The Local Impact of Impact Investing

Due to an unprecedented combination of access to information, changing public perception, and political transitions, we have seen a shift in public priorities. In the United States, for example, 95% of college graduates consider a sense of purpose at least moderately important in their work, while globally, two-thirds of people are willing to pay more for products and services provided by companies committed to positive social and environmental impact. This translates to investing too, and “Impact Investing” is a mechanism that allows individuals to invest locally in what matters to them. Since 2017, Benefit Chicago has raised $97 million in capital and committed $53 million to impact enterprises that make a local impact in Chicago communities.