On September 16, Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, ImpactPHL and Mission Investors Exchanged convened foundations, advisors, and partners to explore how mission-aligned investing can take deeper root in our region. The conversation underscored that this work is both urgent and achievable when done collectively.
The program opened with national perspective from Mission Investors Exchange, which described how foundations across the country are shifting more of their assets—not only their grant dollars—toward mission. What emerged was a picture of philanthropy evolving: moving from a narrow focus on annual giving to a broader approach that treats endowments, investments, and influence as levers for social impact.
Against this backdrop, the conversation turned local. Through Philanthropy Network’s Mission-Aligned Investing Cohort program designed in partnership with Andorra, a group of 17 small and mid-sized foundations in Greater Philadelphia piloted practical steps to align resources. Andorra conducted know what you own reports for each Foundation, engaged trustees in new conversations, and tested investment policies that reflected mission and values.
The results were significant:
- 12 of the 17 participating foundations made their first mission-aligned investments during the program.
- Together, foundations completed 82 total investments across public and private markets—an average of five investments per participant over 12–18 months.
- More than $11 million was invested in Philadelphia across 40 deals, with a strong focus on nonprofits, social enterprises, and community projects.
These numbers reflect more than transactions—they represent cultural shifts. As several speakers emphasized, mission-aligned investing is not just technical; it requires boards and staff to evolve together, building the trust, transparency, and shared commitment needed to move capital differently.
Spotlight Stories: Foundations Leading the Way
- The Nelson Foundation and Independence Public Media Foundation (IPMF) made the decision to align 100% of its assets with mission, demonstrating how even small foundations can fully reorient their portfolios when trustees embrace the opportunity. This shift positioned the foundation as a local leader in values-driven investing, while also sparking dialogue among peers about what total alignment could look like.
- The Pincus Family Foundation was able to shift her foundation through years of dialogue and finding NextGen champions to lead the way.
ImpactPHL then reflected on their contribution to the impact investing space – by convening investors, hosting programs, and connecting capital to local opportunities -- ImpactPHL continues to strengthen the region’s impact investing infrastructure. Its work ensures that mission-aligned investing is not just happening within foundations but is part of a broader marketplace where philanthropy, private capital, and community priorities intersect.
The facilitator Nick Ashburn, surfaced several insights for the path forward:
- Culture and practice evolve together. Investment decisions succeed when they are rooted in institutional values and shared vision.
- Peer learning accelerates action. Cohort members noted that transparency, shared problem-solving, and one-on-one coaching were pivotal for moving from intention to action.
- Ecosystem connections are critical. Local progress is strengthened by ties to national conversations, shared frameworks, and collaborative infrastructure.
As the convening closed, participants reflected that no single institution can do this work alone. Mission-aligned investing requires collective commitment and structures that make participation accessible to institutions of all sizes.
Continuing the Work: The Mission-Aligned Investing Collective
The September 16 convening was not the end of the conversation but a waypoint in an ongoing journey. Building on the successes of the Cohort, Philanthropy Network launched the Mission-Aligned Investing Collective earlier this year. Unlike the time-limited cohort, the Collective is an ongoing platform where foundations can continue learning, experimenting, and collaborating.
Through the Collective, participants will:
- Share updates on how their portfolios and policies are evolving.
- Access peer learning and technical support to address emerging challenges.
- Explore opportunities for co-investment and collaboration across the region.
This next phase ensures that mission-aligned investing in Greater Philadelphia is not just a project, but a sustained movement. Alongside ImpactPHL’s continued work to build connections between investors and opportunities, the Collective offers a trusted space for foundations to align their capital with mission and values over the long term.
Philanthropy Network’s role is to hold the space, foster the relationships, and connect local actors with national expertise—ensuring that momentum builds over time and more capital is working in service of equity, resilience, and community well-being across the region.
The MAI Collective is more than just the next phase of the Cohort—it’s setting a new standard for mission-aligned investing in our region. We're achieving this through peer learning, active collaboration, shared action, and a commitment to mutual accountability.
We’ll reconvene this fall to reflect on what’s been built, what’s been learned, and where we go next. Until then, this spring’s working group sessions are helping us learn what’s possible when we invest in shared infrastructure—and in each other.
We’re also excited to partner with ImpactPHL and Lunch with Barra to help surface investable, mission-aligned opportunities in the region. ImpactPHL curates a regular newsletter highlighting deals and hosts events focused on impact investing—including the recent Total Impact Summit. The Lunch with Barra series, open to all, offers a platform for organizations to share opportunities that align with local values and community needs. Together, these efforts complement the work of the Collective and provide actionable pathways for those ready to invest locally.
Stay tuned, stay engaged, and please join us at one of the upcoming sessions.
Let’s keep building.
~ Andorra and Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia