Bush Foundation: Lessons from our impact investing experience

The Bush Foundation's 17-year impact investing journey reflects a strategic integration of endowment and programmatic investments to drive positive social change while maintaining financial returns. The staff has made 36 regional investments focused on affordable homeownership, Native energy sovereignty, and small business growth, alongside nine external investments. Their approach balances Mission-Related Investments (MRIs), “Adjusted-Risk Investments (ARIs),” and Program-Related Investments (PRIs) with grant funding, guided by three objectives: equity (expanding capital access), place (...