De-Risking for Impact: How Guarantees Unlock Capital for Social Good
Guarantees are a powerful, yet underutilized, tool in the philanthropic investing toolkit. By taking on risk others won’t, guarantees can unlock private capital, de-risk bold ideas, and help mission-aligned projects attract more investors to scale.
Join Mission Investors Exchange (MIE) July 29 from 10:30 a.m.-Noon PT/1:30-3 p.m. ET for an in-depth Special Conversation on how foundations are using guarantees to drive impact across different sectors, from affordable housing to small business lending to climate. Speakers will share examples, explore different guarantee structures, and offer insight on how guarantees fit into a broader impact investing strategy. This will provide practical guidance and inspiration for leveraging your capital for deeper impact.
MIE members, log in to register for this Special Conversation. If you have questions or challenges accessing registration, please contact Lizzie Avila.
Speakers:
Jim Baek, Executive Director, Community Investment Guarantee Pool
Jim Baek (pronounced: “beck”) is a Senior Vice President at Locus and leads the Community Investment Guarantee Pool (CIGP) as its Executive Director. CIGP is a first-of-its-kind platform and fund that enables impact-aligned guarantors including philanthropy to unlock their balance sheets by pooling resources and sharing risk in financial guarantees that catalyze greater investment in structurally underserved or excluded communities with a focus on climate change, small business and affordable housing. Jim has substantial community development finance, affordable housing, and impact investment experience and is committed to advancing racial equity thru his work. Jim lives in Brooklyn, NY with his spouse and two daughters. In his spare time, Jim enjoys being in nature, playing soccer with his kids, and training/supporting their recently adopted dog. Jim was born in Korea and moved to Chicago when he was 6 years old and grew up in the Chicagoland area. He graduated from Grinnell College (BA) and the University of Michigan (MBA).
Jim Baek (pronounced: “beck”) is a Senior Vice President at Locus and leads the Community Investment Guarantee Pool (CIGP) as its Executive Director. CIGP is a first-of-its-kind platform and fund that enables impact-aligned guarantors including philanthropy to unlock their balance sheets by pooling resources and sharing risk in financial guarantees that catalyze greater investment in structurally underserved or excluded communities with a focus on climate change, small business and affordable housing. Jim has substantial community development finance, affordable housing, and impact investment experience and is committed to advancing racial equity thru his work. Jim lives in Brooklyn, NY with his spouse and two daughters. In his spare time, Jim enjoys being in nature, playing soccer with his kids, and training/supporting their recently adopted dog. Jim was born in Korea and moved to Chicago when he was 6 years old and grew up in the Chicagoland area. He graduated from Grinnell College (BA) and the University of Michigan (MBA).
Eileen O’Rourke, Director of Impact Investing, Abell Foundation
As Director of Impact Investing, Eileen collaborates with local partners to create financing solutions that advance the Foundation’s mission-related goals, including evaluating, promoting, and managing direct investments in local early-stage companies. She actively supports the growing Baltimore innovation ecosystem and participates with management teams in commercializing promising technologies, and leads the Foundation’s green energy investment in OTEC International.
Eileen joined the Abell Foundation in 1999, and brings over thirty years of experience in building effective teams, problem solving and innovating, elevating financial management, reporting and operations, and managing diverse projects to successful outcomes. A former KPMG Manager and Legg Mason Vice-President, Eileen is a certified public accountant, a registered securities broker, and a certified financial and operations principal. Eileen has deep Baltimore roots; she graduated summa cum laude from Loyola College and currently serves on various boards and committees including Pixelligent, Cooltech, and the Propel Baltimore Funds.
Chris Romano, Chief Operating Officer, Bush Foundation
Eileen joined the Abell Foundation in 1999, and brings over thirty years of experience in building effective teams, problem solving and innovating, elevating financial management, reporting and operations, and managing diverse projects to successful outcomes. A former KPMG Manager and Legg Mason Vice-President, Eileen is a certified public accountant, a registered securities broker, and a certified financial and operations principal. Eileen has deep Baltimore roots; she graduated summa cum laude from Loyola College and currently serves on various boards and committees including Pixelligent, Cooltech, and the Propel Baltimore Funds.
Chris Romano, Chief Operating Officer, Bush Foundation
Chris is the chief operating officer for the Bush Foundation. His leadership provides direction and guidance for the teams that support Bush’s organizational purpose through effective operations.
Chris provides coordination and integration across the teams that steward Bush’s assets; ensure integrity, equity and transparency in all aspects of finance and operations; engender trust through effective communications; make sure that Bush remains a great place to work, learn and grow; and contributes to the design and implementation of community-led processes. He is a key member of Bush’s management team and leads work that supports board committees.
Chris joined Bush in 2022 and is a 2010 Bush Fellow. He has held a variety of leadership roles for organizations that span wide-ranging sectors. He served as executive director for Seward Redesign, a community development corporation that leads real estate and economic development initiatives in South Minneapolis, and was chief operating officer for the Center for Economic Inclusion. His experiences also include diverse leadership roles at Thrivent Financial and as executive director for the Riverview Economic Development Association.
Chris is an avid fisherman and most content and at home in Minnesota’s north woods or on a boat somewhere. He lives in south Minneapolis with his wife and 3 teenage sons.
Moderators:
Chris provides coordination and integration across the teams that steward Bush’s assets; ensure integrity, equity and transparency in all aspects of finance and operations; engender trust through effective communications; make sure that Bush remains a great place to work, learn and grow; and contributes to the design and implementation of community-led processes. He is a key member of Bush’s management team and leads work that supports board committees.
Chris joined Bush in 2022 and is a 2010 Bush Fellow. He has held a variety of leadership roles for organizations that span wide-ranging sectors. He served as executive director for Seward Redesign, a community development corporation that leads real estate and economic development initiatives in South Minneapolis, and was chief operating officer for the Center for Economic Inclusion. His experiences also include diverse leadership roles at Thrivent Financial and as executive director for the Riverview Economic Development Association.
Chris is an avid fisherman and most content and at home in Minnesota’s north woods or on a boat somewhere. He lives in south Minneapolis with his wife and 3 teenage sons.
Moderators:
-
Lizzie Avila, Impact Fellow, MIE
-
James Wahls, Senior Vice President, Programs and Initiatives, MIE
