Causeartist Weekly #306: Inside Kiva, One Percent for the Planet, and This Week’s Impact Signals

Hey friends,

As we move into the new year, a clear pattern is emerging across the impact landscape. The lines between philanthropy, private equity, policy, and innovation continue to blur, and long-term capital is increasingly backing systems that scale dignity, resilience, and access.

This week’s edition reflects that shift.

We explore how global nonprofits are structuring impact at scale, how companies are embedding values into their business models, and how capital is flowing into climate, healthcare, food systems, and workforce infrastructure.

From community-driven healthcare finance to patient dignity in medical settings, from mobility and infrastructure investment to AI-powered drug discovery, these stories show impact becoming more coordinated, more institutional, and more durable.

Let’s dive in.

— Grant

🎧 Featured Podcast

A Conversation With Kate Williams, CEO of One Percent for the Planet

For nearly 25 years, One Percent for the Planet has quietly reshaped how businesses think about responsibility, strategy, and long term stewardship. What began as a simple commitment has grown into a global network spanning more than 100 countries and hundreds of millions of dollars in certified environmental giving.

In this episode of Disruptors for GOOD, I sit down with Kate Williams, the organization’s CEO, to unpack how the model really works, why progress matters more than perfection, and what it takes to keep climate action grounded, practical, and nonpartisan.

Listen to the Podcast on Causeartist

📝 Case Study

Kiva: Nonprofit Case Study

This case study examines how Kiva built one of the most influential peer-to-peer lending platforms in the world by centering trust, transparency, and community participation.

From its early days to its role in global financial inclusion, Kiva offers a powerful example of how technology and empathy can reshape access to capital.

Read the Full Case Study on Causeartist

🌟 Featured Spotlight Q&A

Meet GIV Gowns: Why Patient Dignity Starts with What You Wear

In this spotlight interview, we speak with Shawn Gibbs, founder of GIV Gowns, a healthcare apparel company rethinking what patients wear during treatment.

After 15 years in clinical practice, he repeatedly heard the same story from patients. People delayed or avoided care because they felt exposed, embarrassed, or powerless the moment they were handed a standard medical gown.

Over time, that pattern became impossible to ignore. What started as individual patient conversations turned into a clear systemic failure.

🔗 Read the interview

🗞️ News and Headlines

Trimtab Closes $60M+ "Impact-First" Raise: Backed by seven family offices, this holding company prioritizes environmental and social outcomes over traditional profit maximization, serving as a new model for catalytic family-office capital. Read More on Trimtab
Louisiana Impact Fund Launches to Retain State Wealth: Targeting $100M, this fund is designed to keep ownership, jobs, and wealth within Louisiana by investing exclusively in in-state companies. Partners include Ochsner Health, b1BANK, and the Reilly Family. Read More on LED
Global Plastic Treaty Negotiations Set for February: Following a lack of consensus in late 2025, a crucial resumed session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.3) is scheduled for February 7, 2026, in Geneva to finalize a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution. Read More on UNEP

🌎 Ecents, Fellowships, Grants, Accelerator, and Opportunities

eBay Expands $1.9M Circular Fashion Fund Globally: Applications for 2026 are now open as eBay expands its fund into the EU, Switzerland, and Canada. The program provides $50K grants and mentoring to startups solving textile waste and repair infrastructure. Apply by March 8, 2026
Cox Cleantech x gener8tor: This accelerator is offering $100,000 equity checks for five early-stage startups focused on circularity and energy. Apply to Cox Cleantech
HP Future of Work Accelerator: Supporting organizations expanding digital equity and skills for the modern workforce. Learn More
US Women in Tech 2026 Accelerator: Seeking women-led startups focused on economic mobility. Deadline: January 30, 2026. Apply via Village Capital
Venture For ClimateTech: Offering up to $50,000 in non-dilutive funding for hardware-based climate startups. Learn More
VentureWell Accelerator (Pioneer & Propel): Grants up to $20,000 for science and tech startups. Deadline: January 27, 2026. Apply to VentureWell
Infrastructure as the New Impact Frontier: Infrastructure is the backbone of a sustainable future. On February 26, 2026, the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University hosts a summit on how capital shifts in the built environment drive community resilience. Join industry leaders to explore why institutional investors now view infrastructure as a "safe haven" for mission-aligned growth and societal impact. Register for the Infrastructure M&A Conference

💰 Funding and Capital Watch

Daphni (Paris) raises €200 million for a new climate-and-science fund targeting 40 deeptech sustainability startups across Europe. Read More on Impact Loop
Equitable Earth secures €12.6M to accelerate the certification of nature-based climate solutions, aiming to bring more integrity to the voluntary carbon market. Read More on Equitable Earth
Aether Fuels raises $15M in additional funding to accelerate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) commercialization in Singapore. Read More on Aether Fuels
Athian raises $4 million (Series A) to scale its livestock carbon-insetting marketplace, helping dairy farmers monetize methane reduction. Read More on Athian
Root Sustainability (Amsterdam) secures €1M Seed led by Borski Fund to automate Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for European retail brands. Read More on Root Sustainability