The Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation facilitates events, competitions, courses, a student-run fund, and other opportunities to help prepare Chicago Booth students for careers in this growing field.
Our impact investing resources are designed to help students build a solid foundational knowledge of traditional finance, while connecting them with experts in impact investing and venture philanthropy and providing a variety of hands-on learning opportunities.
These impact investing resources are an important component of the Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program, which offers a variety of social entrepreneurship resources to support UChicago students and faculty in jump-starting businesses and nonprofits with social missions.
Become an impact investor and lead investments in mission-driven companies that generate impact and financial returns.
Participating in a competition is a great way for students to gain real-world experience, network, and build teamwork skills.
Impact Investing Competitions and Challenges
This event series provides an overview of career paths in impact investing, public and private markets, and the future of the field.
Impact Investing 101As the Rustandy Center continues to grow its suite of impact investing programs, the center is looking for partners to support and engage with these efforts. We are grateful to our current impact investing sponsors, including:
For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Tali Griffin.
In this course, students will explore the expanding role of impact investing in deploying financial resources to address social problems through market-based interventions. The course examines a variety of asset classes, from venture capital and private equity to public markets and alternatives.
Sustainable hydration solution provider tackles single-use plastic water bottles.
Booth Student-Managed Impact Fund Announces Investment in Kadeya
Teamwork and Booth resources lead to strong showing.
Booth students win top prize in energy case competition
Why treating employees more like owners can be a force for good.
KKR’s Pete Stavros Discusses the Power of Employee OwnershipLearn from industry experts in the Rustandy Center’s network, who work closely with students as mentors and advisors and share insights from their experience in the social sector. Learn more about opportunities to engage with our executives in residence.
Sara Chamberlain, is co-founder & managing director at Earth Foundry, an early-stage venture capital firm which has backed some of the most transformative energy and cleantech companies. Sara is the driving force of the firm, leading investment activity and actively building the fund’s portfolio companies, including Advanced Diamond Technologies (acquired by SMIN), Azumo, e-Zinc, Intellihot, NanoGraf, Network Perception, Polystyvert, Tank Utility (acquired by Generac), and Volexion. Prior to Earth Foundry, Sara built a government advisory practice at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and helped climate tech startups raise $300M in non-dilutive funding. She also held roles with GE Energy and environmental consulting firm, GaiaTech.
Brittany Henry, '17, is on the investments team at Impact America Fund, a venture capital firm investing in tech-driven businesses that provide economic opportunities to communities of color in the US. Brittany focuses on investing in fintech solutions such as personal finance tools as well as technology to support the growth of small to medium businesses. Prior to joining IAF, she worked as a management consultant in the strategy practice at KPMG, focusing on mergers and acquisitions for large corporate clients, and on financial process improvement for clients at Accenture.
Brittany Henry, ’17, Impact Investing
Priya Parrish is adjunct assistant professor of strategy at Chicago Booth and partner and chief investment officer at Impact Engine, a venture capital and private equity firm investing in companies driving impact in economic empowerment, education, environmental sustainability, and health. She advises investment firms and asset owners developing and managing impact investment strategies and previously was chief investment officer at Schwartz Capital Group and a senior investor at Aurora Investment Management.
Priya Parrish, ’09, Impact Investing
