CHW SOCIAL IMPACT INVESTING IN ISRAEL
CHW (Canadian Hadassah-WIZO) launched our first round of social impact investing in Israel on October 27, 2022, as part of the JOURNEY 4 IMPACT trip of a lifetime. This is the start of an innovative and sustainable impact initiative geared at empowering women.
CHW is thrilled to be the first Canadian Jewish women’s organization to launch a gender-lens impact investment strategy that ensures better outcomes in areas such as gender disparities, social mobility, and economic opportunities for women and girls; all closely aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Every CHW investment will enable women entrepreneurs to advance socially conscious businesses that create impact in Israel and change lives. This investment not only empowers the start-up community, but it also creates a sustainable future for the next generation of small businesses in Israel.”
– Lisa Colt-Kotler
CHW Chief Executive Officer
HOW IT WORKS:
At the culmination of the Journey 4 Impact trip, participating investors became judges in a “Dragon’s Den” experience at the hybrid launch event, also live streamed in Canada, and were empowered with the ability to evaluate a pre-vetted selection of women-led, social enterprises. The purpose is to enable women entrepreneurs to launch socially conscious businesses that create impact in Israel. The entrepreneurs secured critical capital from CHW investors (donors) through the pooled impact investment funds.
Participants on Journey 4 Impact, and donors in Canada, became judges with a minimum investment of $5,000 donated to CHW’s impact pool of funds. A new pipeline of pooled funds for social impact investing was also grown using pre-Journey 4 Impact crowdfunding.
CHW is proud to announce a very generous gift of $100,000 from Elayna and Jonathan Latsky, Journey Co-Chairs, which ensured the success of this launch initiative.
“Jonathan and I are so excited about this new initiative for CHW and the ability to provide sustainable investment and impact in Israel for women who need a hand-up, not a handout,”
– Elayna Latsky
CHW Immediate Past National President (2020-2022) and Journey 4 Impact Co-Chair 2021
HOW THE “DRAGON’S DEN” WORKED:
- At the culmination of the Journey 4 Impact trip, participants experienced a mock “Dragon’s Den” program to launch CHW’s social impact investing.
- Donors, supporters, lay leaders, philanthropists, and diplomatic officials from Canada and Israel participated through a hybrid virtual/live event format.
- Anyone on Journey 4 Impact, as well as donors in Canada, were able to take a “seat” at the Dragon’s Den table with a minimum investment of $5,000 into CHW’s impact investment pool of funds. Chapters, giving circles, or groups of donors also took a “seat,” by providing the minimum investment. Donations of cash, stocks and bonds, including Israel Bonds, were accepted and fully tax-receipted.
CHOOSE YOUR IMPACT
- Through the Journey 4 Impact Adventure Track crowdfunding, a new pipeline of pooled funds was built and earmarked for social impact investing.
- Investors participated in the “Dragon’s Den” experience and were empowered with the ability to judge and evaluate three pre-vetted, women-led, social enterprises that will enable women entrepreneurs to launch socially conscious businesses that create impact in Israel. All the entrepreneurs need is to secure critical capital, and that’s where CHW came in.
- The pooled impact investment funding is now being allocated to fund the social enterprise(s) selected by the Dragons. All business enterprises have been pre-vetted by our partners at WEAVE IMPACT in Israel.
THE END RESULT:
Every dollar invested by CHW will generate a clear and measurable social and financial return on investment. All funds will be invested into ventures led by and benefiting women. At the end of the term of investment, CHW will reinvest the funds through an innovative funding model that amplifies impact. CHW will grow its impact investment portfolio on an annual basis as part of Journey 4 Impact.
Join CHW’s Social Impact Giving Circle:
Become an Impact Investor by donating to CHW’s Social Impact Giving Circle. More information about the 2023 event will be available shortly.
To learn more about this exciting investment opportunity, please contact:
Lisa Colt-Kotler, CEO | [email protected]
To join CHW in Israel and learn more about Journey 4 Impact, please click on the below button:
