Venture Philanthropy & CFFP

Cascadia Foodshed Financing Project works at nexus of food, financing, and philanthropy. This space is where Impact Investing resides, a term that is as well defined as the term ‘sustainability.’
 
Our research has revealed further definition of the impact investing space to separate Venture Philanthropy from Impact Investing.  Venture Philanthropy is a nebulous term used to describe alternative funding approaches that produce both social impact and financial return on investment. As noted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, there is no one strategy for Venture Philanthropy but rather a set of common characteristics that help to define work in the field.  Some groups may highlight the use of blended finance including investment and grant making in tandem. Others may emphasize the additional use of skill sharing and other forms of nonfinancial support. Still others might emphasize the importance of systems change over the success of individual deals.
 
As CFFP seeks to build the regional food system of the Pacific Northwest through impact investing and venture philanthropy, we strive to stay abreast of the work of others. Our recently released Market Research explores new paths for the role of venture philanthropy within our own focus of food and place.
 
Here, we’ve gathered a starter pack of resources that provide a lay of the land surrounding venture philanthropy – both the intellectual development of the field and its manifestations on the ground:
​

• Nonprofit Quarterly: What is Venture Philanthropy?

 

• Toniic Institute: Successes and challenges of venture philanthropists and impact investors working together to fund early-stage impact enterprises around the world.

 

• Investopedia: What is the difference between Venture Philanthropy and Impact Investment?

 

• OECD: To what extent may Venture Philanthropy have a role in development?

 

• What are some models guiding the work of venture philanthropy today  
  
  • Asia Venture Philanthropy Network’s Capability Development Model
    
  •  European Venture Philanthropy Association
    
  •   Northwest Venture Philanthropy