CommonGood is a financial services firm aligning capital to facilitate returns, human flourishing, and meaning.

Financial Advisors

Create deeper, more meaningful intergenerational relationships with your clients.

Individuals, Families and Foundations

Create alignment with your capital and the local and global opportunities you care about.

Impact Fund Sponsors

Your source for advice and implementation of your impact investment opportunities.

Donor Advised Fund Providers

Bring Impact Investing to your donors from strategy to implementation.

Investment Banking

Capital Market services with a mind towards profits and the common good.

asset managers advised

funds on platform

Million capital committed

Billion DAF Consulting / Due Diligence

Companies Advised

Private REIT created

More Than an Investment

Investments can produce potential returns for your needs and dreams, but they also impact people, communities, and the planet. Your capital has the power to not only change your life, but also those around you- it’s more than just an investment.

CommonGood brings our expertise, experience, and passion for impact investing across real assets, private credit, and private equity. Within those asset classes we have several areas of focus.

Areas of Focus

  • Housing
  • Environmental
  • Small / medium business
  • Africa
  • Formerly incarcerated

Our world is hurting…

Life is a gift and there are so many things to be grateful for, but pain and struggle are also real. It’s the human condition. Lately we have been reminded of this through the pandemic, the social and political unrest, and the concentration of capital. So how can we be part of the solution?

Capital has the power to change the world…

Capital is a tool and is used for good and for bad. The difference is the goal and the motives behind the capital. Imagine what would happen if we filled the gap between purely profit and purely charity. It would create another vision of success and undoubtedly unleash untapped creativity and innovation.

It’s the New Exchange

Historically, investing has been dominated by one major concept: risk and reward. However, in a 2017 survey, 75% of respondents said they were interested in investments that focus on achieving both financial returns and have a social or environmental impact. Impact investing is this New Exchange.

Trade fear and greed for joy and freedom

It is said that the markets run on fear and greed which are two natural emotions we have to deal with. But how do you move from fear and greed to joy and freedom? The key is to look beyond yourself. Align your capital with investment themes you have a passion for or care about. Let your capital work for you and for others.

CommonGood brings together a team of financial professionals with unique career paths and shared values to positively impact today’s transforming investment landscape and worldview.

Our Mission

To provide access and advisory services to Impact Investments that enhance both the financial goals and values of investors while creating meaningful impact in communities around the world.

Shelly Shafer on the joy found in Impact

Why Impact?

Increasingly, investors are recognizing the power of capital and challenging the long-held views that investments should exclusively focus on financial returns with little regard for social and environmental issues.
What is Impact Investing?

Investing in private investments with the intention of generating both financial returns and non-financial returns such as social, environmental, and spiritual. 

Why impact investing?

Increasingly, investors are recognizing the power of capital and challenging the long-held views that investments should exclusively focus on financial returns with little regard for social and environmental issues. In addition, many recognize the shortfall that both non-profits and governments have to meet the ever-increasing needs and opportunities. In turn, it’s clear that business, done well, has the ability to impact people, planet, and profits for the common good.

It’s time for people to be connected to their investment capital. Every investor has their own risk, reward, and goals. With its unique and innovative approach to money management, Impact Investing allows investors to include their values and passions in their investment decisions.

Different types of Impact Investors

  • Individuals
  • Families
  • Institutions
  • Foundations and Endowments
  • Governments
  • Government Agencies
What are the elements of Impact Investing?

The key elements of Impact Investing are best described in an Impact Framework. This framework is important because it’s the working together of the four different pillars to enable the best possible long-term financial and non-financial outcomes. 

  • Financial Returns – Each investment needs to define the expectation of returns- from market rate to concessionary. 
  • Intentionality of Impact – Each investment needs stated objectives of positive social, environmental, or spiritual goals in addition to financial returns.  
  • Measurement/Reporting – Each investment must allocate time and resources to measure both financial and non-financial goals along with a transparent communication of the actual performance data. 
  • Sustainability – Each investment should evaluate their model and ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. 
How do impact investments perform financially?
Investments by their nature have risk and reward. Impact investing is no different, but it has an added objective to influence stated non-financial metrics as well. A large percentage are pursuing market-rate or above market-rate returns while others are intentionally investing for below-market-rate returns in line with their financial and non-financial objectives. According to the GIIN’s 2020 Annual Impact Investor Survey, most investors surveyed pursued competitive market-rate returns. Impact Investing is the bridge between making return focused investments that also provide for the common good.

Where do I start?

The best place to start is to consider what Impact themes match your passions and values, then ask questions of your financial advisor, or feel free to contact us.

Some common Impact themes include…

  • Affordable Housing
  • Agriculture
  • Communication Technology
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Environment
  • Financial Inclusion
  • Green Real Estate
  • Health
  • Small & Medium Enterprises
  • Sustainable Consumer Products
  • Transportation
  • Wast Management / Recycling
  • Water & Sanitation

Latest News

Podcast: 

A New Lens

#76 – Shiri Sandler on Healing After Genocide

#76 – Shiri Sandler on Healing After Genocide

Jeff Shafer, CEO of CommonGood Capital, chats with Shiri Sandler, Managing Director of Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV), about what the purpose of a “youth village” is and why Rwanda is ideal for such a model that provides a sense of familial love and opportunity,...

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#75 – Kendra VanderMeulen on Biblical Generosity

#75 – Kendra VanderMeulen on Biblical Generosity

Jeff Shafer, CEO of CommonGood Capital, speaks with Kendra VanderMeulen, CEO of the National Christian Foundation (NCF) who embodies the spirit of pioneering leadership and generosity. Kendra's remarkable journey began in the telecommunications industry with AT&T...

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#74 – Emmanual Nsanganwa on Growing Up Without Power

#74 – Emmanual Nsanganwa on Growing Up Without Power

Jeff Shafer, CEO of CommonGood Capital, speaks with Emmanual Nsanganwa, Investment Analyst at Fortis Green Renewables, on growing up in a small village in Rwanda with little access to power, on starting his own non-profit to provide scientific education to students,...

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