The story
Founded by Jacqueline Novogratz on Apr 2001.1
Acumen was founded in 2001 by Jacqueline Novogratz, a former banker and development professional, based on the idea that market-based approaches, when paired with long-term capital and moral leadership, could address persistent gaps left by traditional philanthropy and aid. The organization was established to test and prove that long-term, risk-tolerant capital can support enterprises serving low-income populations while achieving modest financial returns.
In its early years, Acumen focused on investments in healthcare and water access in South Asia and East Africa. Over time, it expanded its geographic footprint and sector focus to include agriculture, clean energy, education, workforce development, and gender equality. Acumen has also contributed to the broader field of impact investing through research, public dialogue, and partnerships related to its areas of focus and to the evolution of the impact investing field.
Since its founding in 2001, Acumen reports having impacted more than 700 million people across Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the United States. More than 2,000 social enterprise builders have participated in leadership development programs through Acumen Academy.
From Wikipedia’s article on Acumen (organization), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4