By Jory Cohen, Director of Finance and Impact Investment The past two years have been a reminder of devastation, turmoil, and fear across the globe. This past year was also tumultuous for Inspirit’s portfolio. In 2021, energy (primarily fossil fuels) and financials were the biggest sector performers in Canada. Given Inspirit’s focus on companies that … Continued
The Afro Caribbean Business Network Foundation Canada (ACBN) has officially announced a $250,000 investment by Inspirit Foundation to the ACBN Microloan program. The Microloan program provides low interest loans to Black entrepreneurs, ranging from $2,500 to $25,000. One of the first of its kind in Ontario, this community lending program helps amplify and accelerate the … Continued
Read the in-depth feature on our journey to a 100% impact portfolio. Board Chair Mitchell Anderson and Jory Cohen, Director of Finance and Impact Investment, share the strategy and the practical steps in this Future of Good story by Gabe Oatley. Read about our impact portfolio makeover here. An excerpt from the article: In 2014 and 2015, the foundation made its first impact investments in several … Continued
By Jory Cohen, Director of Finance and Impact Investment A lot has happened since my last post. As the pandemic’s fourth wave continues to persist, Jill and I welcomed our second (and almost certainly final!) baby into the world. Crosley was born in early September, and while we never really set out to do this, Jill and … Continued
The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Bill Blair, announced an investment of up to $4.5 million over 5 years for the expansion of the YMCAs of Quebec’s Alternative Suspension program, a dropout prevention program that helps at-risk youth, aged 12-17, participate in personalized activities as an alternative to a traditional school … Continued
By Jory Cohen, Director of Finance and Impact Investment With a first dose in my arm, I’m feeling like we’re finally seeing the first rays of light at the end of the tunnel. There’s still a long way to go until we shed the masks and social distancing, but the first dose definitely injected a … Continued
Inspirit Foundation’s 100% Impact Portfolio is a Finalist, 2021 Responsible Investment Association (RIA) Award for Integration. Launched in 2020, the RIA Leadership Awards recognize the leadership and excellence of RIA members in advancing responsible investment in Canada. With a commitment to activating 100% of our asset for impact, Inspirit’s unique portfolio received the second-highest score in the Integration category. Nominees in this category are advancing responsible investment practices among investment professionals. … Continued
In May 2020, SKETCH, a not-for-profit that works with youth navigating marginalization and poverty through the arts, launched Project Home–a capital campaign to purchase its studios located in Artscape Youngplace in Toronto. Their $4 million campaign goal involved two revenue streams: fundraising and issuing community bonds to the public. Inspirit Foundation invested in these Home … Continued
In 2016, Inspirit launched Fully Committed: Our Roadmap Towards a 100% Impact Portfolio. The roadmap articulates our goals and principles for impact investing. We then developed our Investment Policy Statement (IPS), which charts a path to achieving those goals. The IPS identifies key factors and processes informing our investment decisions while providing a set of … Continued
