INVESTOR
photo credit: Zach Embree
Renewal Funds
Joel Solomon - Founding Partner
Paul Richardson - Managing + Founding Partner
Carol Newell - Founding Investor
2008-Present
Canada's largest "mission venture capital" firm
over $200m assets under management
Organics + Environmental Tech
Vancouver, Canada
Advisor
"activist family office" for CAROL NEWELL
CEO
Co-Strategist with Carol
1994-2010
Whole portfolio activation to mission
Investments, grants, collaborations
Major Initiatives: Renewal Partners. Endswell Foundation. Tides Canada. Great Bear Rainforest. Hollyhock. PlayBIG. Social Venture Institute (SVI). Social Change Institute (SCI).
photo credit: Kris Krug
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Convenor
Kitchen + Garden Volunteer at Hollyhock founding in 1982
Immersion in ecology, stewardship + conscious enterprise with Hollyhock founders, Rex Weyler and Shivon Robinsong, from early Greenpeace
As long time board chair of Hollyhock, recruited Dana Bass Solomon as CEO. 2003-2017
Joel + Dana married in 2003
Curator or host for dozens of conferences
Cross sector, inter-generational, peer learning conferences as a social/culture change leadership strategy
Social Venture Institute (SVI), Social Change Institute (SCI), Story Money Impact, Accelerate Your Enterprise, Summer Gathering, and Web of Change anchor an extensive personal development program
Joel + Dana host content rich gatherings at their home for many organizations
Joel learned it all from Threshold Foundation + SVN
photo credit: Zach Embree
Citizen
Family active in progressive politics - Chattanooga, Tennessee
Jimmy Carter Presidential Campaign 1974-1976
Founding team. Vision Vancouver civic party. Close friend Mayor Gregor Robertson. Longest serving Mayor in Vancouver history
Nashville, Tennessee. 7 term series of moderate progressive Mayors and Councillors
"Ignoring politics can lead to devastating consequences. Use it or lose it."
- Joel
other roles
RSF SOCIAL FINANCE
"Reinventing the way the world works with money"
Senior Advisor
Co-Producer - Integrated Capital Fellows Program
SOCIAL VENTURE + SOCIAL CHANGE INSTITUTES
Hollyhock + elsewhere
Co-Producer since 1996
SOCIAL VENTURE NETWORK (SVN)
"Lead the way"
Founding Member
Hall of Fame/Lifetime Achievement Award
BUSINESSES FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (BSR)
Founding Member
B Corporation
Renewal Funds Early Member
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
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