(THREAD) @ImpactAlpha challenges #impact investors to scale up their efforts 10X. To which I say: Yes! #Investors can do more, but there’s also #policy and #civics to consider. I want to share some ways at @_BlueHaven we’re addressing the #pandemic.
1/ On the #investment side, we’re checking in with #entrepreneurs and orgs we support, helping them keep their teams intact, thinking through costs, etc. (Check out @LaurenSCochran’s conversation with @annefieldonline: bit.ly/2XSdX8D)
2/ Bridge loans to #impact companies can also help. We’re excited about our investment in the Open Road Alliance Fund (@openroadtweets), which offers these to orgs affected by #COVID19 all over the world. bit.ly/2yavbUt
3/ We’re supporting mission-driven companies through the @ImpactAssets #COVID Response Fund, which is a hybrid of rapid-response #charitable giving & flexible #impinv. bit.ly/2xkchKl
4/ On the #grant side, we're listening to folks like @philxbuchanan and being as flexible as we can, removing fund restrictions, moving up (and increasing) disbursements. Thanks @ABLImpact for best practices. bit.ly/35kRuTI
5/ We've also formed some new partnerships. We're thrilled to be supporting @GiveDirectly in their domestic & international efforts. bit.ly/3aS5LrY
6/ After looking at several cool COVID #impinv funds, we ended up coming back to the fact that #cash may be king. Unconditional cash transfers are particularly well-suited to what's needed right now. Hence @GiveDirectly
7/ I'm excited about these efforts, but they are a drop in the bucket wrt what's *really* needed now (and all along, actually): better civic engagement, government transparency and tax policy.
8/ This is why @_BlueHaven focuses on civics and #policy, like protecting #votingrights and encouraging #student civic engagement. So important! bit.ly/2xj7Ijs
9/ And fighting the #corruption and lack of #transparency that normalizes anti-democratic behavior. Check out Issue One. bit.ly/2WcFjDY
9/ Also, is universal child care feeling a little more important these days? A #wealthtax could help fund that, as well as #studentloan debt relief, infrastructure, tax credits for low-income families, public health…see more here: bit.ly/35h9zlg
10/ Oh, BTW: many of those who would be affected by a wealth tax have barely been impacted by the #COVID19 crisis… #wealthtax
12/ It won’t happen overnight, but these are challenging—and game-changing—times. The sooner we prioritize policy reform and dedicate more resources to #civicengagement, the more productively we’ll be using ALL our dollars to build a better future. /END
