The Brock Investment Impact Fund (BIIF) is a student-managed, donor-advised fund housed within Samford University's Brock School of Business, empowering students to make venture capital-style investments in for-profit, mission-driven enterprises around the world.
This initiative builds on Brock School of Business' long-standing commitment to social entrepreneurship and its global network of impact investors. The program provides students a unique opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real-world investing, all through a Kingdom-focused lens.
Real-World Investing
Students identify, evaluate and manage investments in missional startups, gaining practical skills in business valuation, deal structuring and portfolio management.
Strategic Partnership with the Impact Foundation
Through collaboration with the Impact Foundation, students help direct capital toward high-impact ventures in frontier and emerging markets.
Mission-Driven Focus
BIIF targets companies that align with Kingdom values and operate in underserved regions, especially in Africa and Latin America.
Experiential Learning
Students engage in due diligence, develop term sheets and manage actual investments, preparing them for careers in private equity, venture capital and social enterprise.
Academic Integration
Student participation in the Brock Impact Investment Fund is complemented by the Private Equity and Impact Investing (PEII) course, an advanced undergraduate offering that equips students with the tools and framework needed to succeed in mission-oriented investing.
Together, the BIIF and the PEII provide students with a comprehensive understanding of private equity, covering topics such as deal sourcing, business valuation, deal structuring and exit strategies. Students gain practical experience by identifying investment prospects, developing term sheets and managing investments.
"Studying economics at Brock School of Business shaped my approach to humanitarian aid. The PEII course showed me how market-driven solutions can address humanitarian challenges—leading me to invest directly in Africa."
- McNeil Honea '24, Business Analyst, 4africa
- Lauren Bielstein '24, Mission Support Coordinator, Christian Service Mission"The mentorship I received at Brock School of Business prepared me to work at various nonprofits, including 4africa and Christian Service Mission. Participating in the PEII course provided meaningful insight on measuring Kingdom impact in for-profit social enterprises. I look forward to the opportunities this program will offer future students."
Get Involved
The Brock Investment Impact Fund welcomes partnerships with donors and impact investors. Donors can transfer charitable assets to the Impact Foundation, while a dedicated Samford student analyst team sources, evaluates and monitors companies for investment. All student work is reviewed by an investment committee before the Impact Foundation provides final oversight and executes transactions.
By channeling these resources into mission-aligned enterprises, Samford students will help donors align their giving with their faith while gaining real-world investment experience. Investments will typically target a three-to-five-year exit, with financial returns flowing back into the BIIF account to create a self-replenishing pool of capital for reinvestment.
If you're interested in having your donor-advised fund assets advised by our student team, contact program coordinator Jeremy Thornton, Dwight Moody Beeson Chair of Business: jpthornt@samford.edu.
