Key takeaways

  • Because your approach to impact investing reflects your personal values, it’s unique to you.

  • Investors today can put money to work in ways that seek to make a positive impact without sacrificing the potential to earn competitive returns.

  • For example, investors can select investments that have clearly identified intentions related to environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) considerations.

Like some investors, you may be interested in putting your money to work in a way that can affect global change you consider to be desirable, an approach often referred to as impact investing. Typically, this approach centers on investments selected with environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) objectives in mind.

The size of the worldwide market for impact investments is now estimated at more than $1.57 trillion.1 “It’s possible for investors to build a diversified portfolio and follow broad ESG mandates,” says Rob Haworth, senior investment strategy director with U.S. Bank Asset Management. “It’s a decision that goes back to the personal tastes of the investor.”

As you consider impact investing, it’s important to understand the opportunities as well as other considerations that may affect your decision.

 

What is impact investing and why is it important?

Impact investing is defined as investments made with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return.2 “Stated simply, it’s putting your money to work in a manner that reflects your values,” says Chad Burlingame, CFA, CAIA, head of impact investing for U.S. Bank.

“Once you’ve identified what values you want to be aligned with your money, we can identify the most effective ways to incorporate impact investing into your portfolio strategy.”

Chad Burlingame, CFA, CAIA, Head of Impact Investing at U.S. Bank

No two investors will have the same approach to impact investing. Whether you want to support companies or funds that are dedicated to promoting diversity or addressing climate change, you can now find investment opportunities aligned with your values.

The universe of options within the context of impact investing expanded in recent years. Many mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer a variety of ways for individuals to participate in this marketplace. Impact investing can also be directed toward private market equity or debt. In fact, it’s now possible to broadly diversify your entire portfolio – across a range of asset classes – through impact investing.

Depicts number of impact investment funds by sustainable development goal (SDG). Comparing affordable clean energy, industry innovation and infrastructure, zero hunger, good health and well being, and sustainable cities and communities.
Source: Impact Investor Guide 2024, based on research from Phoenix Capital Group. Data as of Sep. 19, 2023.

“In the real world, the definition of ‘impact investing’ is very much unique to each person,” says Burlingame. “Once you’ve identified what values you want to be aligned with your money, we can identify the most effective ways to incorporate impact investing into your portfolio strategy.”

Following very strong flows of money into the ESG market from 2019 to 2021, $13 billion of outflows in 2023 marked the first time in more than a decade that capital flows to U.S.-based ESG funds were negative. However, it should be noted that some exchange-traded funds (ETFs) garnered substantial net inflows in 2023, including two climate-focused funds.3 The trend of modest outflows continued through 2024’s first three quarters, though the pace of outflows slowed over the course of the year.4 “The numbers indicate a lack of momentum toward ESG investing, which existed earlier,” says Haworth. “We’re now watching to see what will be the next driver of increased ESG interest.”

 

Impact investing, ESG investing and socially responsible investing (SRI)

ESG investing looks at three dimensions of a company:

  • Environmental – broad areas of impact related to climate change, energy efficiency, pollution, water scarcity and biodiversity.
  • Social – factors that impact the work environment and community such as human rights, gender and racial diversity, educational opportunities, labor standards and employee engagement.
  • Governance – factors that impact company performance such as the diverse makeup of corporate boards, levels of executive compensation, auditing practices, lobbying activities and political contributions.

Impact investing also seeks to support the efforts of businesses and organizations to complete projects aimed at having a positive benefit on society. A precursor to ESG and impact investing was socially responsible investing (SRI). This approach primarily focused on eliminating certain investments that did not match the investor’s ethical guidelines. A common example would be the avoidance of investing in stocks of tobacco companies.

 

Generating a financial return with impact investing

When determining your own impact investing objectives, you can choose from two primary options:

  • “Concessionary” investing – this is a more philanthropic approach, where the investment makes a significant impact, with a secondary emphasis on generating a positive return.
  • “Non-concessionary” investing – while still seeking to create a positive impact, greater emphasis is placed on assuring that attractive financial returns are generated. The investor proceeds with a belief that profitable opportunities can be found by investing with specific purposes in mind.

The lack of performance history makes it difficult to definitively state that an impact focus outperforms other investment styles. Yet a recent survey shows that 79% of respondents reported that their financial expectations were met or exceeded. More than two-thirds of them indicated their expectation was to earn risk-adjusted, market-rate returns. In addition, 88% said their investments met or exceeded impact targets.5

 

The challenges of screening for impact investing opportunities

While the number of available options claiming to meet the definition of impact investing has ballooned, to accomplish your specific objectives, a thorough assessment is required to clearly identify a fund’s ESG intentions. Most important is to sort through false promises and misleading claims, a concept broadly referred to as “greenwashing.” This term describes a company executive or investment manager conveying a false impression or providing misleading information about the merits of impact in its products or services.

“Funds must have a proven intention and ability to deliver on their impact investing objectives over an extended period of time,” says Burlingame. “Measuring the ‘non-financial’ benefits of an investment (its success in making an impact) can be more complex than measuring the financial return of an investment. Some aspects of ESG performance are easier to measure than others.”

Some environmental measures have become more readily available, such as a company’s carbon output. However, substantive information about gender diversity in a company’s workforce or other social governance metrics are less publicly accessible. In addition, impact ratings from the investment research firm Morningstar only date back to 2016. These factors make the investment selection process more challenging.

Professional guidance can help. Burlingame notes, “The process for identifying the right impact investments requires a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis. As the industry evolves, new investment alternatives arise and the need for careful assessment becomes even more pronounced.”

 

Building and managing wealth with positive outcomes

The ultimate objective of impact investing is for you to feel comfortable that the money you’re investing is designed to “do good” over the long run. You can meet investment goals by focusing on organizations that mitigate risks or seek to solve today’s environmental, social or governance challenges. Your values can be meaningfully incorporated into your investment strategy.

Learn how we approach impact investing.

Frequently asked questions

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Disclosures

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  1. Hand, Dean; Ulanow, Maddie; Pan, Hongyu; Xiao, Kelly, “Sizing the Impact Investing Market 2024,” Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN).

  2. Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN). “What You Need to Know About Impact Investing.”

  3. Morningstar, “U.S. Sustainable Funds Landscape 2023 in Review.”

  4. Bioy, Hortense and Wang, Boya, “Global ESG Funds Attract $10.4 Billion in Q3 2024,” Morningstar, Oct. 31, 2024.

  5. 2023 GIINsight: Impact Investing Allocations, Activity & Performance. Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN).

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The information provided represents the opinion of U.S. Bank and is not intended to be a forecast of future events or guarantee of future results. It is not intended to provide specific investment advice and should not be construed as an offering of securities or recommendation to invest. Not for use as a primary basis of investment decisions. Not to be construed to meet the needs of any particular investor. Not a representation or solicitation or an offer to sell/buy any security. Investors should consult with their investment professional for advice concerning their particular situation.

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Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are subject to risks similar to those of stocks, such as market risk. Investing in ETFs may bear indirect fees and expenses charged by ETFs in addition to its direct fees and expenses, as well as indirectly bearing the principal risks of those ETFs. ETFs may trade at a discount to their net asset value and are subject to the market fluctuations of their underlying investments.

Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) investment strategies limit the types and number of investment opportunities available and, as a result, ESG focused funds may underperform other funds that do not have an ESG focus. ESG investment strategies may result in the funds investing in securities or industry sectors that underperform the market as a whole or underperform other funds screened for ESG standards.