[Infographic] Mission Investing

This week’s infographic provides some basic facts, courtesy of the data architecture team here at the Foundation Center, about the relatively small but growing field of mission investing, which encompasses both market-rate mission-related investments (MRIs) and program-related investments (PRIs).

The first program-related investment was made in the late 1960s, and the Foundation Center has been tracking foundation use of PRIs for more than sixteen years. The infographic below, which is partly based on a Foundation Center survey conducted in 2011 and on more recent research, reveals the staggering amount of assets available for mission investing and the geographic scope of such investments.

As foundations, the public sector, and businesses increasingly investigate the profit potential in making socially beneficial investments, the dollar amount of both MRIs and PRIs is expected to increase. As it does, the Foundation Center will continue to collect and share information about those investments and their impact.

Has your organization made or received an MRI or PRI? Was it a positive experience? Have any mission investing lessons you can share with funders and/or potential recipients of such investments? Use the comments section below...

-- Sue Rissberger