How do you develop and maintain your skills and knowledge in social finance and impact investing?

1 Read books and reports

Learning about social finance and impact investing can be greatly enhanced by reading books and reports from experts and practitioners. These resources provide a comprehensive overview of the concepts, frameworks, and case studies that demonstrate the potential and challenges of the fields. For example, The Power of Impact Investing: Putting Markets to Work for Profit and Global Good by Judith Rodin and Margot Brandenburg; Social Finance: How Social Innovation is Reshaping Social Change by Alex Nicholls, Rob Paton, and Jed Emerson; The Impact Investor: Lessons in Leadership and Strategy for Collaborative Capitalism by Cathy Clark, Jed Emerson, and Ben Thornley; and Impact Investing: A Guide for Donors and Investors by Bridgespan Group and Omidyar Network are all excellent resources to check out.

2 Follow online courses and webinars

To further develop and maintain your skills and knowledge in social finance and impact investing, consider taking online courses and webinars. These can provide practical guidance and insights to deepen your understanding of relevant topics, tools, and techniques. For example, the University of Pennsylvania offers “Social Impact Strategy: Tools for Entrepreneurs and Innovators”, Harvard Business School has “Financing Social Ventures”, Acumen Academy offers “Impact Measurement and Management”, and Impact Engine provides “Impact Investing in Action: Designing Your Career”.

3 Join networks and communities

A third way to develop and maintain your skills and knowledge in social finance and impact investing is to join networks and communities that connect you with other like-minded professionals and organizations. These connections can provide opportunities to exchange ideas, learn from best practices, and collaborate on projects. Examples of networks and communities include the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), Social Finance Forum, Impact Hub, and Net Impact.

4 Attend events and conferences

Attending events and conferences that showcase the latest innovations, trends, and opportunities in social finance and impact investing is another way to develop and maintain your skills and knowledge. These events can expose you to new perspectives, inspire you with success stories, and help you to expand your network. Examples of such events include SOCAP (Social Capital Markets), Skoll World Forum, AVPN (Asian Venture Philanthropy Network) Conference, and Sankalp Forum.

5 Seek mentorship and coaching

A fifth way to develop and maintain your skills and knowledge in social finance and impact investing is to seek mentorship and coaching from experienced and reputable professionals and organizations. Such programs can provide personalized feedback, advice, and support to help you navigate the challenges and opportunities in these fields. Examples of mentorship and coaching programs you can apply for include the Toniic Institute Impact Accelerator, the ANDE (Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs) Mentorship Program, the Echoing Green Fellowship, and the Ashoka ChangemakerXchange.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?