RSF Social Finance Monthly -- October 2011

RSF Fall Newlsetter: Food & Agriculture

In this issue of the RSF Quarterly, we examine ways in which people are actively working to change how our food system operates. Check out the Clients in Conversation piece to learn about the work of RSF investor-borrowers, Jessica Rolph (HAPPYFAMILY) and John Roulac (Nutiva), in the superfoods industry. In other stories, hear from guest essayist Naomi Starkman on the burgeoning food hub movement and learn how members of the RSF community are educating the next generation to build a revitalized food system. Also, hear RSF's Entrepreneur-in-Residence Joel Solomon share his journey from biodynamic farming to finance. To download an electronic copy of the quarterly, click here. To receive hard copies of future issues free of charge, click here.

The 2011 RSF Borrower Gathering

Over the course of one and a half days, the RSF Borrower Gathering brought together a variety of RSF borrowers, all with extensive hands-on experience in building successful non-profit and for-profit social enterprises. Borrowers shared insight into their respective industries from many different geographic areas and across all three of RSF’s Focus Areas...Read the full post on the Reimagine Money blog.

RSF Seed Fund Grantee Provides Critical Training for New Farmers

Lincoln, Nebraska, is one of the top five cities for refugee resettlement per capita in the U.S. compared with other mid-sized cities. The majority of the people CROPS serves are refugees and immigrants from Sudan, Somalia, Congo, Mexico, Central America, Iraq, Vietnam, Burma, and other countries. Most are English Language Learners (ELL) who face language, cultural, and economic barriers to entering farming...Read the full post on the Reimagine Money blog.

Barn Dance Raises the Sustainable Food Movement

Approximately 30 participants joined the conversation consisting of the original seven non-profit organizations, as well as partners they invited to join. The group was a great representation of all of the people working in the sustainable food movement in the Bay Area including farmers, development directors, activists, teachers, volunteers, and community organizers...Read the full post on the Reimagine Money blog.

gDiapers President Named on of America's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs!

gDiapers President and co-founder, Kimberley Graham-Nye, has been named one of America’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs by Fortune Magazine...Read more in the RSF Newsroom.

Surfer Moving Millions

A. Please watch this short video by surfer Kyle Thiermann,

B. Please map your money and think about its ultimate uses,

C. Please take whatever action moves you.

Slow Money National Gathering, October 12-14

This year's list of speakers is phenomenal: award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster David Suzuki; global thinker, scientist and acclaimed author Vandana Shiva, named by Forbes as “one of the seven most influential women in the world“; Wes Jackson, founder of The Land Institute, which for 30 years has conducted cutting-edge research on sustainable agriculture; Leslie Christian, CEO of Portfolio 21; and many more.

Two RSF Social Finance staff members will be presenting in the break out sessions. Don Shaffer will offer his expertise in the panel Local Investing: Place-based strategies and the future of social investing and Taryn Goodman will speak about Mission-Related Investing, focusing on strategies for foundations to invest in small food enterprises.

Join this forward thinking group now. For details and to register, click here.

New Job Opportunity

We’re currently looking for a full-time Senior Associate, Legal & Documentation. The successful candidate will primarily be responsible for drafting loan documents and for loan transaction logistics to ensure timely, efficient, and professional documentation and closings. This person will also supervise the Loan Documentation Associate.

To learn more about this role please visit our Jobs page.

Listen to our Recent B Lab Webinar!

B Lab recently hosted a webinar on, A New Foundation for Portfolio Management, our recently published white paper which questions many of the assumptions that current investment practice takes for granted and asserts the need to expand our fundamental understanding of risk, growth, and utility to meet the investment challenges of the 21st century.

Follow this link to access a recording of the webinar -- hear RSF President & CEO Don Shaffer and Leslie Christian of Portfolio 21 Investments discuss the key elements of the paper and field questions from the B Lab community.

Upcoming Events

October 2 - SRI in the Rockies - New Orleans, LA
October 12 - Slow Money 2011 - San Francisco, CA
October 14 - Bioneers - San Rafael, CA
October 24 - Spirit in Money - Chestnut Ridge, NY
October 25 - B Corps Champions Retreat - Philadelphia, PA
October 26 - Investors' Circle - Philadelphia, PA
October 27 - SVN Fall 2011 - Philadelphia, PA
November 3 - Making Money Make Change - Riesterstown, MD
November 10 - Opportunity Green - Los Angeles, CA
November 12 - Green Festival - San Francisco, CA

RSF17539