IMPACT INVESTOR CASE STUDY: “LINDA SHORELY”

Year Started Impact Investing: 2010

Primary Focus: Private equity, debt and venture capital impact funds

Background: Linda is an accredited investor who seeks out professionally managed funds that do seed, early stage venture, later stage venture and private equity investments in mission-driven businesses. The impact funds that Linda invests in generally have minimums starting at $250,000. When Linda invests in impact funds through his donor advised fund (DAF), minimums start at $25,000.

Impact Trigger

Linda's background is in law and during her career she's had the opportunity to work with some of the most disruptive game changers in technology. In 2010, she began to understand that the “real deal” entrepreneurs were those moved by something other than making money. They had a bigger mission. Their satisfaction came from using their creativity and energy toward solving an identified problem as opposed to simply making money. She also started to notice the growing success of companies that are creatively solving for social and environmental challenges, whether in Clean Technology or Fintech (financial technology). It deeply resonated with Linda when she saw that an innovative and sustainable business model could do “financially well while doing good.” This intersection of mission and financial return had staying power. It just made sense and Linda began to revise her worldview on the meaning of money. This awareness began to reshape a vision for a future that she wanted for her family and that she wanted to participate in.

Investment Approach

Linda now believes there is no better opportunity than the present to use private capital to solve massive global problems. And she believes impact can actually be the key to finding growth and value in an increasingly crowded marketplace. It's become clear that there is exciting and real potential with companies seeking to solve social and environmental problems. For example, there are more than 2,000 certified B Corps companies globally, redefining success in business because of having a social and environmental mission and not despite it. Some of the fastest growing and most recognizable companies in the United States are B Corps, such as Warby Parker and Toms Footwear.