Insider Q&Amp;A: Jean Case on Impact Investing and Esg Backlash


Foundation: Case Foundation

credit: Flickr/NIAID

Jean Case, who rose to fortune and fame as an executive at American Online, has been a fan of impact investing since before it had that name.

It looks to invest in projects and companies that make a direct impact on society, like Warby Parker, the eyeglass retailer that distributes a pair to people in need for every pair sold.

Case is now chairman at the National Geographic Society and CEO of the Case Foundation, which she created with her husband and AOL co-founder Steve Case.

She spoke with the AP about her efforts to expand impact investing, particularly when a similar style of investing known as ESG has become the target of harsh political criticism.

Case defines impact investing as the investment of capital for a financial return combined with a social return.

Every investment has impact.

"The question is what impact does it have," Case says.

Case's goal for not just the For What It's Worth newsletter (that Case produces weekly on impact investing) but through all our work is to try to drive positive social impact by the powerful use of business and capital.

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