Articles by James Militzer
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Wednesday
November 23
2016Social Investing’s Pension Problem: Just a Speedbump, or Something More Ominous?
The respected Center for Retirement Research at Boston College says public pension funds (a $5 trillion market in the U.S.) should avoid social investing because, basically, it doesn’t deliver competitive returns or have much social impact. This bleak assessment runs directly counter to the seemingly endless series of reports attesting to the sector’s competitive returns and growing momentum. How big a setback is this?
- Categories
- Investing
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Guest Articles
Friday
November 11
2016James Militzer / Scott Anderson / Kyle Poplin
Weekly Roundup: Social Impact Sector Reacts to Trump With Fear, Uncertainty … Room for Hope?
It may be hard to believe – and even harder for some to accept – but Donald Trump is now the most powerful man in the world. And like many, the social business and global development world was, shall we say, taken aback by his victory this week. As the new reality sinks in and leaders and commentators try to make sense of his election, we’ve compiled a few of their more memorable reactions.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise
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Friday
November 4
2016James Militzer / Kyle Poplin / Scott Anderson
Weekly Roundup: Jill Stein’s SRI Controversy; Culture Change as Opportunity; Mobile Money’s Hungry
The hubbub about Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein's insufficiently green investments might seem like a tempest in a teapot ... but it could signal an important shift; changing attitudes and rising disposable incomes in Kenya are opening possibilities for insurance firms; and research shows mobile money's driving a price revolution in international remittances. That, and more, in this week's Roundup.
- Categories
- Energy, Health Care, Investing, Technology
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Guest Articles
Friday
October 28
2016Scott Anderson / James Militzer / Kyle Poplin
Weekly Roundup: Pondering Vice President Bill Gates (Thanks, WikiLeaks), How Buyers Lag Sellers, and FICO Going Big – Real Big
Can you imagine Vice President Bill Gates? We can. That's only part of our Weekly Roundup, which also includes peeks at consumer purchases – or lack therof – from social enterprises; an effort to increase access to credit for over 3 billion people around the globe; and a program that had money, recognition and everything it needed to succeed – except customers.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise
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Monday
October 24
2016‘Not just for profit – but for survival’: CEO Amit Bouri discusses the GIIN’s bold call for all investors to tackle the SDGs
The Global Impact Investing Network launched an audacious campaign last month to mobilize investors behind the Sustainable Development Goals. Declaring that “this investment is not just for profit – but for survival,” GIIN CEO Amit Bouri asked that “every investor not already involved make at least one SDG-focused impact investment” – and called on them to start immediately. We spoke with Bouri about the challenges and opportunities that will arise if the investing community heeds the call.
- Categories
- Investing
- Tags
- impact investing, SDGs
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Guest Articles
Friday
October 21
2016Scott Anderson / Kyle Poplin / James Militzer
Weekly Roundup: A 1,030-Enterprise Survey, a Cuba/U.S. Collaboration, and a ‘Big Bet’ Primer
An expansive survey of social enterprises, a new health care collaboration between some old Cold War rivals, and an ambitious exploration of the challenges of "big bets" in philanthropy highlight this week's roundup of social business and global development news.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Education, Health Care, Social Enterprise
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Friday
October 14
2016Kyle Poplin / Scott Anderson / James Militzer
Weekly Roundup: $5 Beats Free, SunFunder Rises, and Asia’s Investors Love Impact
Why it's not crazy for a global health organization to refuse free vaccines, where the world's most socially conscious investors live, which major funder might be planning to alter some old investment restrictions, and what's needed to support the Sustainable Development Goals. That and more; it's all here in our Weekly Roundup.
- Categories
- Health Care
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Interviews
Wednesday
October 12
2016Leveraging Technology for Good: An Interview With June Sugiyama, Director of the Vodafone Americas Foundation
With its parent corporation ranked as one of the top telecom companies in the world, Vodafone Americas Foundation's focus is a natural fit: "We support projects that use technology for social impact," says June Sugiyama, the foundation's director. In this Q&A, recorded at the SOCAP16 conference, she discusses the foundation's multifaceted work.
- Categories
- Technology