This Week in ESG and Impact Investing

by Bill Baue. SocialFunds.com July 31, 2006. Minority-owned Creative Investment Research conceived of the portfolio to promote corporate diversity while targeting women and minority investors for economic empowerment. SocialFunds.com -- Socially responsible investing (SRI) has a long history of promoting corporate diversity through positive screens and shareowner advocacy--for example by filing resolutions for more race and gender diversity on the board or a commitment to sexual orientation non-discrimination. However, there has not been an SRI portfolio exclusively focusing on diversity until last week's launch of the Diversity Index Portfolio by Creative Investment Research, a Minneapolis-based minority owned social investment advisory firm. The portfolio consists of between 40 to 60 large-cap US companies with strong diversity performance. "While other socially responsible funds may consider workforce diversity as one factor among many, the Creative Investment Res...

Property Flipping Remediation Yields Investment-grade Security by Mark Thomsen October 10, 2001 SocialFunds.com -- A three-year property flipping scheme in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota (see yesterday's article) affected a total of over 500 families. While some were able to regain their credit, many lost their homes. However, about 50 families, despite all odds, had managed to hold on to their houses. In a few cases they have staved off foreclosure by making partial payments. The Family Housing Fund (FHF), a nonprofit that promotes affordable housing in Minneapolis and St. Paul, realized that these 50 families might have a chance of keeping their homes if they received the right help. This help would have to go beyond the scope of the Property Flipping Task Force, a multi-organization initiative that FHF launched to help victims of the scam. In the summer of 2000, members of FHF met with the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to discuss ho...

I thought I would share some initial feedback I have received on the new book: The JOBS Act: Crowdfunding Guide to Small Businesses and Startups 2nd ed. https://www.amazon.com/JOBS-Act-Crowdfunding-Businesses-Startups/dp/1484224086 "Definitely clear. I really enjoyed the depth of substance on the Act. I also liked the enthusiasm for crowdfunding w/o any of the manic cheerleading seen elsewhere (impact investing has the same problem - IMHO). Balance goes a long way in my view and you reminding readers that crowdfunding is real work is very important. Scott S. Thank you, Scott!