Impact Investing Associations & Alliances

Main Industry Associations

The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN)
The world’s main impact investing association, the GIIN builds critical infrastructure and supports activities, education, and research to help accelerate the development of a coherent impact investing industry. Responsible for creating IRIS, the most commonly used impact metrics and the organiser of the industry’s largest conference, it’s worth taking plenty of time exploring all the research available on the GIIN’s website.

Principles For Responsible Investment (PRI)
In partnership with the UN this independent organisation that aims to understand the investment implications of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and to support its international network of investor signatories in incorporating these factors into their investment and ownership decisions. Funded primarily via an annual membership fee in addition to grants from governments, foundations and other international organisations.

The European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA)
A network of venture philanthropy organisations committed to practising and promoting high-engagement grant making and social investment in Europe. The network’s members include venture philanthropy funds, grant-making foundations, private equity firms, professional service firms, philanthropy advisors and business schools. Currently the association has over 210 members from 29 countries with three strategic objectives: increase funding and expertise coming into the Venture Philanthropy and Social Investment space; increase the effectiveness of Venture Philanthropists and Social Investors and co-create a well-functioning ecosystem for societal impact.

Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG)
An independent global steering group established in 2015 to catalyse impact investment and entrepreneurship to benefit people and planet. The GSG currently has 21 countries plus the EU as members bringing together leaders from the worlds of finance, business, and philanthropy. By 2020 it aims to have 30 countries with a vibrant impact investment ecosystem, a $300B market size (up from $150B in 2017) and 1 an improvement in the planet and 1 billion poor lives.

The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
Financial markets need clear, comprehensive, high-quality information on the impacts of climate change including the risks and opportunities presented by rising temperatures, climate-related policy, and emerging technologies in our changing world. The Financial Stability Board created the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) to improve and increase reporting of climate-related financial information.

Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TFND)
A global, market-led initiative with the mission to develop and deliver a risk management and disclosure framework for organisations to report and act on evolving nature-related risks, with the ultimate aim to support a shift in global financial flows away from nature-negative outcomes and toward nature-positive outcomes. The TNFD framework is intended for use globally by corporates and financial institutions of all sizes.

Main Industry Alliances

Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC)
An independent global steering group established in 2015 to catalyse impact investment and entrepreneurship to benefit people and planet. The GSG currently has 21 countries plus the EU as members bringing together leaders from the worlds of finance, business, and philanthropy. By 2020 it aims to have 30 countries with a vibrant impact investment ecosystem, a $300B market size (up from $150B in 2017) and 1 an improvement in the planet and 1 billion poor lives.

Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance (NZAOA)
Convened by the UN, the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance seeks to transform member investment portfolios to net zero GHG emissions by 2050. 29 institutional investors make up the alliance, representing over $5 trillion in assets.

Net Zero Investment Consultants Initiative (NZICI)
Twelve investment consulting firms, responsible for advising institutional asset owners on assets of approximately USD 10 trillion, launched the Net Zero Investment Consultants Initiative (NZICI) late in 2021. Through nine specific action points, they commit to supporting the goal of global net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner.

ESG Data Convergence Project
A large alliance of leading private markets LPs and GPs have partnered to align on a standardized set of ESG metrics and mechanism for comparative reporting.  The Project’s objective is to streamline the private investment industry’s historically fragmented approach to collecting and reporting ESG data in order to create a critical mass of meaningful, performance-based, comparable ESG data from private companies.

Other Associations

Acumen
Acumen seeks out the world’s most innovative entrepreneurs whose game-changing innovations are disrupting poverty. We invest patient capital in them, providing the flexibility and security to grow their businesses and reach as many poor customers as possible. We also equip them with the tools, networks, technical assistance and strategic guidance needed to succeed and scale into long-term solutions to poverty.

United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
The lead UN development agency responsible for the founding of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015.

UN Global Compact
An initiative based on voluntary CEO commitments to implement universal sustainability principles and to take steps to support UN goals. The organisation works with offices throughout the UN to build capacity to work better with the private sector.

United Nations Environment Programme – Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)
A partnership between United Nations Environment and the global financial sector created in the wake of the 1992 Earth Summit with a mission to promote sustainable finance. More than 200 financial institutions, including banks, insurers, and investors, work with UN Environment to understand today’s environmental, social and governance challenges, why they matter to finance, and how to actively participate in addressing them.

European Commission Expert Group on Social Entrepreneurship (GECES)
A consultative multi-stakeholder group established to examine the progress of the EC’s social business measures. Made up of representatives of the Member States, local authorities, social entrepreneurs, the banking and finance sector and the academic and university sector.

Centre for Citizenship, Enterprise & Governance (CCEG)
A Think Tank who aims to promote a currency of non-financial value, to achieve parity with financial currency, and thereby articulate total value.

Share Action
A charity that has spent the last 12 years building the movement for responsible investment. We’re now taking the movement worldwide, to transform the investment system and unlock its potential to be a force for good.

Omidyar Network
Invests in entrepreneurs who share our commitment to advancing social good at the pace and scale the world needs today.

Skoll Foundation
Drives large-scale change by investing in, connecting, and celebrating social entrepreneurs and the innovators solving the world’s most pressing problems.

Impact Management Project
A network of leading organisations working together to mainstream impact measurement and management.

Net Impact
Through over 350 chapters world wide, Net Impact mobilises next-generation leaders to use their skills and careers for positive impact.