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Mission-Aligned Investing

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Building a Robust MAI Ecosystem | Recognizing Champion Foundations | Get Involved
 

What is Mission-Aligned Investing?

Mission-Aligned Investing (MAI) is the practice of aligning assets with values and mission by investing in ways that generate positive social or environmental impact alongside a financial return.

For a fun primer on mission-aligned investing, watch this 3-minute video from Untours Foundation:

Building a Robust MAI Ecosystem

Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia is commited is to educating, convening and mobilizing funders toward greater mission-alignment of their assets. 

Mission-Aligned Investing (MAI) Collective

The MAI Collective is an ongoing practice to support experienced practitioners in advancing their mission-aligned investing journeys together. Executive directors, foundation staff, and board members participate in programming aimed at:

  • Stewarding more capital into the Philadelphia region equitably
  • Sharing and advancing knowledge of mission-aligned investing
  • Developing shared resources to facilitate this work

Together, the foundations in these initiatives are transforming investment practices, ensuring they reflect the values and missions of the foundations, and driving meaningful change in our communities.

MAI Collective Participants

  • Barra Foundation
  • Independence Public Media Foundation
  • The Merchants Fund
  • The Nelson Foundation
  • Untours Foundation
  • The Valentine Foundation
Mission-Aligned Investing Cohorts


Inaugural Cohort (Oct 2020 - Oct 2021)
Description: The cohort - a yearlong collaboration with Andorra, Common Future, and Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia - focused on education, capacity building, and culture with a racial equity lens. Key features included:

  • Monthly meetings and one-on-one check-ins
  • Participation from senior staff and board members
  • Engagement of 15 foundations with assets ranging from $2 million to $180 million
  • Facilitation of peer-to-peer learning

 


MAI Cohort 2 (July 2023 - July 2024)
Description: This yearlong cohort was a collaboration between Andorra and Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia designed to accelerate the scale and effectiveness of mission-aligned investing to help advance each of our missions individually and collectively.

 

Recognizing Champion Foundations

The following foundations have made a public formal commitment to:

  1. Investing a percentage of the foundation’s assets in alignment with the values and mission of the foundation. and/or
  2. Investing a percentage of the foundation’s assets into the Philadelphia region.

Note: These commitments, in some cases, are aspirational and will evolve as more is learned and better understood about how well investments are aligned. 

Barra Foundation*+ - Learn more about their work here.

  • We are committed to investing up to 100% of the foundation’s assets in alignment with the values and mission of the foundation. 
  • We are committed to investing 5% of the foundation’s assets into the Philadelphia region.

Samuel S. Fels Fund*  - Investment portfolio and examples of local investments.

  • We are committed to investing 100% of the foundation’s assets in alignment with the values and mission of the foundation.
  • We are committed to investing 10% of the foundation’s assets into the Philadelphia region.

The Merchants Fund*+

  • We are committed to investing 100% of the organization’s assets in alignment with the values and mission of the foundation.
  • We are committed to investing 4% of the organization’s assets into the Philadelphia region.

The Nelson Foundation*+

  • We are committed to investing 100% of the foundation’s assets in alignment with the values and mission of the foundation within five years (end of 2028). Read a statement about their mission-aligned investing here.
  • We are committed to investing 5-10% of the foundation’s assets into the Philadelphia region within five years (end of 2028).

The Homelessness Assistance Fund*

  • We are committed to investing at least 75% of the foundation’s assets in alignment with the values and mission of the foundation (this includes ESG investments). Currently, 86% of HAFI's endowment is invested in alignment with our mission. 
  • We are committed to investing up to 10% of the foundation’s assets into the Philadelphia region in vehicles that may offer below market rates of return. Locally, HAFI has made investments in the PhilaImpact Fund and the Women's Community Revitalization Project, and is actively reviewing other local investment opportunities. 

Untours Foundation*+ - Read more about their work here

  • We are committed to investing up to 100% of the foundation’s assets in alignment with the values and mission of the foundation. 
  • We have geographic restrictions on our investing but about half of our investing thus far has been in the Philadelphia area. 

Patricia Kind Family Foundation**

  • We are committed to investing 100% of the foundation’s assets in alignment with the values and mission of the foundation. (We do not have a percentage of Philadelphia specific investments.)
  • We have an investment statement on our website that will be fleshed out with more specific information as we develop our strategic plan during 2025.

Valentine Foundation*+ - Find more information about our mission-aligned investing work here.

  • We will have 100% mission alignment by 2025 and 20% in community investments.

Independence Public Media Foundation**+

  • We are committed to investing up to 100% of the foundation’s assets in alignment with the values and mission of the foundation.
  • We are committed to investing 5% of the foundation’s assets into the Philadelphia region.

These are champions of mission-aligned investing helping set the bar for mission-aligned investing in the region.

*Participated in our inaugural Philanthropy Network Cohort Program
**Participated in second Philanthropy Network Cohort Program
+Participating in the MAI Collective
 

Get Involved

Interested in making a formal public commitment to MAI? Interested in joining the current MAI Collective or participating in an upcoming MAI Cohort? Contact Shira Hodges at shira@philanthropynetwork.org to learn more.

Join us in driving meaningful change through mission-aligned investing!

Check back for updates.