A solar panel technician working on solar panels.​

BlackRock Impact Opportunities

BlackRock’s flagship social impact investment platform, enabling clients to invest in direct private market opportunities that accelerate positive economic outcomes for undercapitalized communities. BIO seeks to generate strong risk-adjusted market-rate returns by focusing on investment themes that are drivers for economic growth.

How We Invest

BIO employs a rigorous process to identify compelling investment opportunities that can deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns while driving meaningful socio-economic change at scale.​
Dollar on leaf
Investing in Economic Mobility​
Seeking to unlock latent economic growth through investments in undercapitalized communities​
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Powered by BlackRock​
Leveraging the investment expertise, scale, and convening power of the BlackRock Platform to deliver capital solutions
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Active Partnership​
Collaborating with management teams and stakeholders to accelerate the growth of high-potential mission-driven companies​
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Passion for Performance​
Committed to targeting differentiated risk-adjusted financial returns and durable social impact for our investors​
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BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. We designed BIO to pursue opportunities that have historically been undercapitalized and, as a result, may offer differentiated sources of return. We are committed to being part of the solution, and a force for change – on behalf of our clients, our employees, our shareholders, and our communities.

Larry Fink
Larry Fink
CEO, BlackRock

Impact Themes​

Our team has identified six themes that represent the overlap between social megatrends that are drivers of economic growth, the needs of undercapitalized communities, and the most compelling opportunities in capital markets. While we focus most of our efforts on these themes, these are not exclusive.​
A female cashier and a male barista in a cafe​
  • Limited access to affordable healthcare exacerbates disparities and leads to poorer health outcomes and increased financial strain on undercapitalized communities. We finance health & wellness solutions and provide capital to organizations and facilities to promote the holistic wellbeing of communities.

  • The absence of affordable financial services leaves undercapitalized communities vulnerable to predatory lending and financial instability. Improving financial inclusion is essential for building financial resilience, enabling wealth accumulation, and fostering economic opportunities. We focus on increasing access to capital and affordable financial services for undercapitalized households and businesses.

  • The shortage of affordable housing is a national crisis. The high cost of housing, especially for undercapitalized communities, leaves fewer resources for food, healthcare, education, and other necessities. We aim to increase the supply of and access to affordable housing, and increase minority participation in real asset development.

  • Without reliable internet access, undercapitalized communities face barriers to information, education, and economic opportunities, hindering their ability to participate in the digital economy and access essential services. BIO is committed to promoting digital connectivity and information architecture serving undercapitalized communities.

  • Education significantly influences an individual’s lifetime earning potential and economic mobility. Undercapitalized communities are less likely to have access to quality education and instructional content. By investing in education, we aim to improve access to, increase participation in and increase affordability of quality education and workforce training across the cradle-to career continuum.

  • The shift toward a sustainable economy may overlook undercapitalized communities, leaving them vulnerable to job losses and environmental impacts, necessitating investment to ensure equitable participation and benefits in this transition. BIO invests to increase the adoption of renewable energy and mitigating the negative impacts associated with the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Impact Measurement and Management (IMM)​

BIO’s impact measurement and management framework is consistent with BlackRock’s approach to impact investing in seeking to generate positive, measurable outcomes alongside a financial return. By integrating data-driven insights and stakeholder feedback, we measure the effectiveness of our initiatives' and continuously refine our approach.
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Transparency​
We seek to ensure that our IMM process is transparent, repeatable, and auditable. ​
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Measurable
We aim to identify measurable impact indicators throughout the investment process. ​
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Industry-aligned​
We adopt evolving industry-leading frameworks wherever relevant to our investment approach.​

Strategy in Action​

Explore our investment strategy in action. These videos demonstrate the significant impact our portfolio companies are making within their respective communities.

Portfolio: Tricolor | Increasing access to affordable credit

0:01
Vehicle ownership is fundamental for getting by in America.

0:04
For decades, low income Hispanics have been challenged with access to affordable credit to purchase dependable transportation.

0:19
Working with BlackRock, we're expanding financial access in communities by creating the leading technology driven platform to provide inclusive and responsible credit to the underserved Hispanic consumer in empowering both physical and financial mobility.

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Since its inception in 2007, we have originated nearly 100,000 auto loans to credit Indivisible borrowers totaling over $1.6 billion.

Portfolio: Tricolor | Increasing access to affordable credit

0:01
Vehicle ownership is fundamental for getting by in America.

0:04
For decades, low income Hispanics have been challenged with access to affordable credit to purchase dependable transportation.

0:19
Working with BlackRock, we're expanding financial access in communities by creating the leading technology driven platform to provide inclusive and responsible credit to the underserved Hispanic consumer in empowering both physical and financial mobility.

0:38
Since its inception in 2007, we have originated nearly 100,000 auto loans to credit Indivisible borrowers totaling over $1.6 billion.

Portfolio

BIO has executed on 13 investments across 7 impact themes. Each investment reflects our commitment to fostering long-term value, operational excellence, and generating impact for undercapitalized communities across the nation.​2

Buildings under construction​
GHI JV​

GHI JV

Joint venture to finance the construction of affordable multifamily housing

Industry: Real Estate
Headquarters: Omaha, NE
Invested: 2024
Impact Theme(s): Housing & Diverse Developers

Read the press release

Solar panel in the roof of a house​
IGS Energy JV

IGS Energy JV

Joint venture to deploy residential solar energy projects in underserved communities

Industry: Renewable Energy
Headquarters: Dublin, OH
Invested: 2024
Impact Theme(s): Inclusive Transition

Road with electricity poles​
Conexon

Conexon

Builder and operator of Fiber-to-the-Home networks in rural America

Industry: Digital Infrastructure
Headquarters: Kansas City, MO
Invested: 2023
Impact Theme(s): Digital Connectivity

Female kid at the dentist ​
Lone Peak Dental

Lone Peak Dental Group

Medicaid-focused pediatric Dental Service Organization

Industry: Dental Care
Headquarters: Englewood, CO
Invested: 2023
Impact Theme(s): Health & Wellness

Read the press release

Women picking apples at the produce section of the supermarket
Heritage Grocers Group

Heritage Grocers Group

Hispanic-focused grocery retailer

Industry: Grocery Retail
Headquarters: Ontario, CA
Invested: 2023
Impact Theme(s): Health & Wellness

Men working in the middle of solar panels​
Indian Energy​

Indian Energy​

Utility-scale solar micro-grid and storage on tribal lands

Industry: Renewable Energy
Headquarters: Alpine, CA
Invested: 2023
Impact Theme(s): Inclusive Transition

Read the press release

Men with a clapperboard​
MACRO

MACRO

Award winning, diverse media company

Industry: Media & Entertainment
Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA
Invested: 2022
Impact Theme(s)​: Inclusive Media, Financial Inclusion

Read the press release

colorful chalk on blackpaper
Acelero Learning​

Acelero Learning

Leading early childhood education platform

Industry: Education
Headquarters: New York, NY
Invested: 2022
Impact Theme(s): Education & Workforce Development

Read the press release

Backhoe removing rocks​
Synergy Equipment​

Synergy Equipment

Diverse-owned & -led infrastructure solutions company

Industry: Industrial Machinery
Headquarters: Tampa, FL
Invested: 2022
Impact Theme(s): Financial Inclusion

Gym equipment​
Retro Fitness​

Retro Fitness​

Franchise roll-out of high-value, low-price gyms​

Industry: Consumer Retail
Headquarters: West Palm Beach, FL
Invested: 2022
Impact Theme(s): Health & Wellness​​

retrofitness.com

Chairs and desk of a lobby​
Ethos Real Estate​

Ethos Real Estate​

Equity financing with Ethos for the acquisition of an apartment in UT

Industry: Real Estate
Headquarters: Manhattan Beach, CA
Invested: 2022
Impact Theme(s): Housing & Diverse Developers

House and swimming pool​
BRP Companies

BRP Companies

Equity financing alongside BRP to construct a housing community in NY

Industry: Real Estate
Headquarters: New York, NY
Invested: 2022
Impact Theme(s): Housing & Diverse Developers

Parked cars in auto store​
Tricolor Auto Group​

Tricolor Holdings​

Auto retail and finance company focused on underbanked consumers​

Industry: Automobiles
Headquarters: Irving, TX
Invested: 2021
Impact Theme(s): Financial Inclusion

News​

We are all in

At BlackRock, not only are we committed to our clients’ needs but also to the communities in which we operate. As investors, fiduciaries, and members of society, we believe it is our duty to combine our investment expertise with this focus to generate long-term prosperity.​ We are committed to being part of the solution. Reach out to learn more.
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Team

Ladell Robbins​
Managing Director, Head of BIO
Joseph Acevedo​
Managing Director, Co-Head of Portfolio Management
Brian Grossman​
Managing Director, Head of Business Development & Product Strategy
Aarthi Sowrirajan​
Managing Director, Co-Head of Portfolio Management
Matthew Widham
Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer
Karega Butler
Director, Senior Investor
Brian Mwarania
Director, Senior Investor
Derrick Weatherspoon​
Director, Senior Investor
Andrea C. Mayorca
Director, Investor​
Susie Qian​
Director, Investor
Lionel Detchou
Associate
Divya Wodon
Associate
Carlton Burrell
Associate
Steven Pelaez
Associate
Nicola Lichauco​
Associate​
Kebu Mzwinila
Associate
Damian Levine​
Associate​
Shen Zhou​
Analyst​