I’ve recently been part of a few discussions about the pros and cons of fracking. It’s a huge issue in my hometown; citizens there recently had a ballot item that would have banned fracking, and they voted it down. Fracking creates jobs. And it pollutes groundwater. It’s not sustainable. But do you know what an… [Read More]
Blog
Category: Socially Responsible Investing
The problem with social media . . .
. . . is simple – there’s too darn much of it. In the olden days, you could either send letters or show up in person. Then the telephone was invented, and you could send letters, show up, or call. Eventually, it became rude to drop in on someone, and then everyone got email. So… [Read More]
Crowdfunding for investors and entrepreneurs
Let me start out by saying that the SEC hasn’t finalized all of its rules on crowdfunding. Under the JOBS Act of 2012, the SEC is to set rules allowing businesses to attract investments from small investors. The model is Kickstarter, but with one huge difference: Kickstarter does not raise investment capital. Instead, the funds… [Read More]
Donor-advised funds increase in 2012
Donor-advised funds are major players in the charity world. These are foundation funds managed by an outside organization (often a community foundation), but the person who donates the money chooses what charities will receive the money. The National Philanthropic Trust reported on the results of these funds last year, and the news was good. Assets… [Read More]
The Basics of Social Impact Bonds
There’s an interesting new development in the endless search for yield: the Social Impact Bond. The idea is that the bond will finance a charitable program, and the investors will be repaid if the program hits its goals. There’s a lot of talk about it, although very few of these bonds have actually been issued,… [Read More]
