Activating Capital for Justice With Debra Schwartz

A virtual fireside chat on the imperative to activate capital for justice with MacArthur Foundation’s Debra Schwartz.

In a recent blog postDebra Schwartz, Managing Director of Impact Investments at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, asserts that “at their best, impact investments deliver capital that aims for justice. They help build and fuel responsive, mission-driven institutions that meet essential needs. They enable innovation and rapid action to tackle urgent problems and seize opportunities for social, economic and environmental progress. They bridge financial and market gaps to empower families, entrepreneurs and communities that mainstream financial institutions and firms too often marginalize or leave behind.”

In this special, live fireside chat and audience Q&A, Impact Entrepreneur’s Laurie Lane-Zucker welcomes Debra Schwartz to discuss MacArthur’s work in building the field of impact investing and activating capital for justice. We will discuss, among other topics:

  • How conventional finance has fallen short for communities, families and critical needs – historically and today
  • The urgent need to transform our existing system of finance and investment to become purposefully inclusive, innovative and catalytic, actively advancing economic, social, and environmental change by being more flexible, patient and risk-tolerant
  • How U.S. community development finance institutions (CDFIs) trace their roots to civil rights and social justice movements of 50+ years ago and pioneering impact investors seeking to fight inequality and injustice
  • Recent MacArthur investments and ongoing collaborative initiatives that seek to build a more just, equitable and resilient future, locally, nationally and globally — including the Catalytic Capital Consortium and Benefit Chicago.

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM EDT

Location: Virtual

Date: Thursday, September 10, 2020