Core Characteristics of Impact Investing

Last updated: 2021

To be completed.

Use this resource to:

  • To be completed.

IRIS+ System

Last updated: 2021

Tool designed to help impact investors translate intentions into results. It starts by helping investors frame their impact goals in a common way (linked to an SDG or Impact Category) and offers a set of metrics (Core Metrics Sets) to assess performance against set goals, together with an evidence base (Navigating Impact) and implementation guidance.

Note on harmonisation: work is underway to map various investor metric sets and corporate disclosure standards, with a view to achieving global consistency. E.g. IRIS+-GRI, B Lab-GRI, HIPSO-IRIS+.

Use this resource to:

  • Assess: Select from a catalogue of metrics specifically designed for impact investors.

COMPASS: The Methodology for Comparing and Assessing Impact

Last updated: 2021

Guidance that provides an analytical framework to compare impact performance, with a specific focus on variance and the extent of the change required to enable meaningful contribution toward impact.

Use this resource to:

  • Assess: Normalise measures of impact so that impact performance can be compared. This resource can also be used to determine how meaningful the contribution of the investor is.

IRIS+ for Impact Due Diligence

Last updated: 2020

Guidance on constructing due diligence questions based on the investor’s impact goals.

Use this resource to:

  • Identify: Use for impact due diligence, specifically the anticipated impacts before an investment decision.
  • Assess: Integrate impact measurement and management into the due diligence process to aid in assessing and managing impact risk.
  • Monitor: Construct a set of due diligence questions that uses the IRIS+ system and evidence base.

Impact Classification System

Last updated: 2021

Forthcoming: Tool for investors to publicly classify the impact of their portfolios. The tool uses Impact Classes as a means to segment a portfolio by type of impact on two axes: the impact of underlying assets (A, B or C) and investor’s contribution. Users can also express the portfolio’s contribution to SDGs.

Use this resource to:

  • Assess: Assess the actual or expected performance of a portfolio of investments using classification.
  • Disclose: Publicly disclose the performance of a portfolio of investments using classification.

IRIS+ Thematic Taxonomy

Last updated: 2021

Guidance on IRIS+ Impact Categories and Impact Themes.

Use this resource to:

  • Identify: Understand and frame portfolio objectives using the Impact Themes and Impact Categories contained in the Thematic Taxonomy.