Published on October 11, 2025 by Catherine Smith  

Since 2008, the Social Entrepreneurship program in Samford University’s Brock School of Business has offered students the opportunity to study how business pairs with mission. Now, a new initiative centered around impact investing expands upon the foundation of the Social Entrepreneurship program, exposing students to the principles of aligning financial investments with social or mission-driven goals.

At the heart of this initiative is the new Private Equity and Impact Investing (PEII) course and the Brock Impact Investment Fund (BIIF).

The PEII course teaches students to engage in the private equity and debt markets with a mission-driven approach. Complementary to the class, the BIIF is a student-managed, donor-advised fund that focuses on venture capital-style investments in for-profit mission-driven enterprises. These new programs 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.

The program is led by Jeremy Thornton, the Dwight Moody Beeson Chair of Business and professor of economics who has served on the Samford faculty since 2004 and previously managed microfinance programs in Latin America.

“This innovative initiative reinforces Brock School of Business’ commitment to practical skills that our students can take into the workforce,” Thornton said. “By focusing on high-impact ‘Kingdom-oriented’ businesses in low-income countries, these programs support Samford’s goals of fostering faith formation in students and extending our global influence.”

In addition to Samford’s established relationship with Cedarworks, Inc., the annual Lion's Den event, and  their global network of impact investors, the program involves a new partnership with the Impact Foundation, a US 501(c)(3) organization that provides a streamlined way to invest charitable capital globally to create economic, social and spiritual transformation.

Donors can allocate 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. All investment returns are reinvested into the BIIF to support its mission with unused returns eventually transferred to the university.

Examples of early investment targets by students in the program include Masaka Farms, a Rwandan dairy farm that employs a majority deaf workforce. Other examples include Sweet Daisy Petit Four Shoppe, a Nashville-based bakery that equips trafficking survivors with workforce skills, and Omega Communities, which develops faith-based senior living communities in partnership with churches.

The Brock Impact Investment Fund is distinct in the landscape of higher education. While some institutions offer similar programs at the graduate level, Samford’s initiative is unique in making this opportunity available to undergraduate students. Additionally, the BIIF is one of the only undergraduate-advised, Christ-centered investment funds in the nation, offering a rare blend of academic rigor, professional oversight and experiential training in faith-driven stewardship. Its emphasis on Kingdom investing in developing markets, particularly in Africa and Latin America, further distinguishes the program from other university-based impact investing initiatives.

“This initiative, especially the work of the Brock Impact Investment fund, represents an exciting opportunity for our donors to make a lasting difference,” said Betsy Holloway, Samford’s vice president for advancement and marketing. “Gifts designated for the fund will not only generate meaningful Kingdom impact through mission-driven enterprises, but will also cultivate the next generation of ethical, Christ-centered business leaders. This initiative reflects Samford’s commitment to aligning philanthropy with purpose, providing both immediate and long-term returns for our students and the communities they will serve.”

For inquiries about having your assets advised by a student team, professor Jeremy Thornton at jpthornt@samford.edu.

To make a charitable contribution to the Brock Impact Investment Fund, click here.

 
Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford is widely recognized as having one of the most beautiful campuses in America, featuring rolling hills, meticulously maintained grounds and Georgian-Colonial architecture. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second-highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.