Newest Fellow Jenna Giandoni Researches the Impact of Investments in Sustainable Environmental Projects in the Dominican Republic

The Fellows Program, an initiative of GFDD and FUNGLODE, is happy to introduce its latest scholar Jenna Giandoni, dual master’s candidate in Business Administration and Science Environmental Management & Sustainability at Illinois Institute of Technology. Jenna’s research focuses on impact investing as it is applied to environmentally sustainable businesses in the Dominican
Republic. Her field work through the Fellows Program will be conducted over a three month period, from January to March 2015.

About Jenna

Jenna A. Giandoni holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a minor in political science from Old Dominion University. She is
currently a dual Master of Business Administration and Master of Science Environmental Management & Sustainability candidate at Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) in Chicago, Illinois, where she is learning to create a business case for environmentalism. Jenna boasts almost 10 years of work experience and has served with the Peace Corps in Latin America and Eastern Africa, focusing in the areas of strategic planning and community development. Throughout her
professional experiences, she has gained a deeper understanding of the necessity to promote environmental protection in order to achieve long-term economic growth throughout the world.

Jenna recently completed an Advanced Certificate in Emerging Markets & Political Risk Analysis from Fordham University, which included travel to South Africa to research and analyze the country as an emerging market. She has managed grassroots projects and has collaborated with
senior levels of government, executives, and nongovernmental organizations on programs related to homeless prevention, HIV/AIDS, economic development, education, gender issues, and environmental sustainability.

About the Research

As a GFDD/FUNGLODE fellow, Jenna is
researching the topic of impact investing as it is applied to environmentally sustainable businesses in the Dominican Republic. Her passion for fusing the environmental and business fields inspires her pursuit in an impact investing career and her current research. She is interested in doing comprehensive research on the challenges and successes of companies using an environmentally-focused business model, and the role of the public, private and non-government sectors to efficiently
mobilize capital for environmentally and financially sound businesses.

A major part of the research is to identify businesses specifically designated as impact investments or that would qualify and benefit from impact investment capital. Jenna is establishing metrics to quantify project effectiveness considering environmental impact and ability to generate sufficient returns, ultimately compiling this information and data for her research.

About the Fellows Program

The Fellows Program was developed in 2009 to respond to the desire of GFDD and FUNGLODE to develop a community of scholars that contributes to the Foundations’ growing body of research on matters of international concern that directly impact the Dominican Republic, complementing the overall mission of GFDD and FUNGLODE to promote academic
exchange, generate scholarship, and influence the creation of public policy related to economic and social development both at the national and international level.

Through The Fellows Program, GFDD and FUNGLODE seek to generate scholarship on issues at the forefront of the United Nations’ agenda in order to give voice to national and regional concerns and offer viable solutions to domestic and international challenges.

The Fellows Program
provides opportunities for M.S., M.A. and Ph.D. candidates interested in conducting high-level research in the Dominican Republic on issues related to sustainable development. The final output of the investigation is a comprehensive report which includes empirical data. Fellows realize research in coordination with GFDD and FUNGLODE staff, National Advisor and their university professors. Fellows that carry-out exemplary work have the opportunity to present their findings before the United
Nations community on behalf of GFDD and FUNGLODE.