New England Impact Investing Initiative

What New England Impact Investing Initiative does

New England Impact Investing Initiative (NEIII) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Its core mission is to democratize access to impact investing and sustainable finance education, and to build a diverse regional and global impact investing ecosystem. The organization operates a small staff (1-10 employees) led by Founder and President Lubna Maria Elia alongside Program Coordinator Stephen Snider, governed by a five-member Board of Directors and supported by an approximately 17-member Advisory Board drawn from leading impact investing institutions.

NEIII's primary product is the Impact Investing Fellowship, a 15-week online, cohort-based peer immersion program delivered twice annually (Fall and Spring cohorts) covering sustainable finance themes, impact measurement, deal structures, and career pathways. The program draws 95-110 applicants per cohort from 17-18 countries, with 44-55 Fellows completing each cycle and more than 50% of recent cohorts based outside the US. The technology stack is entirely commodity-based — Squarespace, Google Forms/Groups/Drive, WhatsApp, Zoom, and LinkedIn — with no proprietary platform. Beyond the Fellowship, NEIII has developed the Impact Institutions Map and the Invest New England Ecosystem Map (in collaboration with Boston University Questrom), categorizing 200+ regional organizations, and runs the annual Invest in New England Conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston plus the It's Happening Here monthly webinar series.

NEIII's revenue model blends individual Fellow contributions of $1,500 per participant, corporate Fellowship sponsorships (Eventide Asset Management, Morgan Lewis, Trillium Asset Management), event sponsorships across approximately 14 named partners, individual donations via PayPal, and grants from funders such as Builders Vision. The go-to-market is community-led and partner-mediated, relying on LinkedIn, an 8,000-member Impact Jobs group, and recruitment through established networks including oikos International, Net Impact Boston, Turner MIINT, and the 38,000-member Impact Entrepreneur network. Customer segments span early-career professionals, graduate and undergraduate students, social entrepreneurs, investors integrating ESG, employers seeking diverse talent pipelines, and international/Global South participants.

Name

New England Impact Investing Initiative

Legal name

New England Impact Investing Initiative, Inc.

Website

https://neiii.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

New England Impact Investing Initiative is a Boston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs a 15-week online Impact Investing Fellowship twice yearly, drawing 44-55 Fellows per cohort from 18+ countries, alongside ecosystem mapping tools and the annual Invest in New England Conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Impact Investing Education

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Impact Investing (Intentional, Measurable Social/Environmental Outcomes) (FSAAALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education & Workforce Development Impact Funds (FSANAJAJ), Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA), Research Grants, Fellowships & Stipends (International) (EDAIAOAJ), Research, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Partnerships (EDADALAK)

Keywords

• Impact investing education
• Sustainable finance training
• ESG professional development
• Nonprofit fellowship programs
• Ecosystem mapping services

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Fellowship Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support to cover fellowship participant costs. Fellowship sponsors include Eventide Asset Management and Morgan Lewis Law Firm. These sponsors help meet the financial need of participants and cover program costs, including partner subscriptions and resource access provided to Fellows.
2. Participant Contributions (Fellowship Tuition): Accepted Fellows are required to make a financial contribution to the program. The full cost to run the program is $1,500 per Fellow, which covers all resources and events. The organization considers financial need and offers support for those who cannot afford the contribution. Employer reimbursement is also encouraged.
3. Donations: NEIII is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The public can make donations via PayPal (hosted_button_id: 5KXY72YQU7S5E). Donations are tax-deductible in the US.
4. Event Sponsorships: Organizations sponsor NEIII events including the Invest in New England Conference and related webinars. Event sponsors include Asgard, Commonwealth Cambridge, D-Lab MIT, Elizabeth Sheehan, Goodwin, Harvest Co-op, Impact Entrepreneur, Impact Hub Boston, Klavens Law Group, MassChallenge, MIT Legatum, Scholars Boston Bistro, Sunwealth, and Whole Foods Market.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NEIII runs the Impact Investing Fellowship, a 15-week peer-based online cohort program (Fall and Spring cohorts) that trains professionals, students, investors, and entrepreneurs in impact investing and sustainable finance fundamentals, delivered via Zoom sessions, skill workshops, peer impact projects, and curated learning resources. Beyond the Fellowship, the organization convenes the regional impact investing ecosystem through the annual Invest in New England Conference (hosted at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston), monthly It's Happening Here webinars, ecosystem mapping tools, and skill sessions.

Product overview

NEIII operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides educational programming centered around its Impact Investing Fellowship—a 15-week online cohort-based program running September through December. The fellowship offers over 20 sessions on sustainable finance, bi-weekly interactive community calls, peer impact projects, weekly skill sessions, and career practice opportunities. Beyond the fellowship, NEIII develops ecosystem mapping tools including the Impact Institutions Map and Invest New England Ecosystem Map, and hosts events including the annual Invest in New England Conference, the monthly 'It's Happening Here' webinar series, and various educational workshops. The organization serves professionals, students, investors, and entrepreneurs seeking to enter or advance within the impact investing and sustainable finance sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Impact Investing Fellowship: A 15-week guided peer-based immersion program in impact investing and sustainable finance, offered as the organization's flagship educational program.
• Ecosystem Map
• Invest New England
• It's Happening Here Webinar Series

Products and services

• Impact Investing Fellowship A 15-week guided, peer-based online cohort immersion program (Fall and Spring cohorts) equipping early-career professionals, students, investors, and entrepreneurs with foundational and practical knowledge of impact investing and sustainable finance. Delivered via Zoom and Google platforms with more than 20 sessions covering ESG, impact measurement, deal structures, skill workshops, peer impact projects, and career practice spaces, plus access to Impact Alpha, Impact Entrepreneur, Diversity in Sustainability, and the Integrated Capital Card Game. Participants contribute $1,500 per Fellow (financial need accommodated).
• Impact Institutions Map Place-based ecosystem mapping tool that categorizes New England-focused impact investors, intermediaries and aggregators, and investment partners and system supporters into a structured map, designed to strengthen the regional impact investing network.
• Invest New England Ecosystem Map

Quantifiable outcome

• 95 applicants and 18 countries represented in Fall 2024 cohort; 110 applications from 17 countries in Spring 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Acumen BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcumen Boston is a chapter of Acumen, a pioneering impact investing organization. As a network partner of NEIII, they collaborate on educational programming and ecosystem building for impact investing in the Boston/New England region.
• Boston SRIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston SRI (Sustainable, Responsible, Impact investing) is a network partner providing educational resources and community connections for sustainable and responsible investing in the Boston area. Collaborates with NEIII on ecosystem building and programming.
• Conscious Capitalism BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConscious Capitalism Boston is a network partner of NEIII, promoting the idea that business can be a force for good. Co-founder Darby Hobbs serves on the NEIII Advisory Board.
• Impact Hub BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImpact Hub Boston is a network partner providing co-working space, programs, and community for impact entrepreneurs. NEIII refers Fellows to Impact Hub Boston's ecosystem and collaborates on programming.
• Net Impact BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNet Impact Boston is a key network partner and recruitment channel for the Fellowship program. NEIII Fellows engage with Net Impact Boston's Career Mentorship Program and events. NEIII and Net Impact Boston co-organize programming for the impact community.
• SVC ImpactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVC Impact (Social Venture Consulting) is a network partner providing mentorship, training, and support for social entrepreneurs and impact investors in the New England region.
• Intentional Endowments NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) is a network partner helping colleges and universities align endowment investments with mission. Collaborates with NEIII on educational programming.
• oikos InternationalflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partneroikos International is a flagship co-development partner for the Impact Investing Fellowship. The partnership offers NEIII Fellows access to oikos programs including the Leap Researcher Programme, BLAISE Learning Week (Croatan Institute), and additional educational resources. oikos co-organizes and co-promotes the Fellowship program internationally.
• NEID Global (New England International District)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEID Global is a network partner supporting international development and global engagement in New England.
• Women Investing for a Sustainable Economy (WISE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISE Boston is a network partner connecting women professionals in sustainable investing and ESG. Collaborates with NEIII on programming and community building.
• Morgan Lewis Law FirmflagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMorgan Lewis is a Fellowship sponsor and legal partner. Carl Valenstein from Morgan Lewis serves on the NEIII Advisory Board and provides legal expertise on impact investing structures. Morgan Lewis co-chairs the firm's ESG and Sustainability Initiative and supported the 2021 Fellowship Part II program.
• Federal Reserve Bank of BostonflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Federal Reserve Bank of Boston is a co-host of the annual Invest in New England Conference (April 2025). The Fed serves as the venue and a key partner in convening the regional impact investing ecosystem.
• Boston Impact Initiative (BII)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston Impact Initiative is a key partner providing the Integrated Capital Card Game for NEIII Fellows and collaborating on programming. NEIII Founder Lubna Maria Elia serves as Managing Director of Impact Capital Lab at Boston Impact Initiative. BII supported the 2021 Fellowship Part II extended learning journey.
• Community Investment ProjectflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Community Investment Project is a co-host of the Invest in New England Conference and the It's Happening Here Webinar Series. NEIII collaborates with this organization on place-based investing education and ecosystem mapping.
• Croatan Institute / BLAISE ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Croatan Institute provides the BLAISE (BIPOC Leaders Advancing an Inclusive and Sustainable Economy) Learning Week as a partner benefit for NEIII Fellows. BLAISE aims to diversify sustainable and impact investing by increasing BIPOC participation. Offered through oikos International partnership.
• MIT D-LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIT D-Lab is an event sponsor of NEIII programs, supporting the organization's educational mission in development and impact.
• MIT Legatum CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIT Legatum Center is an event sponsor supporting NEIII programs focused on entrepreneurship and development in underserved markets.
• Turner MIINT (MBA Impact Investing Network and Training)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurner MIINT is a program partner contributing to NEIII's talent pipeline diversification mission. Adwoa Asare (Board Member of NEIII) serves as Program Manager of the MIINT program at Bridges Impact Foundation. NEIII Fellowship and MIINT share the goal of diversifying the talent pipeline for impact investing.
• Diversity in Sustainability (DiS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiversity in Sustainability provides discounted and complimentary memberships to NEIII Fellows. DiS offers resume feedback, career guidance, and access to a network of sustainability professionals. The platform is a key partner in NEIII's mission to diversify the impact investing sector.
• Impact AlphacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImpact Alpha provides annual subscriptions to NEIII Fellows, offering market news, deal flow updates, and analysis on impact investing and sustainable finance. Fellows use Impact Alpha as an ongoing resource for staying informed about the sector.
• Impact EntrepreneurflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerImpact Entrepreneur (a 38,000-member network) provides annual premium memberships to NEIII Fellows, including access to 130+ webinar archives, live programs, and a community of impact practitioners. Laurie Lane-Zucker, Founder & President of Impact Entrepreneur, serves on the NEIII Advisory Board. NEIII Fellows attend IE's in-person events.
• Whole Foods MarketminorOthersWhole Foods Market is an event sponsor of NEIII programs.
• MassChallengeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMassChallenge is an event sponsor supporting NEIII programs, contributing to the startup and innovation ecosystem connection.
• Harvest Co-opminorOthersHarvest Co-op is an event sponsor supporting NEIII programs.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Global Impact Investing Initiative (GIIN): GIIN is the leading global industry body building the impact investing infrastructure and educational resources. Like NEIII, it drives talent development and ecosystem building, but at much larger scale and with credentialing programs that NEIII Fellows increasingly pursue.
• SOCAP: SOCAP convenes the global impact investing and social capital community through large conferences, content, and programs. NEIII's inaugural 2020 cohort attended SOCAP Virtual, and SOCAP overlaps with NEIII as an event/training peer for impact capital professionals.
• CFA Institute (Sustainable Investing programs): CFA Institute issues the Sustainable Investing Certificate and other credentials increasingly taken by NEIII-affiliated professionals (e.g., NEIII Board Member Jess Borawski). It is the dominant credentialing incumbent whose standards shape entry into the field NEIII trains.

Direct peers

• Net Impact: Net Impact is a peer-impact professional community that runs career-focused programming, conferences, and fellowships for students and professionals pursuing social-impact careers. NEIII and Net Impact Boston co-organize programming and share audiences around impact investing and sustainable careers.
• Croatan Institute: Croatan Institute is a research and education nonprofit focused on equitable and regenerative finance. It runs the BLAISE Learning Week which NEIII Fellows access, making it a curriculum and talent-development peer in impact investing education.
• oikos International: oikos International is a student-led network advancing sustainability in economics and management and runs programs like Leap and BLAISE that NEIII integrates into its Fellowship. It is both an operational peer and a strategic partner on fellow recruitment and curriculum.
• Turner MIINT (Bridges Impact Foundation): Turner MIINT is an MBA Impact Investing Network and Training program that prepares graduate students for impact investing careers. It is the closest direct counterpart to NEIII's Fellowship and shares the talent-diversification mission, with overlapping leadership.
• Impact Entrepreneur: Impact Entrepreneur is a network and media platform for impact practitioners with 38,000+ members. It provides NEIII Fellows with annual memberships and is a key channel partner and conference co-host, making it a peer in impact talent development.
• Intentional Endowments Network (IEN): IEN is a peer network helping universities and foundations align endowments with mission-aligned and impact investing strategies. It collaborates with NEIII on programming and serves a similar institutional audience learning about sustainable investing.

Regional players

• Boston Impact Initiative (BII): BII is a place-based impact investing CDFI that provides the Integrated Capital Card Game used in NEIII's Fellowship and shares leadership (NEIII's Founder Lubna Maria Elia is BII's Managing Director of Impact Capital Lab), making it a tightly integrated regional peer and operating partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-england-impact-investing-initiative
• Xx.com/NEImpInvIni

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New England Impact Investing Initiative