An Interactive
History of
Impact
Investing

By​ 

With assistance from Moksha Data

Scroll right →

2021

MIT-designed superconducting magnet paves the way for practical, commercial, carbon-free power

MIT-designed superconducting magnet paves the way for practical, commercial, carbon-free power

MacArthur Foundation divests in fossil fuel holdings

MacArthur Foundation divests in fossil fuel holdings

Harvard announces divestment in fossil fuels

Harvard announces divestment in fossil fuels

Activate Global announces 2021 fellows

Activate Global announces 2021 fellows

Stella McCartney unveils vegan, mushroom leather bag

Stella McCartney unveils vegan, mushroom leather bag

Fast Grants secures $50M to rapidly deploy in COVID-19 response

Fast Grants secures $50M to rapidly deploy in COVID-19 response

Charm Industrial removes 1,000 tons of CO2 for Shopify ahead of schedule

Charm Industrial removes 1,000 tons of CO2 for Shopify ahead of schedule

Ginkgo Bioworks begins trading on the NYSE

Ginkgo Bioworks begins trading on the NYSE

Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures raises another $1B for climate innovation

Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures raises another $1B for climate innovation

2020

Long Term Stock Exchange launches

Long Term Stock Exchange launches

The Bezos Earth Fund commits $10 billion to address climate change

The Bezos Earth Fund commits $10 billion to address climate change

The Global Impact Investing Network produces its 10th annual survey

The Global Impact Investing Network produces its 10th annual survey

ESG investing accounts for one-third of total US AUM

ESG investing accounts for one-third of total US AUM

Stripe launches world's first large-scale carbon removal purchase tool

Stripe launches world's first large-scale carbon removal purchase tool

2019

Beyond Meat IPO

Beyond Meat IPO

Apple Watch introduces EKG capabilities

Apple Watch introduces EKG capabilities

Carbon Engineering doubles carbon capture plant plans before construction

Carbon Engineering doubles carbon capture plant plans before construction

Acumen and Grameen Impact Launch first SDG Impact Bond

Acumen and Grameen Impact Launch first SDG Impact Bond

Business Roundtable redefines the purpose of a corporation

Business Roundtable redefines the purpose of a corporation

Collab+Sesame co-leads investment in teen banking startup, Step

Collab+Sesame co-leads investment in teen banking startup, Step

The GIIN Launches IRIS+

The GIIN Launches IRIS+

2017

Patagonia sues Trump

Patagonia sues Trump

Larry Fink urges companies to pursue sustainability

Larry Fink urges companies to pursue sustainability

Whole Foods acquired by Amazon

Whole Foods acquired by Amazon

GPIF doubles down on socially responsible investing

GPIF doubles down on socially responsible investing

Ford Foundation commits $1 billion to mission-related investments

Ford Foundation commits $1 billion to mission-related investments

2016

Seventh Generation acquired by Unilever

Seventh Generation acquired by Unilever

CalPERS incorporates ESG principles

CalPERS incorporates ESG principles

Yellowdog founded

Yellowdog founded

Bain Capital debuts Double Impact Fund

Bain Capital debuts Double Impact Fund

2015

Kickstarter becomes PBC

Kickstarter becomes PBC

The Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals

BlackRock Impact launches

BlackRock Impact launches

Paris Agreement

Paris Agreement

Cambridge Associates Impact Investing Benchmark launches

Cambridge Associates Impact Investing Benchmark launches

U.S. Department of Labor rules that pensions can invest in SRIs

U.S. Department of Labor rules that pensions can invest in SRIs

Wharton releases research on performance

Wharton releases research on performance

GSAM acquires Imprint Capital

GSAM acquires Imprint Capital

2014

Allbirds founded

Allbirds founded

The Case Foundation launches A Short Guide to Impact Investing

The Case Foundation launches A Short Guide to Impact Investing

Natura makes B Corp history

Natura makes B Corp history

VCs dig in on impact

VCs dig in on impact

RBF commits to divestment

RBF commits to divestment

2013

Danone acquires Happy Family

Danone acquires Happy Family

The National Advisory Board is formed

The National Advisory Board is formed

Prudential makes first $1 billion commitment to impact investments

Prudential makes first $1 billion commitment to impact investments

2012

Morgan Stanley launches the Impact Platform

Morgan Stanley launches the Impact Platform

The Heron Foundation commits 100% of endowment to impact investing

The Heron Foundation commits 100% of endowment to impact investing

2011

Impossible Foods founded

Impossible Foods founded

2010

Warby Parker founded

Warby Parker founded

Everlane launches

Everlane launches

The Giving Pledge launches

The Giving Pledge launches

Tesla IPO

Tesla IPO

Collaborative Fund founded

Collaborative Fund founded

Harvard launches the Initiative for Responsible Investment

Harvard launches the Initiative for Responsible Investment

2009

Kickstarter launches

Kickstarter launches

The GIIN founded

The GIIN founded

Beyond Meat founded

Beyond Meat founded

Bloomberg adds ESG data

Bloomberg adds ESG data

2007

The term "Impact Investing" is born

The term "Impact Investing" is born

2006

B Lab founded

B Lab founded

GOOD magazine founded

GOOD magazine founded

Muhammad Yunus awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

Muhammad Yunus awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

An Inconvient Truth opens in theaters

An Inconvient Truth opens in theaters

UN Principles for Responsible Investment

UN Principles for Responsible Investment

The Sea Change Foundation launches

The Sea Change Foundation launches

2005

Kiva founded

Kiva founded

2004

Omidyar Network founded

Omidyar Network founded

“Who Cares Wins”

“Who Cares Wins”

2003

Tesla founded

Tesla founded

2002

SpaceX founded

SpaceX founded

2000

Ben & Jerry's acquired by Unilever

Ben & Jerry's acquired by Unilever

Millenium Development Goals

Millenium Development Goals

Pension funds commit to sustainability

Pension funds commit to sustainability

Kapor Center and Kapor Capital launched

Kapor Center and Kapor Capital launched

1999

Salesforce Founded

Salesforce Founded

Skoll Foundation launches

Skoll Foundation launches

Dow Jones Sustainability Indices launches

Dow Jones Sustainability Indices launches

1998

Google Founded

Google Founded

1997

Kyoto Protocol

Kyoto Protocol

Case Foundation launches

Case Foundation launches

The Global Reporting Initiative launches

The Global Reporting Initiative launches

1994

Growth of sustainable funds

Growth of sustainable funds

1992

NRG Energy Founded

NRG Energy Founded

1990

Domini Social Index launches

Domini Social Index launches

1982

Trillium Asset Management founded

Trillium Asset Management founded

1979

Whole Foods founded

Whole Foods founded

1978

Ben & Jerry's founded

Ben & Jerry's founded

1977

Sullivan principles

Sullivan principles

1976

Calvert Investments founded

Calvert Investments founded

Prudential Financial formalizes impact investing unit

Prudential Financial formalizes impact investing unit

1975

Walden Asset Management founded

Walden Asset Management founded

1973

Patagonia founded

Patagonia founded

1972

Milton Moskowitz lists “socially responsible stocks”

Milton Moskowitz lists “socially responsible stocks”

1971

Pax World launches

Pax World launches

Did we miss something?

Share this project: