Publications

The twelfth annual report examining CalPERS’ California Initiative, a $1 billion private equity, economically targeted investment (ETI). The California Initiative seeks to invest in companies located in traditionally underserved markets, primarily, but not exclusively, located in California. The California Initiative’s primary objective is to generate attractive financial returns, meeting or exceeding private equity benchmarks. As an ancillary benefit, the California Initiative was designed to focus investment in California’s underserved markets and invest in portfolio companies that: Have historically had limited access to institutional equity capital Employ workers who reside in economically disadvantaged areas Provide employment opportunities to women and minority entrepreneurs and managers  

The seventh annual report documenting the California Public Employees Retirement System’s $27.3 billion of investments in California as of June 30, 2016. The report provides an examination of the broad ancillary benefits of all CalPERS investments in California across the asset classes of public equity, fixed income, private equity, real estate, and infrastructure. CalPERS is the nation’s largest public pension fund, with assets totaling $300 billion as of June 30, 2016. They have a strong track record of long-term returns, and of mobilizing financial capital in new and innovative ways. Ancillary benefits of CalPERS investments described in this report include the creation and support of jobs, infrastructure for communities and commerce, and business expansion and related economic activity.  

We are pleased to share our latest report: Invest Northwest: Ten-Year Final Performance Review. For ten years Pacific Community Ventures has worked with the Northwest Area Foundation (NWAF) and the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) to annually evaluate the social performance of Invest Northwest, a place-based mission-related private equity fund. Invest Northwest was created in 2004 with the twin objectives of generating market-rate financial returns and social returns aligned with NWAF’s mission — to support efforts by people, organizations and communities to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity in the northwestern states of the U.S. As a place-based investment, Invest Northwest was established to support business growth and retention as well as the creation of good jobs for residents within NWAF’s eight-state service region that encompasses Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, and Washington.  Invest Northwest was developed at a time when mission investing was still an emerging … Read More

Despite the increasing size and sophistication of community financial development institutions (CDFIs) like PCV — as well as the broader impact investing industry — accessing capital from institutional investors like insurance companies remains exceptionally difficult for most CDFIs and other investors seeking financial returns in addition to positive social or environmental impact. Raising institutional capital can be challenging for several reasons, namely the institutional investors’ stringent investment policies, lack of familiarity with the impact investing industry, the misconception that investments in this arena are necessarily concessionary, and the mismatch between supply and demand for capital — the smallest investments that large institutional investors can make (e.g. $20 million) is often much larger what a CDFI or small fund manager wants or is able to raise. Yet with over a trillion dollars in annual revenues, the U.S. insurance industry represents a vast, largely untapped source of capital for impact investors. The California Organized Investment … Read More