Measuring Impact with Joanna Kuang & Leila Mengesha (Illumen Capital)

Raising Impact Capital with Alicia DeLia (Delia Impact Advisors)

Alicia DeLia of DeLia Impact Advisors joins the pod this week to talk about raising both grants and impact-first investments. Alicia shares why she’s passionate about getting capital to communities; how she supports leaders from diverse backgrounds to create authentic relationships with wealth holders, so fundraising doesn’t feel so transactional; and the importance of being an optimist. Timestamps: * 00:00 Breaking Down Silos in Impact Investing * 01:04 Understanding Fundraising in Impact Investing * 03:54 The Role of Investor Relations * 04:59 Alicia DeLea's Journey into Fundraising * 09:00 Resource Mobilization in Impact Investing * 11:58 Mindset and Self-Belief in Fundraising * 15:57 The Importance of Asking for More * 17:01 Defining Grants vs. Impact Investing * 20:09 A Week in the Life of a Fundraiser * 22:00 Transferable Skills in Fundraising * 25:58 The Power of Convening * 29:10 Advice for Future Fundraisers Links: * Alicia’s Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-delia-7a03936/] * DeLia Impact Advisor’s website [https://www.deliaimpactadvisors.com/] * Eric’s Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-horvath-71907932/] * Lucas’ Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasturnerowens/]

Developing Communities with Kim Lyle (Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation)

Kim Lyle of Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation joins the pod this week to talk about the importance and impact of community development finance. She shares her love for building things that don’t yet exist, passion to get money to people out there who hustle, and why green lending hits all of DBEDC’s impact areas.  Editor’s Note: Since the time of this recording, the current administration has proposed a budget bill  that would have a significantly negative impact on the availability and flow of IRA funds. At the time of this post, the bill has passed the Senate but would need to be confirmed by the Senate before going into effect. Timestamps: * 00:00 Introduction to CDFIs and Their Impact * 02:54 The Role of CDFIs in Economic Equity * 05:58 Challenges Facing CDFIs Today * 09:06 The Inflation Reduction Act and CDFIs * 11:59 Kim Lyle's Journey to Dorchester Bay * 15:09 Dorchester Bay's Mission and Operations * 17:52 Innovations in Green Lending * 21:05 Advice for Future Generations * 23:52 The Importance of Nonlinear Career Paths Links: * Kim’s Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyrlyle/] * Dorchester Bay’s website [https://www.dbedc.org/]  * Eric’s Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-horvath-71907932/] * Lucas’ Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasturnerowens/]

Direct Investing via Foundations with Smit Naik (Sorenson Impact)

Smit Naik of Sorenson Impact Institute joined the pod last fall to talk about his previous work at Gary Community Ventures, where he served as its Director of Impact Investing. We talked about the importance of deploying the right capital, at the right time, for the right purpose; how philanthropies leave so much potential impact on the table; and why even investors should approach their work with human-centered design. Smit’s new title is Managing Director of Impact Investing at the Sorenson Impact Institute where he oversees their early-stage venture capital investment strategy. Timestamps: * 00:00 Bridging the Gap: Understanding Community Needs * 01:06 Smitt Naik's Journey into Impact Investing * 02:21 The Role of Listening in Impact Investing * 04:46 Gary Community Ventures: A Theory of Change * 09:00 Innovative Approaches to Community Investment * 12:06 MySpark: Empowering Youth through Financial Choice * 15:39 The Unique Approach of Gary Community Ventures * 19:01 Innovating Foundations: Moving Wealth and Power * 20:28 A Day in the Life of an Impact Investor * 23:41 Advice for Future Impact Investors Links: * Smit’s Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/smitnaik/] * Sorenson Impact Institute website [https://sorensonimpactinstitute.com/] * Gary Community Ventures website [https://garycommunity.org/] * Eric’s Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-horvath-71907932/] * Lucas’ Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasturnerowens/]

Measuring Impact with Joanna Kuang & Leila Mengesha (Illumen Capital)

Joanna Kuang and Leila Mengesha of Illumen Capital join the pod this week to talk about how their lived experiences brought them to investing and impact measurement, the risks that could come from not managing impact, and how these types of roles barely existed a few years ago. Timestamps: * 00:00 Introduction to Impact Measurement and Management * 06:37 The Evolution of Impact Measurement and Management * 12:09 Personal Journeys into Impact Investing * 20:47 Illumen Capital's Approach to Impact Investing * 28:41 Challenges and Opportunities in Impact Measurement * 36:57 Advice for Aspiring Impact Investors Links: * Joanna’s ⁠Linkedin⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-kuang-7064a279/] * Leila’s ⁠Linkedin⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmengesha/] * Illumen Capital’s ⁠website⁠ [https://www.illumencapital.com/] * Eric’s ⁠Linkedin⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-horvath-71907932/] * Lucas’ ⁠Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasturnerowens/]

Impact VC with Erin Sietstra (Hopelab)

Eric and Lucas are joined for conversation with Erin Sietstra [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinsietstra/]from Hopelab [https://test.hopelab.org/] a researcher, investor, and convener that supports equity-centered solutions for the mental health and well-being of Brown, Black, and Queer young people. Erin, rightly points out that in a world with more diverse checkwriters you don’t need to convince investors that an issue like black maternal health is a pressing problem that needs to be solved. Tune in to hear about her work as Head of Investments at Hopelab [https://test.hopelab.org/]. Timestamps: * 00:00 Understanding Youth Mental Health and Access to Care * 01:04 Impact Venture Capital vs Traditional VC * 03:37 Hope Lab's Mission and Theory of Change * 07:11 The Role of Corporate Venture Capital * 09:07 Innovative Solutions for Youth Mental Health * 14:27 A Day in the Life of an Impact Investor * 26:09 Building Relationships in Investing * 32:55 The Power of Lived Experience in Founders Links: * Erin’s Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinsietstra/] * Hopelab's website [https://test.hopelab.org/] * Eric’s Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-horvath-71907932/] * Lucas’ Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasturnerowens/]