REDF Impact Investing Fund November 2022 Newsletter

RIIF Welcomes New Board Members

Terry Ing is a Managing Director at KKR, where he is a portfolio manager for KKR’s leveraged credit funds and a member of the U.S. Leveraged Credit Investment Committee and KKR Credit Portfolio Management Committee.

Cedric D. Thurman is Executive Vice President at Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, where he serves as Chief Diversity Officer, and Group Head, Community Investment and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Read the Press Release

RIIF at Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) Conference

In October, Emilie Linick, Director of Impact Lending at RIIF, moderated a panel discussion at the Opportunity Finance Network Conference entitled Jobs & Justice: How Investing in Social Enterprise Advances Equity. Panelists included two ESE leaders/RIIF borrowers with lived experience: Coss Marte, Founder & CEO of CONBODY, and Carl Phinney, Founder & CEO of Opportunity Construction; and Hummayun Javed, Director of Investments at Align Impact, a current RIIF investor. The lively discussion touched on Coss and Carl’s journey to social entrepreneurship, the challenges they have faced in securing loan capital, and the power and potential of ESEs to advance equity.

RIIF In The Field

RIIF Team visits Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program

Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP), is a nonprofit and an alum of the REDF Accelerator. As part of RIIF’s underwriting due diligence, RIIF and REDF staff, along with a RIIF board member, spent the day with FFRP to experience their fire prevention and safety training. FFRP works with wildland firefighters in and out of the criminal justice system who have the skills and experience needed to fight California’s wildfires. At their Oakland headquarters, individuals returning home from incarceration receive additional training, wraparound support, and transitional employment in preparation for their careers protecting our communities.

RIIF at Firebrand Artisan Breads

In October the RIIF team, along with partner CDFI lenders Community Reinvestment Fund and Community Vision, got a tour of borrower Firebrand Artisan Breads‘ new 40,000-square-foot 24/7 production space in Alameda, California. Firebrand is an inclusive, equitable workplace, providing good jobs for those with barriers to employment through the craft of artisanal baking. We’re proud to have invested in helping them grow their business and create more jobs.

We’re excited to share that the 8th annual Social Enterprise Gift Guide is now available for your holiday shopping! This year’s guide includes some of our RIIF borrowers and employment social enterprises in the REDF network. Find something for everyone on your shopping list and support mission-driven businesses.

Start Shopping!