Candide Group Autumn 2024 Newsletter: Three post-election invitations to impact investors |  | |
At Candide Group we remain committed to shifting the flow of money and power to create a world where all of us thrive, no matter who occupies our political offices. We make space at this moment for a multiplicity of emotions: from grief to hope. We are reflecting on the interdependency of cultural, economic and political change. And we center the long work of organizing — supporting the leadership of those most disinvested and disrespected by traditional power structures.
Founding Partner Morgan Simon shared three invitations for impact investors on how to move forward post-election in Impact Alpha, summarized below:
1. Understand this election result impacts people differently, and treat them with grace.
In her concession speech, Kamala Harris said “This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves.” While some of us are in a position to roll up our sleeves and say “what’s next?” or use action as a coping mechanism, many people are very much sitting with hurt, frustration, anger and fear. Some of the people we most need to listen to, may not be the first to speak in the days after the election. That means keeping our minds and hearts open to the many painful and personal impacts this election has had, and will have on many.
2. Economic change precedes political change.
Impact investors have a unique responsibility to build the foundation of political movements, which is economic autonomy. We know how much most Americans are hurting in an economy never designed to serve them. And that means we have the ability to see more deeply the political impact we can have by helping to build and broaden economic power. It's not enough to just make capital more accountable to communities–it's actually redistributing control over capital and making sure people have the resources they need to engage critically in political life.
Our work at Candide Group is often designed to help build economic power by directing capital into communities that too often have been excluded and both politically and economically unheard, from Appalachia to Indian Country. Economic autonomy is at the root of both cultural and political autonomy, and we see how we can help build it through work that funds worker ownership, community land stewardship, climate justice and beyond.
3. While campaign donations are over, the need for political organizing donations is still critical.
Impact investment companies, as for-profit social enterprises, have the privilege of engaging politically in ways our non-profit peers cannot, and that includes with our dollars. So if you think you made your last political donation on November 5th–think again. Whether it's Movement Voter Project or Freedom Economy or Way to Win, consider funding the work that will be needed to help us navigate our next steps as a nation.
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Recent Investments by Candide Funds | |
We’re proud of the momentum of Afterglow, investing in community-centered climate justice solutions! | | |
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Solar Holler
Helping communities, non-profits, and municipalities develop affordable community-supported solar projects across West Virginia.
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GEJC
The purpose of Green Energy Justice Cooperative (GEJC) is to create energy sovereignty for Black and Brown communities everywhere by owning clean renewable energy generation and distribution that meets the needs of our communities. The Cooperative’s vision is to achieve economic, political, and educational independence for Black and Brown communities everywhere through the achievement of energy sovereignty.
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Georgia Bright
Georgia Bright is its namesake's implementation for the EPA's Solar for All Program, intended to help low-income and disadvantaged communities access clean energy generation.
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Re-volv
RE-volv is a climate justice nonprofit that helps nonprofits in historically excluded communities across the country go solar, while raising awareness about equitable climate solutions and training the next generation of clean energy leaders.
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Recent Investments by Candide Clients | | |
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Symphonic Capital
Symphonic Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm dedicated to investing in technology solutions that close access gaps in health and wealth. It is BIPOC women-owned and operated.
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Collab Fund*
Collab Fund backs entrepreneurs, businesses, and protocols pushing the world forward.
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Mayvenn, Inc.*
Mayvenn enables stylists to sell products directly to their clients without the upfront costs and burdens of holding inventory. This helps drives sales for stylists while reducing costs for underserved consumers.
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Candide Investees Making Headlines | Hot off the presses: here are some big highlights from our client portfolios! | |
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Financing Solar Panels Just Became Much Easier
No doubt an enduring element of Biden’s legacy will be how his administration has eased financing for green energy. Thanks to organizations like Afterglow borrower RE-Volv, low-and-middle income communities and non-profits are finding the right financing for their community solar projects.
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From left to right – Kim Cavazos Haywood, Morgan Simon, James Pippim, Karla Magana Figueroa, Leticia Corona, Aner Ben-Ami, George Ashton, Leslie Lindo, Emily Ziethen, starkey baker, and Jasmine Rashid during our team Lake Merritt clean-up in Oakland | |
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Happy Fall from the Candide Group team! In this season of gathering, we came together:
- As a team, during our annual in-person strategy meeting and park clean-up time;
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As a community, at the launch party for The Financial Activist Playbook; and
- As an industry, with so many of you, at conferences like SOCAP, OFN, L’ATTITUDE, and more.
Here’s a few resources, highlights, and reflections from our team to you and yours.
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A Money + Meaning Podcast featuring our very own Leslie Lindo and Morgan Simon. New models of participatory investment are helping to build a more inclusive and effective impact investing community. By giving entrepreneurs and grassroots communities a voice and vote in investment decisions, practitioners are centering community voices in their investment decision processes.
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Historically, one major facet of Candide Group’s work has been increasing access to affordable and sustainable housing and ensuring fair access to employment and entrepreneurial activity for returning citizens. But it remains a cruel irony that America’s laws and processes do not treat everyone equally. In this piece we advocate for fairer treatment for people with felony convictions, pointing out the cruel irony exposed by the 2024 election.
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Community power is more important than ever. We were thrilled to co-host the book launch party for Jasmine Rashid, Candide’s Director of Impact! Alongside Candide allies the New Economy Coalition, C-Note, Just Economy Institute, Kataly Foundation, ICA, Hella Heart Oakland, Viscera Studio, Women's Foundation California, and Nia Impact Capital, we celebrated the release of The Financial Activist Playbook and its 8 strategies for reclaiming wealth and well-being.
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Keep an eye out for our year-end round-up of Candide Group happenings, project launches, and much more.
Until then, we’re sending wishes for peace and liberation.
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To see the last 12 months of recommendations, please email ops@candidegroup.com with your request. Please allow up to five business days for a response. For more information about Candide, please see our Form ADV, Part 2A.
Disclosure: The information contained in this document is intended for educational and information purposes only and should not be considered investment tax or legal advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any particular security. Please consult with your tax and legal advisors regarding your particular circumstances.Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts, and other forward-looking statements, which do not reflect actual results and are based primarily upon a hypothetical set of assumptions applied to certain historical financial information. Certain information has been provided by third-party sources, and, although believed to be reliable, it has not been independently verified, and its accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed.Any opinions, projections, forecasts, and forward-looking statements presented herein are valid as of the date of this document and are subject to change. The views and opinions are those of the author as of the date of publication and are subject to change at any time. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. Candide Group is under no obligation to update this information after the date of this publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results; no representation is being made that any investment will or is likely to achieve profits or losses like those achieved in the past, or that significant losses will be avoided. An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of any financial product carefully before investing. Investing involves various risks, including loss of principal. Charts and graphs provided herein are for illustrative purposes only. For more information about Candide, please see our Form ADV, Part 2A.
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