Thursday, May 27, 2010

Opportunity Collaboration selects Calvert Foundation CEO for award.

The Opportunity Collaboration has selected Shari Berenbach as the recipient of the Opportunity Collaboration's 2010 Economic Achievement Award

Presented by the Opportunity Collaboration, the award recognizes an exceptional leader with a passionate commitment to combating poverty through methods that are creative, collaborative and efficient. 
"Shari Berenbach is a force of nature," says Opportunity Collaboration CEO Jonathan C. Lewis.  "She has been a consistent and unwavering voice for social and economic justice.  Via innovative thinking, collaborative action, and an open heart, Shari has increased the economic opportunities for thousands upon thousands.  We are proud to honor a leader who so clearly displays the social investment ideal."

As winner of the 2010 Economic Opportunity Award, Shari will join 300 delegates later this year at the Opportunity Collaboration, a four-day strategic and problem solving business retreat for nonprofit leaders, for-profit social entrepreneurs, funders and social investors working to combat poverty. 

Portfolio manager contributes to new book on social enterprise.

Jennifer Pryce, Calvert Foundation's domestic portfolio manager, has been published in a new book on social enterprise, "Succeeding at Social Enterprise" (2010, Jossey-Bass, An Imprint of Wiley Press).  The book made its debut at the Social Enterprise Alliance Summit, which was held on April 28-30 in San Fransisco, CA.  Jennifer Pryce and Calvert Foundation President & CEO Shari Berenbach represented Calvert Foundation at this conference. 

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Calvert Foundation partners with Citi and OFN for new $200 million fund.

Calvert Foundation recently partnered with Citi and Opportunity Finance Network to launch a new $200 million Communities at Work Fund™. This Fund was established separately from Calvert Foundation's Community Investment Note portfolio, and aims to create jobs, drive economic recovery, and provide hope and opportunity to thousands of Americans living in disadvantaged communities. Citi provided the investment capital for the Fund. “Small businesses are the engines of local economies, but the entrepreneurs behind these businesses often have the most trouble getting financing,” said Calvert Foundation President and CEO Shari Berenbach (pictured with OFN CEO Mark Pinsky and Citi CEO Vikram Pandit). “This fund will drive real change for underserved communities while working to provide financial returns for investors.”

We're hiring! Grow with us.

Calvert Foundation, which created a whole new class of investing, has been named one of the top organizations changing the world by Fast Company. Join bright, energetic, and talented people who have a passion for making a difference in the world by helping undeserved communities. See our website for more about these openings:

Monday, May 24, 2010

Ready to Make a Change? Win this book!


The most common recipe for failing to change lies in the tension between our rational side (which wants a beach body) and our emotional side (which wants a cookie…now!). In their new book “Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard,” authors – and brothers – Chip and Dan Heath address the challenges of change and provide strategies for tackling obstacles to making change successful.

Over the past few years, Calvert Foundation has enjoyed working with Dan Heath, who has advised us on branding and strategy. Dan is also a community investor! Dan, who has a Giving Fund account (our socially responsible donor advised fund) with Calvert Foundation, invests a large portion of his donated assets in our Community Investment Note. 


Win a copy of “SWITCH"! We will randomly select 10 winners from anyone who signs up by June 15 to:

Corner Office features Calvert CEO and Calvert Foundation Board Member Barbara Krumsiek.

Barbara Krumsiek, CEO of Calvert Investments and member of Calvert Foundation's Board of Directors, was featured in this week's New York Times Corner Office feature, which interviews top business executives.

When interviewing potential job candidates, Krumsiek says, they "need to show they care about something outside of themselves." She continues: "This quality must be evidenced in everyone who comes to Calvert: we need to find out whether they have some attachment in their community."

Please note: Calvert Foundation is a separate entity from Calvert Group Ltd.