Social investment and impact investing - NPC

The future of blended finance and affordable loans for charities
NPC have been awarded the tender to produce an independent review for the government on the future of subsidy for blended finance. What exactly is subsidy for blended finance?

A big year for social impact and for NPC
For us at NPC, 2022 is our 20th year of existence. 20 years working with, and as part of, this terrific charity and philanthropy sector to help it maximise its social impact. Already this year we are excited by lots of things we have upcoming.

Increasing the positive impact of all investments
Snowball, a fund management firm that seeks to maximise social and environmental impact, sets out how their new framework measures and assesses the impact of an investment.

Is impact investing just ‘cuddly capitalism’?
'Cuddly capitalism' needs a clear way of assessing if it's doing good. At NPC we have long argued that to attract more capital towards solving the world's most pressing social and environmental issues, investors need more transparency around returns; both financial and impact.

Auditing the impact practice of ‘sustainable’ investments
More than a quarter of the assets run by US fund managers are deemed as ‘sustainable’. How is 'sustainable' defined and who is keeping an eye on the credentials and the impact practice of these funds?

Lessons from the Connect Fund
Plum Lomax, NPC's Principal for Impact Investing introduces our work with the Connect Fund and their efforts to build the social investment market in England.


The Ballad of Ronnie (Cohen)
U2's Bono and a private equity firm seem like an unlikely pair to solve the question of impact measurement. Nevertheless, they are having a go. What pitfalls do they need to avoid?

Post-Peterborough, let’s keep debating the value of SIBs
A few weeks ago there was a lot of champagne popping about the world’s first Social Impact Bond as the results of its evaluation were released. But we should be cautious about leaping to conclusions, Dan Corry warns.

Long read: Towards a tipping point for impact investment
There is much to be excited about with the progress of the impact investment market. But there are still challenges to surmount. Tris Lumley talks through the who the what and the how of overcoming these barriers.

Does the Commission on the Donor Experience promote donor-centric or donor-led fundraising?
The recent report by the Commission on the Donor Experience has been received by both applause, and a thread of concern. In many ways, the report is a valuable resource for the sector, but it fails to adequately address the fundamental principle of fundraising.

How can philanthropy support children in care?
Children in care and care leavers are some of the most vulnerable young people in society, with their outcomes still incredibly bleak in comparison to their peers. In recent research we outlined the type of work funders can support in order to help improve looked-after childrens' life chances.