Fund Manager Education

Build Sustainable, Inclusive, and Equitable Local Economies

BII’s Integrated Capital Cohort programs engage existing and prospective fund managers in developing the financial rigor and multi-stakeholder engagement processes to structure, raise and manage a blended capital fund.

By the Numbers

24

integrated capital funds supported

50

emerging fund managers trained

90%

of participants are people of color

52%

of participants are women

BII Integrated Capital Fund-Building Cohorts

BII provides education and training for fund managers, investors and philanthropists that advances fresh perspectives on trust-based investing, balancing risk and return, and democratizing ownership and decision-making. BII has a robust program curriculum to help diverse, emerging fund managers design and launch impact investment funds. Main topics include integrated capital, stakeholder development, investment criteria, governance structures, fund design and modeling, impact measurement and management, and raising capital. 

From April 2020 to October 2021, BII ran its inaugural Integrated Capital Fund-Building Cohort, an 18-month program that engaged 33 existing and prospective fund managers in developing the financial rigor and skills to structure, raise and manage a blended capital fund. From August to November 2022, BII ran a four-month Mini Cohort to support four additional emerging community-based impact funds. Our Spring 2023 program starts May 2; learn more here.

Cohort Participants

Melanie Allen

Brandon Anderson

Kofi Callender

Kofi Callendar

Jennifer Ching 

Nadine Ngouabe Dlodlo

Nadine Ngouabe Dlodlo

Tenesha Duncan

Alan Ferguson

Christyn S. Freemon

Christyn S. Freemon

This was the first time I was called a fund manager. It is so hard to break into this work as a person of color. It was great to all learn about finance together. [The cohort] made me believe that I can be a fund manager myself.

Avery Ebron

The Guild in Atlanta, GA

The BII Cohort was a very approachable and accessible place. I never felt like I was asking a silly question. Come as you are. No shame.

Melanie Allen

Black Farmer Fund in New York

It was great to see people from communities of color trying to solve community problems, rather than white saviors, which we often see in these positions. It was good to see collaboration between different groups and relationships built.

Kenny Shelton

Denkym in Seattle, WA

Invest in Us

Whether you are an investor or a philanthropic donor, your support of BII will have a transformative effect in closing the racial wealth gap and creating an economy that works for everyone.