Signals tend to reveal emergent phenomena sooner so that changemakers can turn their attention to possible opportunities, disruptions, innovations and developments that affect their missions, programs and work. Signals can become mainstream and evolve into trends — when a signal hits a certain threshold, for example, it might become a trend in the broader society or sector, and begin to diffuse rapidly.
Studies show that women and nonbinary-owned businesses typically have a higher return on investment. Increasing their access to capital to sustain their business gives them more economic freedom and opportunities to improve their communities.
How foundations, pension plans, organizations and individuals invest their assets has the power to fight climate change, nurture responsible government and drive social change. Raising awareness of responsible options can push investors towards sustainable options.
With inflation and reduced donations, some charities are looking for new ways to earn revenue. In parallel, a growing number of big institutional purchasers are looking to “buy social” — expanding the market opportunity for charities, non-profits and social enterprises to offer products and services.
Black-led, Black-serving organizations receive about 0.7 percent of Canadian philanthropic dollars. The IRP’s boost in support could help them gain greater access to the country’s social innovation ecosystem.
Many Canadian foundations, pension funds and individual investors are trying to align their investments with their values by getting rid of fossil fuels or divesting stocks invested in corporate laggards. But many find it tough to assess whether their investment managers are truly investing in a values-aligned way or just “greenwashing” their portfolios.
