Criterion Institute

Today, I wake up thinking what it means to have hope in systems that continue to fail us. At Criterion Institute, a key part of what we do is to ask those who have been marginalized to engage with systems of power (eg. finance) because it has the power for change. But to do that, those individuals need to be responsible for their own hope. Hope requires the imagination to believe that better change is possible. But when you face the reality that the better change you have been hoping for doesn't materialize, it's hard to keep having it, no matter how much you want to. I know millions of people are feeling that today. I've seen a lot of people say this is why we all still have work to do and focus on the future. While that is true, we have to grieve the loss of hope. And bit by bit, we will have the strength to re-find that hope, embrace our collective imagination, and face a different reality than the one we hoped for.

In 2017, we made a strategic decision to intentionally focus 30% of Criterion’s work on the intersection of finance and gender-based violence (GBV). We have seen a growing interest from many ecosystem actors eager to learn more about our work using finance to address GBV. In response to this enthusiasm, we will be organizing workshops to share lessons from our expertise in the field. Join us on 3 December as we take a deep dive into how finance can be used as a tool to reduce #GBV. https://lnkd.in/daxfTuqq Joy Anderson Debbi Evans Susie Pan

As fields develop, boundaries are often created, outlining who is “in” and who is “out” of the field. There are power dynamics at work determining whose voice matters. Often it takes intentional actions from someone inside the field to use their power to hold the door open for others. These actions can take many shapes. An invitation to connect is rarely extended even though it is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to catalyze inclusion. Grace is one of our core values. It enables us to connect with people, recognize the inherent value in everyone and trust the potential that serendipitous connections hold. It enables us to see possibilities where others might see obstacles. We must expand the field and remove barriers to participation, creating a space in which diverse actors shape discussions in new and unexpected ways. When was the last time you extended an invitation? When was the last time you accepted one? Watch this space - we'll be extending an invitation to all of you very soon. #grace #fieldbuilders #genderlensinvesting #powerdynamics #reimaginefinance

On stage at #socap24 yesterday: the New Capitalism Project on how to fund #systemschange (as compared to just investing in projects that “hope to add up to systems change”)

Come join the ARISE Consortium (Criterion Institute , 2X Global, and Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs) and Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada to recognize the progress and success Canadian CSOs have made in the last few years. We will hear from those who have worked within the translation function, bridging the gap between finance and gender. And we will celebrate successes, acknowledge challenges, and build momentum for the next phase of work for Canadian civil society organizations to engage with finance. https://lnkd.in/d5u_ZjaR Equality Fund

💫 Gender-lens investing is imperfect but applying a gender lens to investing makes perfect sense. 🙏 Over the past 2 years I've had the privilege to work with some of the leaders of the #genderlensinvesting movement. 🤯 I've learnt a ton, yet I still need to re-organize my thoughts quite often, as both gender and investing are complex and evolving constantly. Here are my reflections right now: Gender-lens investing is imperfect because 😔 A lot of gender-lens #investment options are terrible. I was looking for some to invest in myself recently, and all that two major banks could offer me were #ETFs with Meta as the main listing. No thank you. 🙄 ⏩ We need better gender-lens investing options, including in #publicmarkets. 😔 A lot of #myths still exist: When you talk about gender, many investors zone out and think you're asking them to forsake #profits, while others believe that applying a gender lens to their investments means limiting #dealflow by gender, and only investing in women-led companies. ⏩ Please do not limit your deal flow by #gender ( 👀 looking at all those investors contributing to 98% of VC funds going to only male teams) and consider gender as one dimension alongside profits. 😔 Gender-lens investing is getting a ton of scrutiny, often not quire fairly. See the comments for links to Financial Times pieces on this. ⏩ We need better ways to assess the performance of gender-lens investments and recognize that #GLI is still 'work in progress'. Applying a gender lens when #investing makes perfect sense 🎇 because 💡 It allows an investor to #understand the investment better. What are gender dimensions in the sector, community, country context? What is the gender composition of a company's leadership, workforce, client base? How does gender play into its branding, advertising and market reach? Understanding gender dimensions is a way to more fully understand the investment, including associated #risks. 💡 It allows investors to not only make money but to simultaneously contribute to a society that is more just. In a world where there is no scarcity of investment opportunities, why wouldn't you choose one that also aligns with your #values? 💡 #Clients and those providing the capital (not only high-net worth individuals, but also 'normal' banking customers, contributors of pension funds etc.) have a right to and increasingly expect to understand not only what profits an investment is making but also how it aligns with their values. 💙 In my next post, I'll share a couple of initiatives and resources that I particularly like on this topic. Let me know in the comments if you have a recommendation of what I should include. 🙏 #FeministFinance

We're at #SOCAP24 this week - some great discussions yesterday. We particularly enjoyed listening to TransCap Initiative on #systemsinvesting, and this resonated in particular: "Adopting a systems lens means we'll see more, but it doesn't stop there. If we want to change a systems, we need to change the practice of the system." If you want to talk about shifting #power dynamics through investment practice, #genderlensinvesting or systems investing - come say hi! Amma Lartey Susie Pan Joy Anderson Janet Schieferdecker, MBA SOCAP Global #strategicphilanthropy #impactinvesting #criterioninstitute #powerinpractice #reimaginefinance

How can we create systemic change that lasts? At Criterion, we’ve partnered with many visionary organizations committed to answering that question—and on November 20th, we’re hosting a gathering to share our journey and celebrate our achievements from the past year. If you’ve ever wanted to understand how Criterion drives impact or are looking for new collaboration opportunities, this event is for you. Join us as we share our unique approach, discuss what’s next, and explore ways to work together. The event will be available in two time zones. Learn more and register here: [https://lnkd.in/dre6v6Rh]

The fifth and final strategy in the TOOLKIT for using finance as a tool for social change is about #portfolio construction and reframing the measurement benchmarks used by investors to determine success. Did any new insights come up for you as you were reading these prompt questions? Please share them in the comments below! #criterioninstitute #reimaginefinance #socialchange #impactinvesting #innovativefinance #systemschange #IMM #metrics Joy Anderson Susie Pan Pablo Freund

For years we have been using TOOLKIT training to help people unpack the logic of finance and see how it could be used to generate new possibilities for social change. Here is strategy four, which is all about managing the business of #investing, with some prompts for imaginative thinking and strategic innovation. #criterioninstitute #reimaginefinance #socialchange #impactinvesting #innovativefinance #systemschange Susie Pan Joy Anderson Pablo Freund