Investors and enterprises everywhere have embraced the 5 Dimensions of Impact as an impact management standard. What, Who, and How Much are well-known and integrated into our impact management tools and metrics. Contribution is also starting to become well-understood, with organizations like Impact Frontiers releasing guidance for investors. But what about the fifth dimension, impact risk? How do investors and enterprises actually assess and mitigate impact risk, especially negative impact risk?
And are impact investors and enterprises truly even considering impact risk? $27 billion is about to be infused into communities for renewable energy projects through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, but how do we know communities and families will actually benefit? Private equity funds have been scooping up affordable housing nationwide only to raise rents and force existing tenants out, and nonprofit housing developers – those who offer affordable rents, supportive services, and trauma-informed care to their residents – can’t keep up. And even well-intentioned fintech providers providing loans to small business owners can cause negative impact if their products aren’t designed with guardrails and equity in mind.
How can impact investors and enterprises combat negative impact risk and incorporate good practices that maximize positive impact and minimize the negative? Join us as we survey best practices across sectors with four panelists from renewable energy, affordable housing, and small business, and learn how they mitigate unexpected harm from affecting their clients. We must remain focused on ensuring our investments are changing communities for the better and improving the lives of individuals affected – not just changing the system overall.
