Building an Impact Investment Fund: MicroBuild Fund Case Study Series
Track
Shaping Capital Systems
Format
Skills Lab (Up to 3 Facilitators/Speakers)
Speakers
- NameDeborah Burand
- TitleFaculty Director, the Grunin Center for Law and Social Entrepreneurship
- OrganizationGrunin Center for Law and Social Entrepreneurship at NYU Law School
- NameScott Taitel
- TitleFormer Director of Social Finance and Clinical Associate Professor of NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service (ret.)
- OrganizationFormerly NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service; now individual
- NameCarl Valenstein
- TitlePartner
- OrganizationMorgan Lewis
Description
This skills lab will introduce participants to a series of case studies that describe key decision points in the13-year-life of an actual impact investment fund, the MicroBuild Fund. The MicroBuild Fund was launched in 2012 by Habitat for Humanity International and wound down in the fall of 2025. The first of this series of case studies was recognized in 2021 by the Financial Times for innovation and creativity (“2021 How We Teach – Recognition Award for Excellence in Sustainable Finance Education for Innovation and Creativity in Teaching Materials”). These case studies have since been used in the classroom (in multi-disciplinary settings with legal, policy and business students), and also at the negotiation table with practitioners.
