Acumen

Philanthropy is evolving, with donors wanting their money to do more. In her new piece in Fortune, Acumen Founder and CEO Jacqueline Novogratz makes the case for how to use philanthropy so it has a lasting impact. https://lnkd.in/ejeXAHSi

The climate crisis is already reshaping lives and economies, from millions displaced each year to billions of dollars in lost growth. Yet investment in resilience remains far below what’s needed. Returns on Resilience, a new report by Systemiq Ltd. and over 20 partners, shows that investing in adaptation is a powerful economic opportunity. Every $1 invested in resilience delivers four times the benefits, ranging from avoided losses to new jobs and stronger economies. Swipe through for key insights from the report. You can download the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dAnNWepy

When Innocent Tshilombo arrived at Kakuma Refugee Camp, inconsistent electricity and Wi-Fi access blocked his online learning. So, he got to work, building Kakuma Ventures to solve a problem that impacted thousands of forcibly displaced people.  What challenges in your local community offer opportunities for impact?

Is milk chocolate pretentious? Should cocoa farmers earn a thriving income? Only one of these questions divided the room. We caught up with a few attendees at a cocoa convening in Colombia, hosted by CAF -banco de desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe-  in partnership with Acumen, bringing together entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors from Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean to reimagine a fairer, more sustainable cocoa future. Juliana Zamorano Villegas | Hiroshi Wago Rojas | Coco Lim  | Daniel Waldron | Dennise Valencia

Acumen’s Hardest-to-Reach (H2R) Initiative has been selected as AFSIA (Africa Solar Industry Association)’s 2025 Deal of the Year. Joel Sam, Associate Director for H2R, accepted the award in Accra on behalf of the Acumen team and the coalition of partners working to close the energy access gap in Africa’s least served markets. The recognition reflects a wider shift in how the sector now sees off-grid energy, with energy access central to Africa’s climate and economic future. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to Acumen winning this award and all of this year’s critical H2R milestones!

Acumen Fellow Steph Speirs started Future in Bloom to bring her climate tech expertise from Yale to YouTube and show how clean energy is transforming communities across the US. This is the one thing that changed everything for her. #RenewableEnergy #ClimateAction

Today is Giving Tuesday, a global celebration of generosity. At Acumen, your donation doesn’t just give, it builds.  We back entrepreneurs turning bold ideas into businesses that can scale to solve problems of poverty. Your donation is an investment in local leaders creating clean energy for families, stable incomes for farmers, and opportunities for communities. For almost 25 years, Acumen has built an ecosystem of impact, bigger than any one idea, innovation, or investment. Together, we’ve proven that when generosity meets purpose, the impact multiplies. This #GivingTuesday, help us go further. Turn generosity into measurable impact and change lives.  Donate now. https://lnkd.in/dshhMVKS

Aid budgets are becoming volatile. Donor behavior is shifting. But one thing remains clear: catalytic philanthropy is still essential for reaching the hardest places. In this new piece for Fortune, Acumen’s Founder, Jacqueline Novogratz, shares why early, risk-tolerant capital, the kind that backed Acumen’s earliest solar investments, remains the backbone of lasting impact.

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