Michael Etzel

Biography

Michael Etzel is a partner in The Bridgespan Group’s Boston office. Since joining Bridgespan in 2006, Michael has focused on effectiveness across the full spectrum of financing for social impact.

Michael focuses on overcoming the risk of “impact-washing” in impact investing. His clients include Bain Capital’s Double Impact Fund and Texas Pacific Group’s (TPG) Rise Fund—where Bridgespan has partnered to develop and deliver rigorous, quantitative impact underwriting, as detailed in Harvard Business Review’s “Calculating the Value of Impact Investing.” Michael has also worked with institutional, family, and corporate philanthropists, including The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Ford Foundation, and The MacArthur Foundation. He currently serves on the board of Splash.

Michael has contributed to the U.S. Impact Investing Alliance, leading a Bridgespan team that supported the development of a first-ever bipartisan policy agenda for the growing field of impact investing. Michael has also explored opportunities for philanthropists to get involved in ‘catalytic’ forms of impact investing in “Philanthropy’s New Frontier—Impact Investing.”

Michael earned his AB cum laude with high honors from Harvard College, and his MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School. He lives in Boston with his wife and daughter.