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Boundless publishes white papers on topics that require particular attention in the impact investing field. Impact measurement has become our specialty, and data-driven impact measurement is critical to advancing the best solutions.
Education technology (ed tech) has been broadly championed as a key component of education reform in U.S. public schools. There are now thousands of tools, materials, and services on the ed tech market, many promising to help raise the level of U.S. K-12 education. While many of these tools are underpinned by solid theories of change and pedagogy, the vast majority have not been rigorously examined, evaluated or validated.
Read MoreAs electric utilities increasingly move away from fossil fuels to meet international emission reduction commitments, all sources of renewable energy resources have experienced considerable growth. While solar photovoltaics and wind turbines are often the first technologies that come to mind, it is bioenergy that the International Energy Agency predicts will contribute the most renewable production over the next five years and account for more than 30% of growth.
Read MoreThe Monarch butterfly population has plummeted by 80% since 19901 and the majority of efforts to restore the butterfly are philanthropic and regionally focused, proving to be too limited for this at risk species. Efforts to restore the Monarch butterfly urgently need the help of impact investors who care about both solving the problem at its root and scaling the solution to achieve a real difference.
Read MoreThe U.S. patient population is undergoing a dramatic shift due to its aging population and increased non-communicable disease burden. Patients, particularly those that are diagnosed with multiple chronic diseases, are suffering physically and economically, as they often have to undergo expensive services. “Super users,” who frequently visit hospitals and suffer from chronic and mental health conditions, comprise 5% of the patient population but drive 50% of U.S. healthcare costs.
Read MoreThe investment industry needs a data-driven approach to impact measurement, that addresses the nearly $23 trillion of professionally managed assets in values-based investing, as individual and institutional investors seek to invest with both profit and purpose. We analyzed various methods of defining and measuring impact to see what is working and where there is opportunity for improving the state of the art, through conversations with over 20 industry experts.
Read MoreThis paper describes a promising new effort to fight global labor exploitation using financing strategies to advance and expand the global trend toward fair labor practices. It focuses on private market investment innovations and opportunities, where investors interested in improving global labor conditions while achieving positive financial results are most likely to meet their objectives.
Read MoreThe rise of income inequality is becoming increasingly tied to costly housing. As housing burdens begin to rise, ordinary families are seeing a significant portion of their income absorbed by rent, resulting in a decrease in their disposable incomes. Consequently, they are experiencing economic and financial constraints, limiting the scope of their opportunities and future development.
Read MoreThe American food system operates with tremendous yet largely avoidable inefficiencies, with the most recent data identifying losses of 30-40% of the available food supply. Food loss and food waste, respectively defined as the result of unintended or conscious circumstances, claim over 130 billion pounds of food in the US annually. Food intended for human consumption that is never eaten places a significant drain on natural, human, and financial resources.
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