Definitions of Impact Investing
Stanford Social Innovation Review
Impact Investing Defined An impact investor seeks to produce beneficial social or environmental outcomes that would not occur but for his investment in a social enterprise. In international development and carbon markets, this is called additionality. With this core concept in mind, we define the practice of “impact investing” capaciously, as actively placing capital in enterprises that generate social or environmental goods, services, or ancillary benefits (such as creating jobs), with expected financial returns ranging from the highly concessionary to above market.
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/unpacking_the_impact_in_impact_investing
ADEC-innovations
Businesses involved in impact investing allocate assets towards goods and services that bring about positive social impact. Impact investing can create significant value for investors and society as a whole.
https://www.esg.adec-innovations.com/about-us/faqs/what-is-impact-investing/
Mckinsey
Impact investing directs capital to enterprises that generate social or environmental benefits.
International Finance Corporation
Impact investing can be defined as “investments made into companies, organizations, vehicles and funds with the intent to contribute to measurable positive social, economic and environmental impact alongside financial returns.”
Investopedia
Impact investing is investing that aims to generate specific beneficial social or environmental effects in addition to financial gain. Impact investing is a subset of socially responsible investing (SRI), but while the definition of socially responsible investing encompasses avoidance of harm, impact investing actively seeks to make a positive impact by investing, for example, in non-profits that benefit the community or in clean technology enterprises.
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/impact-investing.asp
Wikipedia
Impact investing refers to investments "made into companies, organizations, and funds with the intention to generate a measurable, beneficial social or environmental impact alongside a financial return."[1] Impact investments provide capital to address social and/or environmental issues. They can be made in either emerging or developed markets, and depending on the goals of the investors, can "target a range of returns from below-market to above-market rates".[2] Impact investors actively seek to place capital in businesses, nonprofits, and funds in industries such as renewable energy,[3] basic services including housing, healthcare, and education, micro-finance, and sustainable agriculture.[4] Impact investing occurs across asset classes; for example, private equity/venture capital, debt, and fixed income.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_investing
Reuters
Impact investing incorporates values into investing, to achieve positive social or environmental results. It’s not just about avoiding, or about mitigating risk, but it is also about addressing inequality, climate change, increased access to financial services and healthcare and housing for poor people.