Impact Investing Readiness Worksheet

1

Foundation Readiness Assessment

Evaluate your foundation's current state of readiness for impact investing.

What is motivating your foundation to explore impact investing?

Consider strategic goals, board interest, community needs, peer examples, etc.

Who are the internal champions for impact investing at your foundation?

Include board members, staff, advisors, and other stakeholders.

Which of these characteristics describe your foundation? (Select all that apply)

Our investment portfolio should align with our mission Board members have expressed interest in impact investing We see limitations of grants alone to achieve our goals We want to leverage our capital for greater community impact We've seen successful examples from peer foundations We already have an investment policy statement We have staff or board with financial/investment expertise

2

Capital Source Planning

Consider where capital for impact investments might come from.

What percentage of your endowment might you consider allocating to impact investments?

1-2% (Conservative pilot) 3-5% (Moderate allocation) 6-10% (Significant commitment) More than 10% (Major strategic priority) Unsure / Need more information

What concerns do you have about allocating capital to impact investments?

How might you address these concerns?

Consider policies, education, pilot programs, external expertise, etc.

3

Investment Strategy Exploration

Explore the types of impact investments that might align with your mission.

Which investment types interest you? (Select all that apply)

CDFI Investment Notes (loans to community lenders) Program-Related Investments (PRIs) - Direct loans to nonprofits Mission-Related Investments (MRIs) - Impact funds with market returns Loan Guarantees (credit enhancement for other lenders) Affordable Housing Funds Social Enterprise Equity ESG Screening of Public Investments

What impact areas would you want investments to support?

Consider alignment with your grantmaking priorities.

What investment terms would work for your foundation?

Consider duration, expected returns, reporting requirements, etc.

4

Capacity and Process Development

Assess what resources and systems you'll need to implement impact investing.

What resources or systems do you need to develop? (Select all that apply)

Investment policy statement / PRI policy Due diligence process and criteria Board education and training Staff capacity / expertise development Legal documentation templates Reporting and monitoring systems Alignment with OCIO / investment advisor External expertise or consulting support

What is your realistic timeline for making your first impact investment?

Within 6 months 6-12 months 12-18 months More than 18 months Unsure / Still exploring

5

Learning from Georgia Case Studies

Reflect on lessons from other Georgia foundations that have implemented impact investing.

Which Georgia foundation case study approach resonates most with your situation?

Consider Sapelo (rural CDFIs), CFGA (community foundation), Bradley-Turner (housing focus), or William Josef (mixed strategy).

What key lessons from these case studies are most relevant to your foundation?

What concerns or questions do you still have after reviewing the case studies?

6

Next Steps Action Plan

Develop concrete next steps to move your impact investing journey forward.

What are your top 3 action items for the next 90 days?

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Who are the key stakeholders you need to engage?

Consider board members, staff, advisors, partners, etc.

What resources or support do you need to move forward?

How will you measure success in your impact investing journey?

Consider both process milestones and impact outcomes.