ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book describes the development of impact investing. It is a growing and maturing field of investments for various investors with numerous instruments in different asset classes. It describes the impact investing as a crystallization point of different initiatives—ranging from socially responsible investments to mission-related investing and to development finance. It demonstrates that impact investing is a colourful field of contributions from a multitude of investors with different objectives, needs, resources and expectations. Impact investors vary significantly in their objectives, practices and capital allocations. The book discusses three dimensions that can be distinguished: investors and investment regions, the investment market, and returns. Impact investing distinguishes itself from socially responsible investing, program-related investing, mission-related investing and traditional development finance by its focus on measuring outputs, outcomes and, potentially, impact.
