Catalytic capital is a powerful tool in making transformative change. It can mitigate risk and seed new ideas for impact investments that seek to achieve positive social and economic outcomes in addition to financial return.
While the impact investing market has grown in recent years, additional sources of catalytic capital are needed to mobilize traditional return-seeking capital at scale to address the pressing social needs and promote inclusive economic growth in the United States.
The Sorenson Impact Center is pleased to present a series of White Papers exploring three impactful federal policy options:
1. Unlocking Catalytic Capital: Federal Requirements for Outcomes-based Financing
Federal statutes that authorize outcomes-based funding have not resulted in wide adoption of these funding models. Introducing a requirement for states to expend a percentage of new money in targeted funding areas can catalyze and scale investment to improve social outcomes, creating meaningful change.
2. Unlocking Catalytic Capital: United States Domestic Investment Fund (USDIF)
Existing federal efforts to direct public and private resources to small businesses and low-income communities face limitations in meeting the needs of underserved communities and populations. A new U.S. Domestic Investment Fund can address these limitations and promote greater and more resilient inclusive economic growth. The USDIF would be dedicated solely to providing public catalytic capital to enable scaling of private investment to address domestic social and economic development needs and national economic priorities.
3. Unlocking Catalytic Capital: Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)
The Community Reinvestment Act has the potential to increase bank provision and facilitation of catalytic capital in support of low- and moderate-income communities. This proposal explores ways in which CRA could expand the pool of catalytic capital providers and enhance LMI community investment readiness. We discuss the limitations of CRA, including the ratings and evaluations process, regulatory consensus, and additional incentives outside of the CRA.
