Engaging with Your Community — The Conscious Investor

By Eva Yazhari

Independent of impact investing there still remains doubt and fear of judgment around money that discourages many from realizing their potential to do good. Even if you might feel like you have overcome a taboo, and even if you have the best intentions, you might worry that others will try to poke holes in your values, in your strategy, and in your everyday behavior. Do not let these fears stop you from finding a community that can support and add value to your work.

Leading a life of purpose can be a vulnerable experience. At this point, I am comfortable with the values I aim to live by, but like everyone else, sometimes I still question my purpose and actions.

Am I intentional enough? Can I always do better (read: perfectionism)? Do I always strive to deepen my impact in all areas of my life? Yes, on all counts. That said, I am only human. My life has a carbon footprint, and I know it. But that does not stop me from seeking out and connecting with others in communities centered on doing good and investing with their values.

The Toniic community has helped me explore the extent to which I want to have an impact with my money and resources. It has helped me to find my equilibrium, the place where I am comfortable with my personal impact. However, I did not always find that balance by interacting with conscious investors who agreed with me. Rather, I have learned from those who have occasionally politely challenged my opinions. This network of conscious investors has made me aware of different combinations of wealth and impact, constantly encouraging me to challenge my own beliefs, practices, and assumptions.

You do not have to be an advanced impact investor to strive for meaning and purpose in community, and certain groups may not fit your needs. In the case of Toniic, in addition to paying an annual membership fee, members must be accredited investors. The goal should simply be to find and engage a community of like-minded individuals who you can share with and learn from.

If you are part of an industry networking group, you may find a subset of members who are interested in taking action with their money. For instance, I am involved in the 100 Women in Finance network. While not related to impact investing specifically, this community of fifteen thousand women—all focused on helping each other reach their professional potential at each career stage— has been invaluable as a source of connection.

A few starting points to join or build a community:

Community foundations. Popping up all over the country, community foundations serve as beachheads for community giving. The Community Foundation of Dallas, for instance, galvanizes giving in the community through annual events such as the North Texas Giving Day, which raised $59 million in 2020. Most of these community foundations offer investing options focused on impact investing and are a great starting point for those interested in joining a community rather than starting their own.
Beyond Capital Ambassador Program and Acumen Partners. Both Beyond Capital and Acumen Fund, another organization focused on impact investing in later stages, have designed programs focused on bringing people together around their efforts.102
Social Venture Partners. SVP’s membership groups may also provide a gateway to communities focused on impact investing. SVP connects donors with mentor engagements with nonprofits in chapters around the United States. But while groups like Social Venture Partners do admirable work, most of their chapters focus on charitable giving rather than impact investing. They are just as focused on doing good, but the philosophy is not exactly the same.

Everyone deserves access to more than philanthropy and ESG negative screening. This stands true even if you are not invested in a specific fund or have a high net worth. There is a tremendous opportunity for communities to form for interested impact investors that would benefit from having a community of like-minded individuals to work with. If racial equality is a core area of focus for you, the Black Lives Matter movement may serve as a starting point for this conversation. If you have not found a community to meet your needs, then consider starting your own.

Find a group of friends, colleagues, and family members who are passionate about the good their money can do. Start meeting with them and talking to them about issues related to what you have learned, the barriers you have encountered, and the different strategies you use. Impact investing is a big umbrella with lots of different focus areas within it, and it can be hard to narrow down one focus area. It is okay if the others in your group do not share exactly the same focus as you. Especially in the early days, the most important thing is to identify and interact with others who are working toward a shared cause.

At Beyond Capital, we like to fund simple solutions to complex problems. Sometimes, the best solutions are the small local ones that can have a wide-reaching impact.

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