GIFT Resource

LOCUS Local Impact Investing Accelerator

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About 

In 2021, four Indiana foundations and GIFT Technical Assistance Program, a signature program of the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance (IPA), launched the Indiana Local Impact Investing Accelerator, a peer-learning cohort designed to help community foundations invest portions of their endowments in their home communities. The effort seeks to grow the amount of capital available in the state for community needs like housing, small businesses, clean energy, and community health.  

"Community Leadership means you're identifying and tackling the most critical issues in your community"

Deb Markley, Senior Vice President, LOCUS 


The Accelerator, designed by LOCUS Impact Investing—a national nonprofit that helps foundations and philanthropic coalitions invest locally for community impact—was met with such enthusiasm that a third Investing Accelerator will commence in January 2023.   

Local impact investing is an emergent practice with no one-size-fits-all approach. Programs can vary widely from foundation to foundation and region to region.  This 10-month capacity building initiative is designed for community foundations ready to embrace their role as “investor” and realize the full potential of their philanthropic assets to build local wealth and improve communities across Indiana. 

 

What Colleagues are Saying

"We see this as the next phase of community leadership and growth and maturity of the community foundation."

Dawn Brown, President of the Community Foundation of Grant County

"By the Lilly GIFT VII process, we're now centered as a community development facilitator and convener for our community. And so that began to really cause us to think about the foundation in a different way, in a much broader way. And also caused us to think 'how can we enhance the services we offer?' and that led naturally to impact investments."

John Niederman, Board Member, Huntington County Community Foundation

 

What to Expect

The Accelerator will provide the “how to” of local impact investing in a supportive and facilitated setting. Participants are encouraged to test strategies and use a learning-by-doing approach towards a first investment. Designed as a cohort learning experience, the Accelerator will also provide participants the opportunity to develop connections and relationships with peers and hear stories of progress and emerging strategies from colleagues in the field. To do this, the LOCUS team will walk IPA members through educational activities and workshops in three program components: 

  • Comprehensive Team Coaching
  • Guided Stakeholder and Community Engagement
  • Peer Learning and Action Workshops

As a result of participating in cohorts 1 and 2 of the accelerator, many Indiana community foundations now have board-approved impact investing policies and are facilitating fruitful conversations with local nonprofits and partners about opportunities to make a difference through impact investing.

For more information on what to expect, click here

 

Registration

Dates for Full-Day Workshops in 2023: 
*dates and times are subject to change

Workshop I:
Tuesday, February 22 | 1:00 - 5:00pm (ET) 
Wednesday, February 23 | 8:30am - 12:30pm (ET)

Workshop II:
Wednesday, May 24 | 1:00 - 5:00pm (ET) 
Thursday, May 25 | 8:30am - 12:30pm (ET)

Workshop III:
Tuesday, August 23 | 1:00 - 5:00pm (ET)
Wednesday, August 24 | 8:30am - 12:30pm (ET)

For more information or if you are interested in joining the 2023 Accelerator, please contact JoAnna Ness, director of GIFT programs, for next steps.

 

About LOCUS Impact Investing

At LOCUS, we believe philanthropy should work alongside communities to grow economies that work for all. A growing, foundation-led movement is recognizing the catalytic potential for their capital to drive equitable prosperity. We are a national nonprofit that partners with philanthropies to discover their role as community investors, activate their endowments, and deploy assets for community impact. 

The LOCUS team is committed to meeting our partners where they are, helping them realize the vision of where they want to be by educating stakeholders, developing comprehensive impact investment strategies, and servicing investment funds and portfolios. 

 

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