Impact Investing (EIB-B283)

Spring 2026 · EIB B283 · Tufts University · 3 credits · Undergraduate

Impact investments are investments made with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. As such, they challenge the perspective that social and environmental problems could only be addressed by government, multilaterals, and philanthropy and that market investments should only seek financial returns. As the world faces unprecedented challenges, the impact investing market plays a critical role in providing much needed capital and strategic partnerships to help address the world’s most pressing social and environmental problems. Social issues include access to health care, housing, education, clean water, financial inclusion, and safe work conditions. Environmental challenges include not only climate change, but also biodiversity and sustainable agriculture. This class will focus on impact investing, discerning how it fits among other investing strategies in the broader sustainable investing ecosystem. We will discuss concepts including SRI, ESG, and UN SDGs, debate what is and what is not impact investing, and we will evaluate important tools and resources to measure and manage the social and environmental impact of investments. The format is interactive with a combination of case studies, workshops, lecture, and guest speakers. Goals include: developing fluency on the broader sustainable investing ecosystem, which includes SRI, ESG, UN SDGs, thematic, and impact investing strategies; understanding key characteristics of impact investments and tools to recognize “green-washing” or “impact-washing”; learning the basics of impact management, including industry frameworks, impact measurement tools, different investment vehicles, and best practices.

Course codes: EIB-B283

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