Enjoying the show? Support our mission and help keep the content coming by buying us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/deepdivepodcastWe are witnessing a monumental shift in how money works, moving beyond mere profit to creating real, tangible, positive change in the world. This episode traces the journey of a single dollar from a massive investment portfolio all the way to rebuilding a family’s life, and reveals how this idea is scaling into a multi-trillion dollar global movement.
Our story begins with Arnold and Virginia Weaver, who were rescued by helicopter after the devastating 2022 Eastern Kentucky floods swallowed their home. Facing the heartbreaking choice to leave the only community they knew, their life was saved by an initiative called "Housing Can't Wait," which helped them buy a brand new, safe home. The big question is: where did the money come from?
We follow the financial chain that helped the Weavers, which begins not with charity, but with Impact Investing. This is a financial strategy designed to do two things at once: generate a financial return for the investor AND create a measurable positive outcome for people or the planet. It deliberately seeks opportunities that traditional markets overlook, pouring capital into affordable housing, new solar projects, and necessary small business loans.
The Weavers' story is just one example inside a massive, fast-growing global trend. According to the Global Impact Investing Network, the sector has seen a 21% annual growth rate for the last six years—a clear signal of long-term confidence that you can, in fact, "do well by doing good." This capital is flooding into critical sectors like clean energy transition, financial access, and community healthcare.
The players are changing, too. You have specialized nonprofits like Calvert Impact and LISC, which have poured billions into US communities, but now you have the biggest names in finance, like BlackRock. As CEO Larry Fink says, investing in these overlooked communities isn't just nice; it's a smart financial decision and a source of untapped potential. When the titans of finance see untapped potential, it’s a sign that an idea is about to go really big.
We look at how this is all going mainstream. A landmark moment just happened with Charles Schwab’s acquisition of Forge Global, a move aimed to "democratize" access to private markets, where many impact opportunities live. These private markets are expected to more than triple, reaching a mind-blowing $13 trillion by 2032. This shift means the power to invest for purpose is getting closer to everyone.
The episode finishes with practical steps on how you can put your own money to work. Learn the difference between a traditional investor and a Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) approach, which adds a values filter to financial decisions, considering a company's environmental, social, and governance practices. From funding the first solar project for the Lumbee tribe to bringing high-speed internet to rural towns and training women in Jamaica for new careers, this is what purpose-guided capital looks like on the ground. The line between doing good and doing well is blurring, and the potential of collective capital is only just beginning.
