Impact investment should appeal to progressives seeking social justice as well as those who believe market solutions surpass government programs in creating opportunity and prosperity. However, dogmatism within the impact community is driving away potential right-of-center allies.
Clearly, there is the potential for “big tent” discussions when the Vatican hosts impact conferences with investment bankers and NGOs. Yet, much of today’s impact field seems to be a cloistered conversation where anything short of avant-garde values are ostracized. As we’ve seen in fields from climate to education, the result will be a schism and a lost opportunity to collaborate on the world’s largest challenges.
