Back to the Frontier: Investing that Puts Impact First

The Bridgespan Group
April 20, 2021

Impact investing has boomed over the past decade, driven by the ethos that financial performance goes hand-in-hand with social and environmental impact. But more wealth holders now see the value of putting impact before investment, and prioritizing people and planet.

Impact-first impact investing, also called “catalytic capital,” is well-suited for investors “who want to support enterprises or funds that have high-impact potential but struggle to raise suitable financing because they are too early-stage or otherwise risky, expect to generate only modest returns, or require a longer investment time horizon,” explained the Catalytic Capital Consortium, a leading advocate.