Raising Impact Investment Capital

A new, five‑course, Coursera Specialization from CASE at Duke

Your Complete Roadmap for Raising Impact Capital

Raising Impact Investment Capital is a practical, self‑paced Coursera Specialization that equips entrepreneurs, investors, and educators with the tools to navigate the impact investing marketplace. Taught by CASE Faculty Director, Cathy Clark, the series distills decades of field research, case studies, and practitioner perspectives into actionable learning for anyone seeking to raise—or deploy—capital for impact.

Across five concise, online courses, learners gain the knowledge, tools and confidence to:

• Understand how the impact investing ecosystem works
• Diagnose readiness for investment and craft a justifiable ask
• Build investor‑ready financial models that align capital with mission
• Evaluate and choose the right type of capital for your venture’s stage and goals
• Engage with investors, pitch effectively, navigate due diligence, and negotiate favorable terms

Course Map

1. Impact Investment Finance 
   • Learning objectives:
     • Understand the definition of impact investing
     • Understand the different types of impact investors and their key characteristics
     • Explain how capital, financial return, and impact flows between investors and enterprises
     • Understand common errors entrepreneurs make when raising impact capital
2. Creating an Impact Investment Ask 
   • Learning objectives:
     • Diagnose a venture’s business growth readiness using a structured seven-element framework.
     • Build a four-step impact management process aligned with investor expectations.
     • Integrate business and impact insights to craft a compelling and credible investment ask.
     • Communicate investment needs in a way that aligns with both financial and impact goals.
3. Building Financial Models for Entrepreneurs 
   • Learning objectives:
     • Build a complete financial model using a structured Excel template.
     • Calculate a venture’s funding gap and determine the capital needed to reach financial break-even.
     • Model and compare different investment scenarios, such as equity or debt financing.
     • Analyze and refine financial projections to withstand investor scrutiny and support fundraising efforts.
4. Financing for Impact Entrepreneurs 
   • Learning objectives:
     • Identify and compare 12 types of impact capital, including their benefits, risks, and ideal use cases.
     • Evaluate which capital types best align with a venture’s mission, growth stage, and financial strategy.
     • Understand how innovative capital structures are designed to meet the needs of impact enterprises.
     • Make informed decisions about financing options that support long-term impact and sustainability.
5. Negotiating with Impact Investors
   • Learning objectives:
     • Develop a cohesive investment story across all investor-facing materials.
     • Navigate the due diligence process with clarity on investor expectations and areas of leverage.
     • Understand and evaluate key investment terms commonly used in impact deals.
     • Negotiate investment terms that align with the venture’s financial and impact goals.

Acknowledgments

This specialization was created by CASE at Duke University with generous support from the EQT Foundation.

We are deeply grateful to the more than 20 global advisors, featured investors, and enterprise leaders who contributed their time, knowledge, and perspectives to bring this learning experience to life.Their voices, along with curated case studies and practical tools, ensure that these courses reflect the realities and opportunities of raising capital for impact in today’s markets.