Anne Wellde

What an amazing bunch of heroes I’ve met at #climateweeknyc2024! Here’s my question: is “blended finance” a key to accelerating the transition to regenerative, resilient, equitable communities, and neighborhoods? As CEO of Now City and Chairman of Now City Communities, I’m beginning to understand the immense potential of blending traditional finance with mission-aligned capital as we embark on the development of a walkable green mixed-use urban neighborhood masterplan in California, with the intention to scale and have impact far beyond my beloved home state. But this approach seems to not be well understood and is still underutilized despite its power to de-risk projects that many traditional investors view as too risky. Blended finance strategically uses public and/or philanthropic capital to attract private investors, unlocking funding for projects that might otherwise struggle to get off the ground. But the market remains small and there’s a real need for more accessible intermediation platforms that can connect private financiers with impactful projects. At Now City, we want to work with aligned partners to leverage (and to facilitate the industry’s adoption of) blended finance to build communities that are not just financially viable but also resilient, regenerative, and equitable. It’s a potential game-changer for urban development, but we need more players at the table to scale these efforts. So, I invite you—sustainability leaders, investors, philanthropists, and urban innovators—to share your thoughts, examples, and experiences with blended finance in the comments. How have you seen it work? Where are the opportunities? What challenges still need to be overcome? Who can we pull into this conversation that will move the needle? Let’s collaborate and push the boundaries of what's possible in sustainable urban development. Together, we can redefine the future of our cities and co-create the conditions for people and ecosystems to thrive! #SustainableFinance #UrbanDevelopment #BlendedFinance #ImpactInvesting #ResilientCommunities https://lnkd.in/grJ76HTT

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This morning, UNICEF USA's Impact Fund for Children and 60 Decibels published an Op-Ed in ImpactAlpha, continuing to build the case for #ChildLensInvesting by elevating impact on children in survey data across sectors that are not generally considered child-focused, like clean energy, microfinance and agriculture. This is an exciting yet crucial step in exploring how valuable business insights can be revealed when we consider children as beneficiaries.

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So fun to talk with Silas Mähner 🔍🌎 on the CleanTechies pod about fundraising, working with fractional CFOs, inclusive financing, and more. Give it a listen!

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 ⭐ Reflecting on Impact This month, my colleague Anne Lufkin-Riaño, our board member Murray Dalziel, and I had the pleasure of attending the Total Impact Summit, hosted by ImpactPHL. The experience provided valuable time for reflection, leading to three key insights about our work at WeavingImpact: 1. Community-Centric Focus: The work we do with our partners means we need to know how they measure success. We need to move at the pace of the community because, after all, it's about them, not us. 2. Local Talent: We know there are valuable assets in communities; there are innovators on every street corner, which enables us to over-index on talent. 3. Shared Success Metrics: Understanding how our partners measure success is essential for meaningful collaboration. As Q2 comes to a close, I’d love to hear about your Q2 learnings and insights. Let’s continue to enhance and develop our impact together. #ImpactPHL #WeavingImpact #CommunityFirst #NonprofitLeadership #Q2Reflections

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As private funders seek to solve more complex problems, they are also seeking new ways of amplifying their impact. That includes going beyond recruiting co-funders to actively fundraising. This Stanford Social Innovation Review article explores the pluses and potential pitfalls this strategy, as well as factors any funder should consider before engaging in a fundraising effort. https://lnkd.in/eh72Xe8F

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The Clean Energy Communities Fund (CECF) was honored to participate in #ClimateWeekNYC by hosting a sold out Breakfast Briefing on 9/25 for donors, allies and collaborators working in communities across the country! Huge thanks to Amalgamated Bank (Ivan Frishberg and Amalgamated's NYC team) for providing the meeting space and being such gracious hosts. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast spread from Zabar’s and some great conversation about the power of communities to help achieve our nation’s climate goals. We want to extend our gratitude to the following collaborators who spoke about their work in communities and how the Clean Energy Communities Fund can accelerate local climate mitigation efforts: Lavonya Jones, Partnership for Southern Equity Saharnaz Mirzazad, AICP, ICLEI Kristen Bennett, Service Year Alliance Robert Dean, Elevate Clare Winterton, The Solutions Project Attendees also heard from Kristi Kimball, Founder & CEO and Nicole Rom, Deputy Director about why the Fund was created and what it aims to accomplish: - The path to zero emissions requires upgrading our homes, buildings and vehicles to run on clean energy. Almost 60% of US greenhouse gas emissions come from these sources. Local policy changes and individual behavior change campaigns are needed in thousands of communities to speed the clean energy transition. - The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) created financial incentives for home and vehicle electrification, but 71% of Americans know little or nothing about it. Even after they learn about the IRA, most residents need additional help and encouragement to take action. - The Clean Energy Communities Fund, designed by community-based partners across the country, will help hundreds and eventually thousands of communities reach out via trusted local messengers to millions of residents to build hope, agency and equity by working together to get fossil fuels out of their homes, vehicles and communities. Our focus is a nationwide adoption campaign at the community level, designed for scale. The resounding message from the discussion: #Investingincommunitycapacity for climate action is essential to achieve our emissions reduction goals and make an equitable transition to clean energy.

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We can see 👀 that community-led collaborative funds are emerging as powerful tools for driving equity and justice. These funds 💵 unite diverse stakeholders around shared goals, pooling resources to address complex social challenges. By fostering collaboration among donors, nonprofits, and community leaders, collaborative funds amplify impact and drive meaningful change at scale 💬. Community-led collaborative funds prioritize equity and justice, channeling resources towards systemic solutions💡and underrepresented communities. 🌍 By bringing together a diverse array of perspectives and expertise, these funds amplify grassroots initiatives, promote inclusive decision-making, and dismantle barriers to opportunity. 🙌🏽 🙌🏾 🙌🏿 Through strategic investments in areas such as education, healthcare, and economic empowerment, community-led collaborative funds drive tangible progress towards a more just and equitable society. How can we leverage these funds to address systemic inequalities and advance social justice? 🌀 Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! How do you envision community-led collaborative funds shaping the future of philanthropy? #collaboration #PhilanthropicAdvising

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For anyone beginning a new strategic initiative or strategic planning process, this article is a wonderful resource. Congrats to Marilyn Darling and Veena Pankaj for the recently published "Seeding Impact: Shifting from Orchestration to Emergence." Full article at https://lnkd.in/eHD6QMcm #impact #strategy #strategicplanning #emergentlearning #systemschange

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15 years ago I was valuing social outcomes for charities and governments. NEVER in a million years did I think 'valuing what matters' would have reached the echalons of the corporates, investors and policy globally. This Beta Framework is a labour of collaborative love by the incredible network that is Capitals Coalition. It's the first step towards building confidence so the market balances #naturalcapital #socialcapital #humancapital #financialcapital.

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Join me, MOFP Executive Director Kate MacKenzie & fantastic pioneers on food, climate, and regional policy for a live event during #ClimateWeekNYC We'll talk about how cities are utilizing their purchasing power to align with climate and sustainability goals and the importance of regional colaboration. Three panels with government officials, development organizations, advocates, and researchers doing pioneering work. Sign up now: https://lnkd.in/gZJn8sie Date: September 24, 2024 Sessions: ⭕ “Think Locally, Act Regionally”: NYC’s Regional Approach to Local Food Policy This panel will spotlight how New York City and State are strategically collaborating with regional partners to support a sustainable, healthful, and resilient food system. Moderator: Michael Hurwitz, CFP Project Speakers: Michelle Hinchey, NY State Senate, Kate MacKenzie, NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, Rohit Aggarwala (NYC Dept of Environmental Protection and NYC's Chief Climate Officer), @LaurenWilliams, NYS Dept of Agriculture and Markets ⭕ “The Research-Policy Integration / Feedback Loop” The goals of this session are to: 1) Understand ways in which researchers and decision makers can work together more effectively; 2) Improve coordination across researchers and disciplines to support NYC’s food policy-making; and 3) Discuss what we know about the ability of food policies to meet NYC’s climate goals and where gaps remain. Moderator: Milagros de Hoz, NYC Mayor’s office Speakers: Becca Jablonski, Cornell University, Jessica Fanzo, Columbia University’s Climate School, Craig Willingham, City University of New York, Elsie Moore, Cornell University ⭕ Understanding the Role of City Food Policy at a Global Level How can lessons from regional success be translated across continents? What are unique assets in different parts of the world that can inform and benefit other cities and regions? While every region has different priorities, this panel will bring together learnings, challenges, and principles for success from representatives across Africa, the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Keynote speaker and moderator: Corinna Hawkes, FAO Speakers: Leticia Campos Bardi, State of Bahia, Brazil, Betina Bergmann Madsen Madsen, City of Copenhagen, Denmark, Luana F. Joppert Swensson Swensson FAO, Wawira Njiru, Food4Education Co-hosted by The City Food Policy Project, The Rockefeller Foundation Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research, NYC Office of the Mayor RTI International Colorado State University, Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming, and Cornell Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management.

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The Hive Fund under the leadership of Erin Rogers, Melanie Allen, and their incredible team is the best of philanthropy. Other funders should take note: ✅ Make multi-year, general operating grants; ✅ Be bold, take risks (philanthropy is society’s risk capital); ✅ Trust the leaders and communities on the ground doing the work; ✅ Use your unique position in the ecosystem to foster coalitions and networks, utilizing grants to incentivize and reward collaboration. Not rocket science, and yet, in so many places it seems philanthropy does not embrace these approaches. #philanthropy #leadership

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New York is one of the world’s great food capitals, but unfortunately food and agriculture are among the less celebrated themes this year at NY Climate Week. It’s unfortunate because food, and how we produce and consume it, can play a huge role in the fight against climate change. To help change that, one of Canada’s leading thinkers on ag, Evan Fraser, was at #ClimateWeekNYC, with an important new piece of research from the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph. The report (https://lnkd.in/g-MdzhYR) shows how ag tech can help us produce more food with fewer emissions, and calls on Canada to pick a path. We know the value farmers provide through good soil management, enabling the ground beneath their feet to capture and store greenhouse gases. They’re also helping reduce climate change through better livestock management (especially methane management) and using more environmentally sustainable fertilizers. (I was happy to share RBC’s insights with the project, including our reports The Next Green Revolution ➡ https://lnkd.in/gF5_kwgJ and Farmer 4.0 ➡ https://lnkd.in/gt9JkuHZ) Here’s some of what the report suggests Canadians do to go from ag superpower to ag tech superpower: — focus on scaling ag tech companies, especially in precision age digital ag, biotech and AI; — push high schools to immerse students in ag tech, everywhere; — demand more coordination between Ottawa and provinces on ag tech. I’d suggest mandating Industry Canada to take the lead; — promote more interdisciplinary studies and research, for instance, between agriculture, engineering and business schools; — create specific incentives for private equity. Might be an interesting option for any future reforms to the capital gains tax; — support more ag research clusters;  — invest in what used to be called “ag extension” to get new technologies to farmers. Farmer-led networks can be very effective; ag schools and community colleges can play a greater role, too. Feeding the Future with Canadian Technology is more than an excellent and timely report. It’s a good model of collaboration, led by Fraser, Lenore Newman, from the University of the Fraser Valley, and Peter Dhillon, chair of Ocean Spray Cranberries (otherwise known as Canada’s “cranberry king.”) We’ll need more of that cross-fertilization between academia, farmers and industry if we’re to lead the next green revolution. RBC Climate Action Institute Lisa Ashton Myha T. Canadian Alliance for Net Zero Agri-Food (CANZA) Kristjan Hebert Lorna McKercher Shaun Haney Beverly Agar Kyle Scott Cameron Charlton Nevon Faucher James Fehr Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/ Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada François-Philippe Champagne Rod Whitfield

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“It’s complex, messy, hard, and uncertain, AND we can move our way to a bold future together. Philanthropy must hold onto openness, humility, love, and accountability; without it, it is unlikely that we will meet the full intentions for our work.” Holding space for the uncertainty while making forward progress is, in my humble opinion, one of Building Impact Partners’ unique value adds as a partner for donors who want to support big change. Check out my colleague Tanis Klingler’s new blog post!

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At Philanthropy New York's annual meeting, Manuela Arciniegas of Communities for Just Schools Fund (CJSF), Alli Jernow of the Arcus Foundation, Yamani Yansà Hernandez of Groundswell Fund shared insights on truly shifting power dynamics in the philanthropic sector. Hanh Le from the iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility and Lisa Owens from the The Hyams Foundation discussed how to elevate power and agency in the communities we serve in a discussion facilitated by Kellie Terry A few takeaways: On redistributing power through governance: "Board diversity across race, class, gender - and bringing community members onto the board - was key to redistributing power. We added community voices, provided honoraria, and revisited equity conversations regularly." On participatory grantmaking: "Adopting a participatory grantmaking approach where community members decide where funds flow allowed us to move money in a more values-aligned way." On accountability and transparency:   "We're publicly owning mistakes and bringing transparency, like having a Spanish-language board member and providing translation." On taking risks to create change: "We have to be willing to take risks and give grantees the freedom to fail because that's how we'll learn and create meaningful change." The core theme? Radically reimagining governance, grantmaking, and accountability models to transfer real decision-making power to communities. One panelist said: "Embed who you are into the DNA of the organization to be truly transformative." In a sector historically marred by extractive practices and power imbalances, these structural accountability shifts feel both moral and pragmatic. The philanthropy sector has immense power to fuel liberation - are we willing to wield it? #shiftingpower #equitablegrantmaking #participatory #philanthropy Participatory Grantmaking Community of Practice Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) Center for Effective Philanthropy The Chronicle of Philanthropy Council on Foundations

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A must-read post by my colleague Kevin Bolduc! "But as a sector we really need to avoid the continual temptation to assume that we’ve found a transformative new philanthropic approach, or even that there is a single one out there to find. That’s particularly true when that assumption becomes a distraction to the very hard work of understanding the performance of organizations using various approaches — new and old — and improving their implementation! I’ve been around philanthropy long enough to have seen the “next great approach” emerge again and again. Think back to venture philanthropy, social impact investing, collective impact, giving while living, and, more recently, trust-based philanthropy. Each, at moments, has been touted as the “new” approach that could be used by every funder to increase their impact. Even though I think each did bring something fundamentally important to philanthropy, more nuance is required: these are tools that work better and worse depending on the goals and the context of change you’re after."

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This week, I had the chance to attend #OFN40 to learn from thousands of CDFI practitioners, investors, policymakers and leaders about the incredible growth and opportunity in the sector. CDFIs and MDIs have long been essential partners to impact investors, leveraging deep knowledge of communities across the United States - urban, rural, and tribal, large and small - to flow capital to where it is most needed. CDFIs are creating opportunity, combating climate change and ultimately forming the bedrock needed to invest in shared prosperity. At the U.S. Impact Investing Alliance, it has been my honor to help support some of the key policy innovations that are fortifying and scaling the CDFI industry - ECIP, SSBCI, GGRF, and a modernized Community Reinvestment Act. Federal policymakers across the ideological spectrum have supported the industry for more than 30 years, because they recognize the unique and essential role that CDFIs play - creating affordable housing, supporting small businesses and so much more. But amidst the energy and optimism, there are real challenges on the horizon. CDFIs perform their essential work on thin margins, and they face a difficult funding environment. Political and regulatory uncertainty is being compounded by bad-faith litigation seeking to undercut any effort to close racial and gender wealth gaps. And, all the while this work is being done in the most difficult conditions - in communities facing persistent poverty, climate disasters and chronic underinvestment. When I had the chance to speak about these challenges, I said that impact investors are doubling down on their commitments to CDFIs and to investing in equity and opportunity for all - and I meant it. But more is needed. Opportunity Finance Network has been leading the way for 40 years now, and over that time their members have shown that they are more than capable of rising to the moment. So, congratulations to OFN and its members on a momentous anniversary and a fantastic conference. Now it's time for the rest of us to show our support!

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💡 ⚡ 👊 "All of our research indicates one key truth: FIELD CATALYSTS ARE AMONG THE HIGHEST-LEVERAGE INVESTMENTS PHILANTHROPY CAN MAKE when it comes to equitable systems change." (caps are mine) YES!...The Bridgespan Group we couldn't agree more! Here we share some reflections on running NCP's Economic System Change Lab...and playing a field catalyst role in support of leaders working day and night to transform the economic system so it actually works for more people--and the planet--and not just a privileged few. "The New Capitalism Project (NCP) Lab has been an experiment in how to incubate a set of inter-related ideas for action and bridge them towards a group’s shared vision for a transformed economic system. From the outset, the NCP Lab has focused on cultivating deep connections and trust among a range of leaders in service of supporting more connected and systemic ways of working together. We believe this kind of collective leadership and coordinated action are critical enabling conditions for driving system health. What we also know is that investments in enabling conditions such as these are hard to “projectize” and therefore harder to fund; and the qualitative and emergent nature of their impact often does not fit well into typical grantmaking reports." Read on if you're interested... https://lnkd.in/eUnzNhn8

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✨ TGIF! Excited to join this conversation today and moderate this panel!🌟 📣 Today I’ll be part of a powerful discussion with Marina Seevak , Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia, and the inspiring The Impact Collective team to explore how direct cash giving can be a transformative tool to close the #RacialWealthGap in #Boston and beyond. Thank you Julia Johannsen for this opportunity to have what I am sure will be an insightful and candid conversation, with 2 people I really admire. 🎙 I’ll be moderating this discussion, as a funder using my Social Equity Access Fund hat, a fund I manage after many years of being a fundraiser and knnowing what it is being on the side of needing funds to run programs for traditionally excluded communities with limited access to financial resources. We will touch upon what it truly means to empower communities through direct cash initiatives, focusing on the benefits, challenges, and lasting impact this approach can bring. We’re diving into: 📌 Real-life #stories that showcase the tangible impact of direct cash giving, 📌 Insightful perspectives on #community-led initiatives, 📌 Action steps and resources that each of us can use to contribute to a more equitable #future. 💲 Whether you’re familiar with 💸 direct cash giving or new to the concept, this session will shed light on how small, intentional actions can create meaningful change. 👉🏿 Hope you can join us at 12pm EST on Zoom—and please feel free to share this invite with anyone in your network who is interested in community impact! https://lnkd.in/etiaJV7G Let’s take a step together towards addressing the racial wealth gap and creating a stronger, more inclusive community. #DirectGiving #CommunityImpact #EquityInAction #Philanthropy Ripple Acts #ImpactCollective #RacialWealthGap #EconomicInequality #Wealth

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Back in June, I moderated a panel at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The focus was on how organizations like Rural Opportunity Institute tackle poverty and the disconnect between grassroots work and high-level funders. Johnathan Brunson, Stephanie Sowl, Ph.D., and Jonathan Santos Silva all had stories pointing to the same themes - funders often want big numbers and scale. These measurements can miss the most transformative impacts. Johnathan Brunson's story about how a patient told him he would have taken his own life if not for Johnathan's intervention illuminated it best for me. We discussed how this life-changing intervention and its knock-on effects on family, community, co-workers, etc. would have barely registered in the impact metrics for most large-scale projects. Yet, he's overwhelmed by demand, unable to address the systemic issues that create these stories every day. Rural America has more than its fair share of these stories due to lack of access to education, healthcare, transportation, and other crucial services. I'm revisiting the panel now because last week we convened again to showcase the work of 19 design teams under David Erickson and Otho Kerr's expansive "Making Missing Markets" vision. Our Rural Innovation Done Right (RIDER) team, led by Sara Olsen (and with Johnathan Brunson again representing ROI), presented on our efforts to halve rural child poverty every 20 years, addressing systemic issues in communities from Arizona to North Carolina. America has the resources to end rural child poverty. We pour billions into national defense, embracing failure and innovating constantly, because we know failure isn't an option. Why can't we take the same approach to ending poverty? On top of the moral imperative, ending poverty is also a national security imperative as internal dissension and unrest threaten to tear our nation apart. If any of this strikes a chord with you, please let me know as I'd be happy to get you involved!

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