Case Foundation Commits $100,000 to Georgetown Global Social Enterprise Initiative

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Social Enterprise Initiative (GSEI) at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business today announced a new grant from the Case Foundation to support a range of impact investing initiatives. The funding is part of a new relationship between the GSEI and the Case Foundation. Jean Case, CEO of the foundation, currently is serving as Executive in Residence for the 2013-14 school year.

The $100,000 grant from the Case Foundation will support new efforts to explore the opportunity to grow impact investing—committing capital with the expectation of positive financial and social returns—in the United States. These efforts include a collaboration among the Global Social Enterprise Initiative and the Case Foundation in its work with the U.S. National Advisory Board to the Social Impact Investing Task Force (SIITF) established by the G8 to develop recommendations on policies that might spur the growth of impact investing. Jean Case is a member of the Advisory Board, and she leads the government engagement and communications efforts. The grant will support joint efforts to work with the Advisory Board in developing policy recommendations – informed by stakeholders in the government, nonprofit, and corporate sectors – and collaborate with existing industry efforts to help grow the impact investing market.

Launched at the Social Impact Investment Forum in 2013, the SIITF is focused on growing the global market for social investment. The U.S. National Advisory Board was launched to inform the work of the U.S. delegation to the Task Force and to create a clear impact investing policy agenda for the United States.

"Georgetown, and the team at the Global Social Enterprise Initiative, have a deep understanding of the significant opportunity represented in new companies that are focused on solving some of the world's biggest challenges," Case said. "As we look for opportunities to accelerate the growth of impact investing, GSEI is a perfect partner to help us develop a policy agenda that will help grow the space."

This new engagement is part of the Case Foundation's work to engage visionary, influential investors to help impact investing cross the chasm from the niche to the mainstream. The Case Foundation is working across sectors with partners to help bring clear definitions and standards to this emerging space, and to demonstrate the breadth of impact investment options available for investors. Through its efforts, the foundation aims to expand and accelerate the flow of capital into new companies aimed at advancing global human wellbeing.

Case is also serving as an Executive in Residence with the GSEI for the 2013-14 school year. The Executive in Residence Program is designed to help students and faculty gain direct knowledge and insight from and build deeper relationships with practitioners in the field of social enterprise, while also building the intellectual capital of the Global Social Enterprise Initiative.

"Jean Case and the Case Foundation have long been leaders in applying business principles to social innovation," said Ladan Manteghi, executive director of the Global Social Enterprise Initiative. "Our students and faculty already have benefited tremendously from Jean's perspectives and insights, and we are thrilled to build a deeper engagement with the Case Foundation and the broader coalition looking to move the impact investing industry into the mainstream."

"We congratulate Georgetown and are grateful to Jean Case for her invaluable contribution to the work of the U.S. National Advisory Board (NAB). To unleash the potential of impact investing in the United States and globally, we need this kind of exemplary commitment and partnership among the private sector, government, academia, and civil society," said Tracy Palandjian, CEO of Social Finance. "As co-chairs of the NAB, Matt Bannick of Omidyar Network and I are honored to work alongside Jean and her talented team in our ongoing effort to maximize the impact of social finance."  

About the Global Social Enterprise Initiative

The Global Social Enterprise Initiative at Georgetown's McDonough School of Business aims to prepare current and future leaders to make responsible management decisions that yield both economic and social value. Through practical training for global business leaders, the initiative promotes transformative solutions to and impactful investments in the world's significant challenges in health and well-being, economic growth, the environment, and international development. Learn more at http://socialenterprise.georgetown.edu or follow on Twitter @GSEI_Georgetown.

About Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business
Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business provides a transformational education through classroom and experiential learning, preparing students to graduate as principled leaders in service to business and society. Through numerous centers, initiatives, and partnerships, Georgetown McDonough seeks to create a meaningful impact on business practice through both research and teaching. All academic programs provide a global perspective, woven through the undergraduate and graduate curriculum in a way that is unique to Washington, D.C. – the nexus of world business and policy – and to Georgetown University's connections to global partner organizations and a world-wide alumni network. Founded in 1957, Georgetown McDonough is home to some 1,400 undergraduates, 1,000 MBA students, and 1,200 participants in executive degree and open enrollment programs. Learn more at http://msb.georgetown.edu. Follow us on Twitter @msbgu.

About the Case Foundation
Established by Jean and Steve Case in 1997, the Case Foundation invests in people and ideas that can change the world. In our efforts to address social challenges, we unite the principles of entrepreneurship, innovation and technology to identify, test, prove and scale ideas and models designed to create exponential impact. For more information, visit www.casefoundation.org, follow us at twitter.com/casefoundation and facebook.com/casefoundation.

SOURCE Case Foundation