Featured GIIN Publication

2019 Annual Impact Investor Survey

Global Impact Investing Network June 19, 2019 Abhilash Mudaliar, Rachel Bass, Hannah Dithrich, Noshin Nova

The 2019 Annual Impact Investor Survey demonstrates the increasing scale and maturity of the impact investing industry. The report draws on responses from 266 leading impact investing organizations from around the world, including: fund managers, foundations, banks, development finance institutions, family offices, permanent investment companies, pension funds, and others. These respondents collectively manage USD 239 billion, a subset of the total USD 502 billion in the market.

In its ninth edition, the Annual Impact Investor Survey provides data and insights on impact investors’ motivations, activities, and perspectives on market progress and remaining challenges. Analysis of trends among a subset of 83 four-year repeat survey respondents—those who responded in both 2014 and 2018—offers further insight into market growth.

In all, the 2019 Annual Impact Investor Survey finds that:

  • The impact investing market is diverse;
  • It continues to grow and mature;
  • Impact measurement and management is central to investors’ goals and practices;
  • Impact investors report performance in line with both financial and impact expectations;
  • Impact investors indicate commitment to developing the industry.

This report is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this report are the sole responsibility of the Global Impact Investing Network and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

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Interact with Data on Sub-Groups of Survey Respondents

In order to offer greater insight into findings from the GIIN’s 2019 Annual Impact Investor Survey, the figures below show how findings vary between different segments of respondents that share certain characteristics. Examples of such sub-groups are investors with the majority of their capital allocated to a particular asset class or geography. The table to the right details the sub-groups included and their defining characteristics.

Helpful hint: Hover over each chart to see precise figures. For optimal viewing quality, click button in bottom right to see charts in full screen mode.

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Helpful hint: Hover over each chart to see precise figures. For optimal viewing quality, click button in bottom right to see charts in full screen mode.

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Helpful hint: Hover over each chart to see precise figures. For optimal viewing quality, click button in bottom right to see charts in full screen mode.

back to top

Helpful hint: Hover over each chart to see precise figures. For optimal viewing quality, click button in bottom right to see charts in full screen mode.

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Sub-group of Respondents Description of sub-group
Emerging-market-focused Respondents that allocate ≥ 75% of their current impact investment assets under management (AUM) to emerging markets
Developed-market-focused

Respondents that allocate ≥ 75% of their current impact investment AUM to developed markets

Private-debt-focused Respondents that allocate ≥ 75% of their current impact investment AUM to private debt
Private-equity-focused Respondents that allocate ≥ 75% of their current impact investment AUM to private equity
Market rate Respondents that principally target risk-adjusted, market-rate returns
Below market Respondents that principally target below-market-rate returns, some closer to market-rate and some closer to capital preservation
Impact-only Investors making only impact investments
Impact-and-conventional Investors making both impact and conventional investments

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