Boston Impact Initiative

? Let’s Build an Equitable Economy Together ? As 2024 winds down, your support can empower even more entrepreneurs in 2025. Entrepreneurs like Dr. Natasha Holmes, CEO of And Still We Rise, LLC Locked out of traditional funding, Dr. Holmes faced predatory loans that stalled her dreams. Then BII stepped in. With access to flexible capital, she transformed her solo mental health practice into a thriving company with nearly 80 employees, serving over 1,000 individuals in 2023 alone. ?? Your gift can help create more success stories like this. Together, we can uplift entrepreneurs of color and strengthen their communities. ?? Give today: https://lnkd.in/e47N--Dg ?? Because when entrepreneurs thrive, communities rise. ?? #YearEndGiving #EquityInAction #ImpactInvesting #SupportEntrepreneurs #bostonimpactinitative

?? We are?proud to spotlight our portfolio company, El Planeta led by javier marin, for its dedication to accessible health education. Through the Salud podcast, El Planeta is bringing culturally relevant, Spanish-language health information to Hispanic communities across the Northeast, tackling issues from COVID-19 and diabetes to mental health and more. ????El Planeta’s work is bridging critical healthcare gaps, empowering nearly a million Latinos in Massachusetts with accurate, relatable content. Check out the full article to learn more about this impactful initiative: https://lnkd.in/gJ9jE47Q #BostonImpactInitiative #ElPlaneta #HealthEquity #LatinoHealth #SocialImpact

Hats off to the Coalition for an Equitable Economy on its Inaugural Premiere Collaborators Award Ceremony, celebrating Massachusetts leaders advancing an equitable economy. Much gratitude for recognizing BII as a capital innovator and our CEO, Betty Francisco. Since its founding in 2020, CEE has been a powerful force, bringing together entrepreneurs, financing organizations, activists, and advocates invested in providing equitable access to capital and resources for Black, Latino and Indigenous communities to create a fair and inclusive economy for all. Congratulations to our ED Tracye Whitfield and team for organizing a beautiful event and inspiring gathering that reminds us that we’re shorter together. Glynn Lloyd, Nicole Obi, Amine Benali, Jeff Hamilton, Joe Kriesberg, Lawrence Andrews

Here’s a closer look at last week’s BII Fund Manager Cohort Alumni convening in Boston! It was so inspiring to spend three days with such a determined and innovative group of people who are all dedicated to moving capital into their communities. Together, we laughed, cried, learned, and forged strong relationships that will support our movement of community-based impact investors. Thank you, again, to our attendees and supporters for making this possible! Photos: Aiyah Josiah-Faeduwor, MBA,MCP, @arewefreelance

We extend our utmost gratitude to Regina Sarpong for her work at BII over the last year and a half. She is a joy to work with and will certainly be missed. We wish her good luck in her next adventure!

We are deeply grateful to the BII Fund Manager Cohort Alumni from across North America who joined us for a 3-day convening in Boston last week! We spent time getting to know Nubian Square, Roxbury; learning from each other about a variety of topics like Liberatory Economics, Trauma-Informed Investing Practices, and Telling our Stories; and sharing our research on what our movement needs to grow with funders and supporters. More updates and photos to come! Thank you to all who attended and to the supporters who made our convening possible: Center for Cultural Innovation, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Foley Hoag LLP, eBay Foundation.?

We’re energized by the incredible connections made at our Impact Finance Reception during #SOCAP24, co-hosted with BII, RSF | Regenerative Social Finance, Mission Driven Finance? and Social Finance. The week culminated beautifully at WES' annual investee partner gathering, where the power of community truly shone through. In times of uncertainty, gathering together with mission-aligned partners reminds us of the importance of community and solidarity. These gatherings aren't just about learning and collaboration – they're about sustaining the movement for justice, liberation and democracy.

# Made by History, Made for this Moment: Reflections from #OFN40 Last month, the Boston Impact Initiative team joined 2,500 CDFI leaders, practitioners, and partners at the historic 40th anniversary Opportunity Finance Network Conference. As an emerging CDFI, this milestone gathering offered us invaluable insights into the field's rich history while illuminating the path forward for innovative community development finance. ?? Made by History The conference opened with moving reflections on how CDFIs emerged from the civil rights era, when dedicated community leaders created innovative financial solutions to address systemic inequities. This origin story resonates deeply with BII’s mission, as we work to expand our model for place-based impact investing that addresses the growing racial wealth divide in Massachusetts and beyond. As our sector faces increasing demands to address persistent wealth gaps and support small business resilience, #OFN40 reinforced that CDFIs are uniquely positioned to deliver. The combination of deep community relationships, proven investing expertise with a trust-based approach - makes us essential partners in building an inclusive economy. As an emerging CDFI, we're excited to contribute fresh perspectives while learning from the decades of wisdom within this field. ??Looking Ahead The energy at #OFN40 was electric, with both established and emerging CDFIs ready to embrace our next chapter while honoring our roots. For BII, the conference reinforced our commitment to: 1. Building authentic community connections as we grow 2. Investing in systems and talent to increase our impact 3. Collaborating across the CDFI industry to embrace integrated capital as a solution 4. Developing innovative approaches to measuring and communicating our impact As we observe 40 years of the community development finance movement, we're inspired by the path blazed by CDFI pioneers and energized about contributing to its future. The challenges facing our communities require both the grassroots wisdom of our predecessors and the sophisticated tools of community finance. We're grateful to join this transformative movement at such a pivotal moment and thankful to OFN for bringing our industry together for this milestone celebration.

Before October heads on out of here ??♂? we wanted to make sure we highlighted National Women’s Small Business Month, a time to celebrate the incredible women who are reshaping industries and driving innovation! ?? One standout leader in our portfolio is Nicole Ledoux, founder and CEO of 88 Acres, who’s on a mission to create delicious, allergy-friendly snacks that everyone can enjoy. ?? With a focus on inclusive, sustainable ingredients and supporting local farms, Nicole is redefining what it means to build a food business that nourishes both people and communities. Let’s continue supporting and uplifting women-owned businesses like 88 Acres, not only in October but all year round! ??? Watch Nicole's video from our latest CEO Roundtable here --> https://lnkd.in/e-nWnpBj #WomensSmallBusinessMonth #88Acres #WomenInBusiness #FoodInnovation #SupportWomenOwned

?? Boston Impact Initiative is proud to announce that our Investment Director, Henry Noel Jr., recently served as a judge at the Cleantech Open, the world's largest clean technology accelerator program. Since its inception, the CleanTech Open has supported over 2,000 early-stage innovators, helping them refine their business models, engage investors, and secure their first customers. This year, Henry had the privilege of meeting companies providing innovative solutions led by a diverse group of entrepreneurs dedicated to addressing environmental and energy challenges. Congratulations to all the participants for their hard work and groundbreaking ideas. Together, we can foster a sustainable future! ?? #CleanTechOpen #Sustainability #Innovation #DiversityInTech #BostonImpactInitiative