
A look back at 2015
December 22, 2015
As I write this it’s 67° F in the Washington, DC area, and it doesn’t seem like the right time for a year-end review.
But it’s indeed the end of December, and we’re reflecting on the biggest stories from 2015 and previewing what’s to come in 2016.
Vested.org re-launches with better user experience
Our online platform Vested.org re-launched with an improved user experience and more investment options, including Age Strong and India.
Since launching in 2014, more than 300 people have made 700 investments on Vested totaling nearly $400,000. In early 2016 we will be rolling out a comprehensive update to Vested including more stories from our portfolio partners and a better way to search for the issues that matter to you.
Visit Vested.org to create an account and begin building your impact investment portfolio.
Age Strong™ finances aging-focused enterprises and projects
During the first half of 2015 we developed the Age Strong initiative in collaboration with AARP Foundation and Capital Impact Partners. Age Strong soft launched in July at the n4a Conference on Aging, and officially at SOCAP in October. Age Strong funds enterprises that provide critical services for people over 50 living in the U.S. Aging is a new and important focus for us, because by 2040 our population over 65 will double.
Financing the enterprises that serve this growing demographic will lead to stronger communities, and it will grow the resources we all need to age strong.
The initiative builds on the program experience of AARP Foundation, whose work focuses on meeting the housing, income, isolation and hunger issues facing older people, and Capital Impact Partners, who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience funding community based aging solutions.
Only a few months under way, the response has been strong: hundreds of people have joined on Facebook, Twitter and email, and investors have already invested $37,000. In the first quarter of 2016 we’ll highlight the newest enterprises to be financed through Age Strong, and the impact of their work.