The foundation exists solely to serve a public purpose--makinginvestments that further the ability of people and communities to move out of poverty and thrive. This purpose guides not only the foundation's grantmaking, but the use of all of its resources, including investment capital, so that it can use them fully to contribute to the reduction of poverty, the widening of opportunity, and the improvement in material and social well-being for disadvantaged people and communities. The Heron investment policy reflects its intent to balance the social and financial return on all assets, and to select opportunities for deploying capital, whether as grants or as investments, so as to maximize the combination of both kinds of return within each. Heron's investing goal is to align 100 percent of its capital with its mission. Heron targets growth stage nonprofits and for-profits that will: 1) increase and maintain reliable employment, especially for people who are economically disadvantaged; 2) advance systemic innovations in the economy that will help individuals and communities succeed; 3) and result in net positive contributions to society. The foundation operates through a single capital deployment office, removing the traditional foundation's distinction between investing and grantmaking. Heron understands thatmoney alone is not enough for an enterprise to succeed, therefore the foundation primarily co-invests.Heron's Investment Approach: a) 100 percent of its assets for mission; b) Tax-status agnostic (for-profits and nonprofits); c) All forms of capital (debt, equity, grants, intellectual, etc.); and d) Growth-stage enterprises.
titles from this organization
Reducing poverty without community displacement: Indicators of inclusive prosperity in U.S. neighborhoods
Sep 13, 2022
Publisher(s): Brookings Institution
Is Grantmaking Getting Smarter? A National Study of Philanthropic Practice, 2014
Nov 20, 2014
Publisher(s): Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO)
From Potential to Action: Bringing Social Impact Bonds to the U.S.
May 15, 2012
Publisher(s): McKinsey & Company
Struggling to Stay Afloat: Negative Equity in Communities of Color in the Chicago Six County Region
Mar 22, 2012
Publisher(s): Woodstock Institute
Reframing the Conversation: Expanding the Impact of Grantees: How Do We Build the Capacity of Nonprofits to Evaluate, Learn and Improve?
Dec 13, 2011
Publisher(s): Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO)
Reframing the Conversation: How Can Grantmakers Aggregate Resources to Grow Impact?
Sep 30, 2011
Publisher(s): Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO)
Reframing the Conversation: How Can Grantmakers Support Readiness to Scale Impact?
Sep 30, 2011
Publisher(s): Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO)
