2023 edition of IA 50 features a record number of private impact fund managers delivering social and environmental impact as well as financial returns.
CAMBRIDGE, MA, April 7, 2023 — For the twelfth consecutive year, Root Capital has been selected for the ImpactAssets 50 (IA 50), a free online resource for investors and financial advisors. The annual guide features fund managers representing private debt and equity investments that deliver social and environmental impact as well as financial returns.
In its twelfth year, the IA 50 continues to raise awareness of impact fund managers across impact areas, maturity, and geography, serving as a basis for deepening understanding of the field.
The IA 50 breaks out managers in three categories, including the core IA 50 list, IA 50 Emerging Impact Managers list and IA 50 Emeritus Impact Managers list. Across all three categories, a record 163 impact fund managers were included totaling $122.48 billion in assets, invested across a range of asset classes and impact themes.
“This year’s IA 50 showcase is a watershed, as the industry continues to allocate more investable assets into social and environmental solutions with both time-tested strategies and creative, new approaches,” said Jed Emerson, ImpactAssets Senior Fellow, IA 50 Review Committee Chair and Chief Impact Officer at AlTi Global. “Established funds continue to impress, while new funds are bringing fresh approaches and insights that move the needle in critical areas through impact investing.”
Some takeaways from this year’s IA 50:
- Maturing Industry: While many investors see impact investing as the “next new thing,” this year’s IA 50 highlights the long roots and deep experience of an industry focused on making measurable, beneficial social or environmental impact alongside a financial return. More than four in ten (43%) IA 50 2023 fund managers have been managing assets for more than 10 years, and nine fund managers have been selected in all 12 IA 50 showcases.
- Growth in Billion Dollar Funds: As impact investing continues its rapid ascension-the Global Impact Investing Network estimates the global impact investing market at $1.16 trillion-the IA 50 has seen a steady increase in the number of billion dollar funds in its ranks. This year, 18 managers with assets exceeding $1 billion were selected, up from 15 in 2022, while an additional 11 had assets under management between $500 million and $1 billion, up from ten in 2022.
- Investment Themes and SDGs: A quarter (25%) of IA 50 managers across all three lists focused on clean technology, alternative energy, and climate change, making it the top impact theme. Microfinance, low-income financial services, and micro-insurance (12%) comprised the second-largest impact focus. The most represented UN Sustainable Development Goals cited by fund managers included Decent Work and Economic Growth (20%), Climate Action (17%), No Poverty (12%) and Reduced Inequality (11%).
- Increased Diversity & Representation: IA 50 fund managers embrace diversity in contrast to the asset management industry as a whole-asset managers who are women, Black, Indigenous or People of Color manage just 1.4 percent of $82.2 trillion in U.S. assets. Nearly half (48%) of fund managers reported their investment teams are 50% or more People of Color; 43% reported investment teams with 50% or more women. Similarly, 37% of fund managers reported their senior management is 50% or more women, while 35% said senior management is 50% or more People of Color.
- Aligning Incentives with Impact: IA 50 managers are finding new ways to commit to impact. This year, 19% of core IA 50 managers, 17% of Emerging Impact Managers and 10% of Emeritus Managers said they tie fund compensation structure to achieving impact. A total of 17% said they have had their impact reporting verified by a third party.
- Private Equity is the Largest Asset Class: Focused on deep impact in private markets, 60% of IA 50 fund managers are primarily investing in private equity, while 32% are primarily invested in private debt. Early Stage Venture Capital in Developed Markets is the most popular category, representing 12% of all funds.
- Impact Doesn’t Mean Financial Sacrifice: A total of 76% of IA 50 managers target market rates or above market rates of return, and 98% reported delivering either in line or above their initial target returns.
Additionally, nearly one in five fund managers named to the IA 50 2023 is a signatory to the Operating Principles for Impact Management, a framework for investors to ensure that impact considerations are purposefully integrated throughout the investment life cycle. According to an independent analysis by BlueMark, a provider of impact verification services and intelligence for the impact and sustainable investing markets, 17 of these 31 fund managers have already completed an independent verification, as is required by all signatories.
“What makes the IA 50 so special is its independent Review Committee, comprised of a diverse mix of industry veterans, expert practitioners and impact champions” said Margret Trilli, CEO and Chief Investment Officer at ImpactAssets. “Throughout the IA 50’s 12-year tenure, we have honed a rigorous application, analysis and scoring process to support the Review Committee in selecting interesting fund managers for the IA 50 directory. In doing so, the IA 50 has become a staple resource for investors to source impact investment ideas to consider for their own due diligence.”
In addition to Jed Emerson, the ImpactAssets IA 50 Review Committee is comprised of some of the leading thinkers and doers in impact investing- people who built the industry and are leading investors, managers and practitioners.
The application and fund analysis for the IA 50 is conducted by ImpactAssets.