the Next Generation of Impact Investors

Lucas Turner-Owens and Eric Horvath, co-founders and co-hosts of Impact(ed), kick off Season 2 with their longtime friend and colleague Rodney Foxworth (Worthmore), to talk a bit about their non-linear career paths, advice they would give their younger selves, and how moving capital can always be an expression of values.01:43 Lucas's Path to Purpose and Impact6:18 Eric's Journey from Education to Impact Investing14:14 How Rodney, Eric, and Lucas Met17:20 The Multi-faceted Work Eric is Doing Today19:50 The Work Lucas is Doing Today and How Investing Can Be an Expression of Values27:19 Advice for the Next Generation and Closing Thoughts

Season 2 of Impact(ed) is coming soon. Here's what to expect!

The investment advisory industry manages trillions and trillions of client assets, for individuals and institutions, to support their financial objectives. Increasingly, thanks to the rise of sustainable finance, impact investing and the great generational wealth transfer, more and more clients are adding social impact goals alongside their financial ones. Join us and guest Ellen Chiu (Westfuller Advisors) to learn about how her progressive values brought her to her current role in the investment advisory industry, the relationship and reciprocity firms like hers have with their clients, and why impact measurement’s something she’s so excited about. Brief primer on the size, scale and scope of the investment advisory industry [1:06] Ellen shares how her upbringing and immigrant parents sparked her interest in finance [7:01] How Ellen first got exposed to the investment advisory industry [9:34] An introduction to Ellen’s firm, Westfuller Advisors and who they work with [11:30] How Westfuller works with institutional clients to support their investment needs and mission goals [14:42] Matchmaking for mission [22:00] One of the project’s Ellen’s most excited about currently [24:06] Advice Ellen would give her younger self [27:57]  All views expressed by our guest are her own and do not necessarily express the views of Westfuller Advisors. Demystifying Industry Jargon: RIA, CFA, portfolio management, OCIO, impact measurement, IPS Impact(ed) is written, recorded and produced by its two co-hosts, Eric Horvath and Lucas Turner-Owens. Please connect with us on Linkedin, we’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, your recommendations for future topics and guests, and be in community with you. Original Music by Lucas Turner-Owens.

Community Lending, whether at Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) or elsewhere, supports economic opportunity in low and moderate income communities across the country. With borrowers' best interests at heart, community lending provides consumer loans to individuals, working capital to small businesses and funds to support community-oriented real estate projects like affordable housing. Join us and guests Ana Ramos (Common Future) and Jocelyn Velazquez (IFF) to learn about how their cultures and families influence their work and the importance of empathy and intersectionality when considering their roles as community lenders. Brief primer on the size, scale and scope of community lending [0:50] Ana and Jocelyn’s on how their lived experiences have led them to work in community lending [5:05] IFF’s size, scope and approach to community lending [9:15] Common Future’s approach to racial and economic justice through impact investing [11:25] Two recent real estate deals Ana’s most excited about [15:20] A day in the life as a community lender at IFF and CF [17:45] The core skills you really need to get into this work [25:00] All views expressed by our guest are her own and do not necessarily express the views of Common Future or IFF. Demystifying Industry Jargon: redlining, Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), ShoreBank, CDFI Fund  Impact(ed) is written, recorded and produced by its two co-hosts, Eric Horvath and Lucas Turner-Owens. Please connect with us on Linkedin, we’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, your recommendations for future topics and guests, and be in community with you. Graphic Design by Ann Van. Original Music by Lucas Turner-Owens.

Venture Capital (VC) invested nearly $500 billion in 2022. By investing into startups seeking transformational scale, successful venture-backed companies have the potential to change how we work, communicate and live. Given this potential, understanding who plays what role in venture and how they approach the process of investing is critical to harnessing its potential to do good. Join us and guests KJ Sidberry (Google Ventures) and Evelysse Vargas (Zeal Capital Partners) to learn about their unique paths into venture, the importance of understanding the human condition when it comes to investing, and how emotional intelligence is a cornerstone of their field. Brief primer on the size, scale and scope of venture capital [0:44] KJ and Evelysse’s unique paths into venture capital [5:00] Google Venture’s approach to investing and KJ’s approach to due diligence [10:00] Zeal Capital Partners’ investment focus and Inclusive Investing strategy [14:00] A day in the life as an investor at GV and ZCP [17:45] What are you most excited about or trying to get better at? [22:20] What advice would you offer to your younger self? Curiosity and generosity. [29:00] All views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily express the views of Google Ventures or Zeal Capital Partners. Demystifying Industry Jargon: general partner (GP), limited partner (LP), institutional investor, due diligence, fundraising rounds (seed, Series A, etc.), initial public offering (IPO), venture capital fee structure, exit, liquidity  Impact(ed) is written, recorded and produced by its two co-hosts, Eric Horvath and Lucas Turner-Owens. Please connect with us on Linkedin, we’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, your recommendations for future topics and guests, and be in community with you. Graphic Design by Ann Van. Original Music by Lucas Turner-Owens.

Private foundations manage more than a trillion dollars of capital, which is invested across a variety of asset classes, so that a portion of their financial returns can be given out as grants for social impact. Join us and guest Essma Bengabsia (The Annie E. Casey Foundation) to learn about the untapped power and potential of philanthropy’s approach to investing, as well as how her community and identities have fueled a career path that has led her to be an impact investor at a $3 billion foundation. Brief primer on the size, scale and scope of private foundations [1:25] Essma’s path to working on impact investments at a foundation [6:25]  Mechanics and approaches of the Annie E. Casey Foundation [10:00] The beauty and challenges of bringing your full self to work [18:45] An exciting investment: Mission Driven Finance’s Care Access Real Estate [22:10] Essma’s advice to her younger self [25:50] Impact potential: truly equitable stakeholder engagement within investing [30:05] All views expressed by our guest are her own and do not necessarily express the views of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Demystifying Industry Jargon: endowment, perpetuity, mission-aligned investing, program-related investment, community development financial institution (CDFI), negative screening Impact(ed) is written, recorded and produced by its two co-hosts, Eric Horvath and Lucas Turner-Owens. Please connect with us on Linkedin, we’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, your recommendations for future topics and guests, and be in community with you. Graphic Design by Ann Van. Original Music by Lucas Turner-Owens.

What to expect from Impact(ed) this season

Pension funds hold trillions of dollars of capital, which is invested for the future retirement benefits of teachers, public sector employees, firefighters and so many more workers. Join us as we talk with guests Tara Mei Smith (NYC Comptroller) and Marcela Pinilla (Zevin Asset Management; Mass PRIM) about the importance of pensions, their potential to contribute to a more equitable society and what Tara Mei and Marcela would tell their younger selves. Brief primer on the size, scale and scope of pensions [0:55] A “Long Promise” - why pensions and their returns matter to workers [8:05] Who are NYC’s pensioners? [11:45] The power of pensions to advocate for human rights [15:00] How the NYC pension fund system invests [18:00] As women of color working in finance, what advice would you give your younger self? [31:55] Demystifying Industry Jargon: ESG, Fiduciary Duty, Responsible Contractor Policy, EEO-1 Data,  Due Diligence, Defined Benefit v. Defined Contribution Plan, Investment Meetings Recordings (NYC Comptroller) Impact(ed) is written, recorded and produced by its two co-hosts, Eric Horvath and Lucas Turner-Owens. Please connect with us on Linkedin, we’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, your recommendations for future topics and guests, and be in community with you. Graphic Design by Ann Van. Original Music by Lucas Turner-Owens.