The loud buzz of excitement about Impact Investing is cause for concern, but not only because the enthusiasm is ahead of the practice. The practice of so-called “impact investing” lacks clarity of purpose, definition, and results. The often-referenced J.P. Morgan research report, "Impact...

For thirty years, the community development finance industry—banks, credit unions, loan funds, community development corporations, venture funds, microfinance institutions—has quietly provided responsible, well-designed and well priced credit to lower-income people and communities. These...