Happy New Year! We are so excited for what’s to come in 2012. Speaking of looking forward, take a look the latest issue of the RSF Quarterly: What is the Future Value of Education? The year has gotten off to a great start with two new additions to our Core Lending Portfolio: Uncle Matt’s Organic and Aquatic Informatics, and the official launch of California’s benefit corporation status. Also, take a look at our major highlights from 2011. It was a great year and we’re looking forward to more in 2012!
A Few Things We Accomplished in 2011…
It’s always such a good feeling to kick off a new year and we are really looking forward to what’s to come in 2012. But before we dive in, it’s worth taking a look back at what happened in 2012.
I pulled a few statistics on the past year and was very impressed with the results…Read the full post on the Reimagine Money blog.
RSF Winter Quarterly: What is the Future Value of Education?
In this issue of the RSF Quarterly, we consider ways in which to educate for a better future. John Bloom proposes a foundation for preparing students for the New Economy while guest essayist, Joan Caldarera presents an ethical conception of education aimed at equipping students with capacities for greater justice, freedom, and meaning in life. In our Clients in Conversation piece, investors Owen Brown and Rose Feerick discuss their approaches to teaching children to build healthy relationships with money. Also, learn more about two RSF funded projects: art and community renewal at the Detroit Community High School, and a transformative event at the Waldorf School of Pittsburgh. To download an electronic copy of the quarterly, click here. To receive hard copies of future issues free of charge, click here.
Two New Loans!
We are pleased to welcome Uncle Matt’s Organic and Aquatic Informatics to the RSF Community. Follow the links below to read more about each company.
Aquatic Informatics
California Benefit Corporation Kickoff
January 3rd marked the first day that California businesses were able to register as Benefit Corporations! Eager to become official benefit corporations and pave the way for other California businesses, a dozen business leaders traveled to Sacramento on the 3rd to file their documents. Among the first businesses to elect benefit corporation status were Patagonia and long-time RSF office supply vendor, Give Something Back.
Benefit corporations are a new type of corporation required to: a) have a mission to create material positive impact on society and the environment; b) consider non-financial interests when making decisions including employees, community, and the environment; and c) report annually on performance using a recognized third-party.
California became the sixth state to pass benefit corporation legislation in October 2011, joining Maryland, New Jersey, Vermont, Virginia, and Hawaii. New York has since signed a similar law and legislation has been introduced in the District of Columbia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
RSF is delighted to see other states pursuing benefit corporation legislation and businesses embracing the new corporate structure. We believe this momentum represents the beginning of a transformation – one that will lead businesses to achieve deep social and environment impact.
Path to Financing
RSF has hosted, sponsored, and participated in several discussions about financing social enterprises. Typically, the stories and advice come from industry experts: venture capitalists, bankers, philanthropists, lenders, etc. Last month RSF and Hub Bay Area hosted a panel discussion taking a different approach. We handed the stage over to four successful social enterprise leaders and let them tell us their financing experiences from start-up to present day…Read the full post on the Reimagine Money blog.
RSF Grantee Investigates Growth Structures for Social Enterprise
There has been lots of buzz lately, on our blog and in many other places, about seeking alternatives to big banking. Amidst the activity that resulted from the Move Your Money campaign, including lots of new RSF Social Investment Fund accounts, I was excited to witness one of our donor advised fund clients take action to support the growth and development of community development finance institutions (CDFI’s) by making a grant to Southern Bancorp Capital Partners...Read the full post on the Reimagine Money blog.
Upcoming Events
January 9 – Putting Your Money to Work for a Sustainable Future, San Francisco, CA
January 17 – Sustainable Food Summit, San Francisco, CA
January 24 – Confluence Philanthropy, Sausalito, CA
February 9 – Hawaii Impact Investment Conference, Honolulu, HI
February 23 – AWSNA Great Lakes Regional Conference, St. Paul, MN