CSP Newsletter: Fall 2024
Building a Legacy: CSP’s 2024 Impact Report, and more…
Dear friends,
As the seasons change and many around the world prepare for “back to school”, we’re getting set for this year’s edition of Impact Investing for the Next Generation (IING) program — and it’s going to be a special one. Peer-to-peer referrals are crucial for this program, so please do let potentially interested wealth holders know about it!
We ran the very first edition of this unique program in 2015 at Harvard University and we are looking forward to celebrating this 10-year program anniversary together with you in Zurich on Saturday, October 19th.
This year’s Impact Report captures some of what we’ve been able to achieve over this first decade. Take a look! For instance, 93% of the IING graduates surveyed said that they had more conversations with family or wealth advisors after taking the program, collectively moving somewhere between USD 4.2–32 billion into impactful investment strategies following the course. This is how change happens!
And, as always, we keep pushing forward. We’re continuing to expand our Level Two content for IING graduates and other dedicated impact investors. Following the enthusiastic interest in our ‘Investing in Systems Change’ program in Oslo earlier this year, our program on aligning all your forms of capital, at MIT October 23rd-25th, will offer a dedicated space to consider holistic approaches to creating impact in all areas of your life, using the varied resources at your disposal. Find the details on this and more below in our Fall newsletter.
Towards impact,
The CSP impact measurement project continues! Updated with the support of the impact measurement specialists at The Canopy Lab, our 2024 Impact Report looks at the ways in which CSP activities drive positive change, through Research, Trainings, Engagement, and our organization itself.
From expanding our Investor’s Guide series and contributing to the launch of the Initiative in Sustainable Finance, to training over 640 wealth managers and supporting our 9th cohort of Next Gens, a lot has happened over the last year. See the report for yourself!
Innovating towards systems-level change
ThThe first Investing for Systems Change training was a resounding success! Held before Katapult Future Fest in Oslo, Norway, the program brought together forward-thinking wealth holders and systemic investing pioneers to explore how to intentionally fund impact within complex systems.
This was one of two new first-of-their-kind trainings that build on the skills developed in ‘Impact Investing for the Next Generation’ to support program alumni and impact investors from the broader ecosystem in more effectively influencing systems change. The second will take place at MIT in Boston in October and focus on how individuals can more effectively catalyze change — beyond just moving money — using a multi-capital approach.
Are you curious and motivated to expand your capacities as an (U)HNW changemaker? Yes, tell me more!
P.S. Want to gain insight into these emerging investing trends? Expect Investor’s Guides on combining capitals and systems-level investing coming soon.
Research News
CSP Research Call: Identity & Wealth
Having wealth influences how we see ourselves, in both clear and subtle ways. How do wealth holders cope with money shaming, family expectations, and other challenges that come with being wealthy? Dr. Falko Paetzold, Prof. Dr. Matthias Waldkirch, and incoming PhD candidate Katharina Brueck (a wealth holder herself) will explore this topic over the next three years. Discuss which topics matter to you, and what they should focus on! Sign up to join the Zoom call: Wednesday, Sept. 4th at 5pm CEST.
Accessible insights from the Initiative in Sustainable Finance
The Initiative in Sustainable Finance at the University of Zurich Department of Finance is dedicated to addressing pressing challenges by making cutting edge sustainable finance research accessible to the wider public. The Research Highlight series does just that. Check out the latest ones on underestimating climate risk and trends in climate-related corporate lobbying. Want the latest updates? Check here or follow the Department of Finance on Linkedin.
Voting with your portfolio, or with your ballot? Not mutually exclusive!
Might sustainable investing reduce political support for climate regulation? CSP Collaborators Florian Heeb, Julian Kölbel, Stefano Ramelli, and Anna Vasileva examined this critical question by looking at Switzerland’s 2023 climate referendum. They found that, for the most part, investing in climate-conscious funds didn’t detract from individuals’ support for stronger climate policies. Read the full working paper here.
Understanding the sustainable finance landscape
The global impact investing market is estimated to have grown 900% between 2017 and 2022 according to the Global Impact Investing Network’s 2020 Annual Investor Survey. The market for sustainable investments in general is even bigger, with up to 37 trillion USD in assets under management considered to be sustainably invested in 2022. But what does this really mean, what are the distinctions between these categories, and where does ESG fit into the mix? If you’ve been asking yourself questions like these, CSP’s one-day Masterclass might be for you.
Master the basics, no matter your background
Don’t have time to read through the latest papers? Curious about sustainable finance but don’t know where to start? Our one-day Sustainable Investing Masterclass is open to everyone and offers a solid introduction to the fundamentals. The next edition will be held December 2nd. Details and registration here.
Want to receive updates like these directly in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter!
