This Week in Impact

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Some initial entries into the playbook for shared prosperity. How inflation and economic instability is affecting pay-as-you-go financing in the off-grid solar market (08:40). And, why Tom Steyer see now as a buying opportunity for climate investors with dry powder to deploy (13:50).Relevant links:“Galvanize’s Tom Steyer on why now is a good time for climate investors with cash (Q&A),” by David Bank“⁠Defaults on pay-as-you-go solar tick up with income pressure and financial literacy challenges⁠,” by Lucy NgigeContribute a strategy to the playbook through this short form

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: How climate tech founders and funders are planning to ride out the political storm. What the lackluster fundraising totals for TPG NEXT means for emerging and diverse managers (07:00). Plus, five promising pages in the playbook for shared prosperity (11:56).Relevant links:Climate tech is counting on falling costs, rising demand to ride out the political stormLackluster fundraising for TPG NEXT sends mixed signals to emerging and diverse managersRe:Construction: Five promising pages in the playbook for shared prosperityContribute to the playbookRSVP for the call

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: A call to action from impact investors in response to the growing political risk in the US market. Plus, how the idea of employee ownership is bringing lawmakers together across the aisle (7:55). And the strategies and structures LPs are using to get their money back in a volatile market environment (11:55).Story links:“In a polarized US Capitol, employee ownership brings lawmakers together,” by Roodgally SenatusRestive LPs look to secondaries and other creative exits to recoup their capital,” by Amy Cortese

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank, live-ish from the Re:Construction road show. Up this week: How impact investors are reacting to a tariffying week for Wall Street and global trade. What comes next for foreign aid in the wake of the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID (7:10). And, why it’s critical to continue assembling a playbook for shared prosperity (12:15). Relevant links:“⁠Rebuilding global aid was the (mostly) talk of the town at Skoll World Forum⁠,” by Caroline Bressan“⁠Could trade chaos cut emissions and make impact investments the safer bet?⁠” by Amy Cortese and David Bank“⁠People, purpose and perseverance: Assembling the playbook for shared prosperity⁠,” by David Bank⁠Submit your plays for shared prosperity.⁠

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor Jessica Pothering. Up this week: Climate insurance in California that incentivizes landowners to reduce wildfire risks. Plus, making subsidies smarter by targeting the operating needs of agriculture businesses and the funds that support them.Chapters(00:00) Innovative Climate Insurance Pilot in California(08:17) Concessional Capital and Africa's FarmersStory links:“⁠Innovative climate insurance in California gives landowners incentives to reduce wildfire risks⁠,” by Jessica Pothering“⁠Making subsidies smarter by targeting Africa’s farmers and the funds that support them⁠,” by Jessica Pothering

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: With proxy season here, how shareholders can apply a system stewardship model for the companies they own; why strategies to share the wealth via employee ownership are attracting popular support, and a look at our spring “Re:construction” tour, which offers a playbook for shared prosperity.Chapters00:00 Proxy season insights06:00 Employee ownership models11:50 Re:construction and shared prosperityEvent RSVPs:North Carolina: Friday, April 4 - ⁠Building models for shared prosperity⁠, UNC Chapel HillWashington, DC: April 8 - ⁠Purple Party⁠,Boston: Saturday, April 12 - ⁠Boston International Film Festival⁠Story links:“⁠Shareholders can fight back with system stewardship⁠,” by The Shareholder Commons’ Frederick AlexanderOwnership Call: ⁠impactalpha.com/calls⁠ and ⁠Youtube⁠“⁠A playbook of what and who is working to build prosperity for all⁠,” and “⁠‘Special Purpose Credit Programs’ face the axe⁠,” by David Bank

🎧 This Week in Impact. Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Why Trump's order to cut a Main Street lending program led to a rare GOP rebuke. How Canadian employee ownership trusts offer a path to shared prosperity along with protecting national sovereignty (06:17). And finally, as private equity fundraising becomes more competitive, how GPs can differentiate on impact (12:53).RSVP for the call:https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3AUkUaVZTyivXhXx0oVsrwStory links:“⁠Threat to CDFI Fund gives community lenders a chance to flex bipartisan support⁠,” by David Bank and Amy Cortese“In Canada, employee ownership trusts offer a path to shared prosperity and national sovereignty,” by Roodgally Senatus.“Differentiating on impact, tapping retail investors: Charting the changing private equity landscape” by Amy Cortese

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: The significance of noted green banker Mark Carney’s new role as Canadian Prime Minister; what’s at stake as US climate policy heads to the courts (06:41); and, why one impact fund manager says low-income customers are more profitable – and has the data to prove it (12:25)Story Links:"Canada puts a green banker in charge of its response to Trump,” by Amy Cortese and David Bank.“EPA raises the stakes in battle over $20 billion in green bank grants,” by Amy Cortese and Isaac Silk.“Climate United carries legal banner in battle for the green bank,” by David Bank and Amy Cortese."Elevar Equity says low-income customers are more profitable – and has the data to prove it," by Shefali Anand.

Host Brian Walsh chats with ImpactAlpha’s emerging markets reporter Lucy Ngige. Up this week: Why the mood at two impact investing conferences in Nairobi was hopeful, despite the US foreign aid freeze. Plus, a roundup of some of the most interesting recent emerging markets deals. Check out all of the deals here:⁠https://impactalpha.com/browse/beats/dealflow/⁠

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor Jessica Pothering. Up this week: Jessica digs in on food and agriculture in East Africa. Emerging fund managers in the ownership economy deliver returns to investors by sharing the wealth with workers, families and communities. And, what the EU Commission’s revamped rules mean for climate and sustainability disclosure.Links: "GPs deliver ownership investing strategies for LPs of all sizes," by Jessica Pothering “The European Union is poised to scale back its ambitious climate finance regulations, too,” by Louie Woodall.Timecodes: 00:00 Impact Investing Insights from East Africa 11:04 Emerging Trends in the Ownership Economy 17:39 EU Climate Regulations: A Shift in Strategy