ImpactAlpha Podcasts

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: How the Sierra Club Foundation is leaning into system-level investing with its $200 million endowment; the 1803 Fund’s ambitious plans to restore historically Black neighborhoods in Portland; and, how financial advisors can meet clients’ demand for impact investing opportunities, and other takeaways from this week’s Agents of Impact Call.Story links:“Sierra Club Foundation is dumping managers, innovating indexes and embracing ‘system-level’ investing,” by David Bank and Roodgally Senatus.“In Portland, the 1803 Fund is rebuilding Black neighborhoods, zip code by zip code,” by Roodgally Senatus.Agents of Impact Call 75 recap and replay.

Stackwell founder Trevor Rozier-Byrd joins David Bank to talk about how public financial markets can become a real wealth-building tool for people who’ve historically been left out. Stackwell’s model: culturally resonant education, behaviorally informed nudges like recurring deposits, and seed investment programs that help “multicultural emerging wealth builders” get into the market and stay there.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: The ambitious strategy behind New Mexico’s $67 billion sovereign wealth fund; How the residential solar industry plans to stay competitive by eliminating dealer fees; And, how cities are building durable capital stacks for climate action, as federal support evaporates.Story links:“How New Mexico’s $67 billion fund is using oil and gas revenues to build a clean energy economy,” by David Bank.“With tax credits expiring, cutting ‘dealer fees’ could keep solar affordable,” by David Bank. “PosiGen bankruptcy highlights solar industry woes — and puts Brookfield in the hot seat,” by Amy Cortese.“Building durable financing for the energy transition and climate action in local communities,” by HIP Investors’ Nick Gower.

David Bank chats with Bruce Brown of New Mexico’s State Investment Council, a $67 billion sovereign wealth fund of sorts that helps pay for child care, schools, college and other services for the state’s residents. Brown is using funds generated from oil and gas production on state lands to invest in climate funds and attract clean energy projects to New Mexico.

The Cordes Foundation's Steph Stephenson joins Amy Cortese to talk about her family foundation’s evolution over its twenty years, from early support for social entrepreneurs to a focused push for gender equity throughout the global fashion industry.Check out all of ImpactAlpha's sustainable fashion coverage.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Beyond investments and guarantees, how Encourage Capital assembled the necessary pieces to unlock capital flows for the global clean energy transition; The missing markets for local builders and buyers of health, wealth, and vibrant communities (09:30); And, how European pension funds learn to stop worrying and love the companies making bombs (12:35).Story links:“⁠A case study in unlocking lending to small businesses to accelerate solar in India⁠,” by C3's Harvy Koh“⁠Making missing markets for local builders (and buyers) of health, wealth and vibrant communities⁠,” by David Bank and Roodgally Senatus“⁠European pension funds said ‘no’ to defense investments. Then came Ukraine… and Trump⁠,” by Danielle Rossingh

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Instead of 50 year mortgages, actual solutions to make homeownership affordable; The case of the missing $54 billion in climate finance; And, highlights from this week’s call, on plugging the financing gap for growth businesses in Africa.Story links:“From affordable home ownership to ‘fair-share appreciation’ and generational wealth,” by David Bank and Roodgally Senatus.“The case of the missing $54 billion in development banks' climate financing," by Jessica Pothering. All of our call roundups: https://impactalpha.com/calls/

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: In the lead up to the COP30 climate summit, the state of climate blended finance is a mixed bag; the private credit jitters that are putting even impact investors on edge (10:55); and, a preview of next week's Agents of Impact call on mobilizing growth funds for growth firms in Africa and Asia (16:10).RSVP for next week's Call!Story links:“Institutional investors warm to blended climate finance even as foreign aid and catalytic capital declines,” by Erik Stein“⁠With Tropical Forests Forever fund, Brazil tries a new approach to slowing deforestation⁠,” by Erik Stein“⁠Debt bubble? Private credit jitters put even impact investors on edge⁠,” by Amy Cortese“With philanthropic capital, Growth Firms Alliance is mobilizing local pension funds around small-business financing,” by Lucy Ngige

As a former hedge fund investor, Eva Yazhari is comfortable making the contrarian bet. While other VC investors are swinging for grand slams with AI startups, Yazhari’s Beyond Capital Ventures is knocking down singles and doubles around the west Indian Ocean, one of the world’s fastest-growing regions. “The gap is where the alpha lives,” Yazhari told ImpactAlpha on the latest Agents of Impact podcast.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with CEO Dennis Price. Up this week: What was top of mind among innovators and investors at SOCAP; How community lenders are building rare bipartisan support to salvage gains for low income communities (09:35); And, a dual lens for due diligence and impact: investing with AI vs. investing in AI (15:55).Story links:“⁠⁠Community lenders muster bipartisan support to salvage gains for low-income communities⁠⁠,” by Amy Cortese with Roodgally Senatus. “⁠⁠Investing with AI, investing in AI: A dual lens for due diligence and impact⁠⁠,” by Paul Fehlinger.