The Lab for Impact Finance

The Croatan Institute Lab for Impact Finance extends the rigorous impact investment research, analysis, and insights that Croatan Institute built its foundation on to advance a holistic, total portfolio approach to activating investor capital for social and environmental impact. The Lab will develop and test innovative financial mechanisms and tools to unlock non-extractive capital that serves communities and creates pathways to a just economy. 

Areas of Impact

Investor Tools & Resources

  • RAISER (Research, Action, Insights for Environmental and Social Returns) interactive platform including a Food & Agriculture Investment Database and Racial Equity Investment Database highlighting hundreds of investable opportunities across asset classes
  • Applied research reports and resources for investors to better understand the impact investing landscape across thematic impact areas, plus access to our team of experts

Field-Building

  • Our Croatan Conversations bring leaders working on the frontlines of transformative finance, social equity, and ecological resilience into deep dialogue about learnings and opportunities to invest in solutions
  • Special events such as our Diverse Leaders in Climate and Agriculture Summit, Farmer Stakeholder Meeting, and private investor briefings convene a variety of actors along value chains to collaborate

Redirecting Capital

  • Connecting capital providers with on-the-ground partners to scale innovative models and investments rooted in community wealth-building
  • Place-based pilots and demonstrated case studies illustrating effective financial pathways to support investors, policymakers, and frontline communities

Research & Action

The Lab will apply Croatan Institute’s Total Portfolio Activation (TPA) framework. The TPA framework provides analytical tools to help mission-driven investors understand the specific impact opportunity set that can be pursued across every asset class in their portfolios. 

Building off a decade of research, the Lab’s continued efforts allow Croatan Institute to grow its investor and financial professional network through pilot studies demonstrating the effectiveness of total portfolio activation. The Lab’s experimentation and demonstration of scalable market-based solutions will help accelerate the movement of capital into resilient projects, making the urgent and essential shift from extractive to regenerative finance.

The Lab will provide space for investors and capital providers to connect with Croatan Institute partners on the ground seeking capital to advance soil wealth and social equityThe Lab will also be a resource for policymakers and regulators.

Highlighted Projects & Resources

Interested in speaking with our team? Have a collaboration idea? Explore becoming a visiting research fellow? Contact us at lab@croataninstitute.org and let’s talk! 

Meet the Staff and fellows

Liz Umlas

Senior Fellow, Lab Director

Bill Harrington

Senior Fellow

Katrina Lang

Associate

Sharlene Brown

Senior Fellow

Jaime Silverstein

Senior Associate

John Fenderson

Senior Fellow

Christi Electris

Executive Director

Joshua Humphreys

Senior Fellow, President