Foundation Investors in Impact Finance

Access Ventures is an innovative impact multiplier that leverages catalytic capital to drive economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental sustainability in communities. They operate as dreamers, doers, and risk-takers who use blended finance approaches to create lasting transformative change, guided by the belief that people are at the heart of any true community transformation. Their mission is to revolutionize the global investment landscape through a blended finance approach and a "one-pocket mindset," proving that financial return and social impact can coexist while improving access and agency for all. They meet complex challenges with creativity, high tolerance for risk, and willingness to be catalytic with capital, emphasizing the development of the next generation of change-makers. Access Ventures serves as a catalyst for change in the impact investing ecosystem, bridging gaps between traditional finance and social impact through their deep understanding of catalytic and blended finance strategies. With 10 years of experience empowering change, they have established themselves as community-focused impact multipliers who teach, advise, and invest in ways that yield both high financial returns and significant community impact, fostering a resilient and dynamic economy where every person can thrive.

Accion is a global nonprofit dedicated to building a fair and inclusive economy by expanding access to responsible financial services. Founded in 1961, Accion works at the intersection of fintech, investment, and advisory to scale solutions that improve financial health for underserved populations. Through its investment strategies, advisory services, and research initiatives, Accion supports companies and financial institutions reaching millions of people across emerging markets. Its work spans digital banking, credit, payments, and climate-focused financial tools, helping individuals and small businesses gain access to the financial systems they need to grow and thrive.

Acumen is a venture philanthropy organization that invests in visionary entrepreneurs building transformational companies from seed to scale. They focus on funding bold entrepreneurs who are creating inclusive solutions across sectors like sustainable agriculture, quality education, renewable energy, healthy communities, dignified jobs, and gender equality. Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty through patient capital investments in high-innovation, high-impact enterprises. They operate by deploying philanthropic capital to shape markets and support entrepreneurs who are addressing the world's toughest poverty-related challenges, investing where traditional funders won't. Acumen Ventures has established itself as a significant force in the impact investing ecosystem since 2001, with an A to Z directory of portfolio companies spanning over two decades. They matter because they've reinvented the rules of return, prioritizing impact alongside financial sustainability and helping to demonstrate that venture philanthropy can drive meaningful systemic change in underserved communities globally.

Ashoka is one of the world’s leading organizations supporting social entrepreneurs. Founded in 1980, Ashoka pioneered the concept of social entrepreneurship and has built a global network of changemakers working to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Through its flagship Ashoka Fellows program, the organization identifies and supports high-impact entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and a powerful global network. Ashoka’s broader mission is to create a world where everyone is a changemaker, embedding social innovation across education, business, and civil society.

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation provides grant funding for nonprofits specifically focused on advancing economic mobility. They also operate an extensive program of arts and sports sponsorships designed to support the economic, social and cultural life of the communities where they operate. The foundation operates through multiple giving mechanisms including direct grants, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation Matching Gifts program, and Volunteer Grants program. Their mission centers on supporting economic opportunity while fostering community development through strategic partnerships with nonprofits and cultural organizations. As part of one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation plays a significant role in the philanthropic ecosystem by leveraging corporate resources to address economic inequality. Their comprehensive approach combining direct funding, employee engagement through matching gifts, and community sponsorships creates multiple pathways for impact in the communities they serve.

The Barr Foundation is a Boston-based philanthropic organization focused on advancing climate solutions, arts and creativity, and educational opportunity. Founded by Amos Hostetter Jr. and Barbara Hostetter, the foundation supports nonprofits and initiatives that drive systemic change and strengthen communities, particularly in the Boston region. Through long-term partnerships and flexible funding, Barr Foundation backs organizations working on climate resilience, clean energy transition, public education, and cultural vibrancy. Its approach emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and scaling solutions that can deliver lasting impact.

The BlackRock Foundation is the philanthropic arm of BlackRock, focused on expanding financial security and economic opportunity for individuals and communities. The foundation supports nonprofit organizations and large-scale initiatives that improve access to savings, workforce development, and long-term financial well-being. Through flagship programs like the $100 million Future Builders initiative and the Emergency Savings Initiative, BlackRock Foundation partners with nonprofits, employers, and public sector organizations to build resilient communities and create pathways to stable, well-paying careers.

Bloomberg Philanthropies is the philanthropic organization of Michael Bloomberg, focused on improving lives at scale across the globe. The foundation works across more than 150 countries, supporting initiatives in public health, climate, education, government innovation, and the arts. Its approach combines data-driven decision-making with deep partnerships across governments, nonprofits, and institutions. Bloomberg Philanthropies is known for backing large-scale, measurable programs that aim to deliver systemic change and improve outcomes for millions of people worldwide.

Blue Haven Initiative is an innovative family office that operates as a multi-asset-class impact investor, managing a diversified portfolio spanning public equities, fixed-income holdings, private equity, and direct investments. They are dedicated to putting wealth to work for competitive market returns while generating positive social and environmental change across various sectors. As one of the first family offices created with impact investing as its primary mission and focus, Blue Haven seeks both market rates of financial return and maximum social and environmental impact. They take a total portfolio approach to managing investments, applying rigorous portfolio-management principles while leveraging their flexibility and multigenerational time horizon to deploy diverse forms of capital including traditional investments, grants, and catalytic investments. Blue Haven has established itself as a significant player in the impact investing ecosystem, being recognized as the Impact Asset Owner of the Year in 2018 by the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment. They believe that solving the world's biggest social and environmental issues requires creative long-term investors who prioritize partnership, patience, and continuous learning, positioning themselves as leaders in demonstrating how family offices can drive systemic change.

Capricorn Investment Group is a sustainable investment platform that has been serving families, foundations, and institutional investors for over 25 years. The firm provides comprehensive Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) services and impact investment solutions aimed at solving environmental and social issues while building sustainable wealth for clients. With $14-19 billion in assets under management and 46 employees across offices in New York City and Palo Alto, Capricorn has established itself as a leader in sustainable investing. The company was founded in 2000 with the belief that sustainable investment practices can enhance risk-adjusted returns while demonstrating the investment potential in breakthrough commercial solutions to the world's most pressing problems.

CoPeace is an impact investing firm that focuses on funding lower middle-market companies in two primary sectors: Healthcare and Sport. They target companies with annual EBITDA of $2M-$5M that demonstrate a commitment to measurable impact on both planet and people, preferring control investments with active board governance rather than passive investments. Their mission centers on driving measurable and sustainable impact by funding and fostering ventures that address important social or environmental problems. As a Certified B Corporation, CoPeace operates under the highest standards of social and environmental impact, embodying the principle of "business as a force for good" and balancing people and profit in all their activities. CoPeace stands out in the impact investing ecosystem by applying institutional-grade investment discipline while maintaining focus on equity, inclusion, and justice. They demonstrate that intentional impact investing can achieve sustainable profitability and competitive risk-adjusted returns, contributing to the global movement of using business as a force for positive change and helping investors align their capital with causes they believe in.

Finnfund is Finland's development finance institution that invests in responsible and profitable companies in developing countries. The organization provides equity, mezzanine financing, and long-term loans to support sustainable business development. Finnfund focuses on solving major global challenges including poverty, inequality, climate change, and biodiversity loss through strategic investments in emerging markets. The fund operates across multiple sectors including forestry, agriculture, digital infrastructure, energy, and financial institutions, with a strong emphasis on impact measurement and sustainability assessment throughout their investment process.

Ford Foundation is one of the world’s largest philanthropic foundations, focused on advancing social justice, reducing inequality, strengthening democratic values, and expanding human dignity globally. Founded in 1936, the foundation supports nonprofits, movements, institutions, artists, researchers, and community leaders working to address systemic social, political, and economic challenges. The Ford Foundation operates across multiple regions worldwide and funds initiatives spanning democracy, racial justice, economic inclusion, technology and society, gender equity, arts and culture, journalism, and human rights.

GSG Impact is a global network organization that connects leaders, investors, governments, regulators, and social innovators to improve their impact on society and the environment. They focus on building impact economies, mobilizing private capital for public good, and promoting impact transparency and integrity across different sectors and geographies. Their mission centers on creating an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable economic system where impact becomes a core factor in every investment, business, and government spending decision. GSG operates through a network of national partners, taskforces, strategic partners and affiliations to drive collective action and advance impact investing globally. GSG Impact plays a crucial convening role in the impact ecosystem, bringing together diverse stakeholders to accelerate the transition toward impact-driven decision making. They matter because they serve as a catalyst for systemic change, working to ensure that all investment, business, consumption and government decisions consider their broader social and environmental implications.

Hopelab is a researcher, investor, and convener that focuses on equity-centered solutions for the mental health and well-being of Black, Brown, and Queer young people. They operate through multiple modalities including research, investment in innovators, and funding youth-centered solutions to advance mental health outcomes for underserved communities. Their mission is to advance the mental health and well-being of young people through uncovering knowledge and evidence, investing in innovators, and funding youth-centered solutions. Hopelab operates as an intergenerational collaborator, believing that equitable outcomes require partnership and shifting power dynamics to center young people's perspectives and lived expertise. Hopelab serves as a critical player in the mental health ecosystem by centering equity in all facets of their work and recognizing that systems of oppression like racism, homophobia, transphobia, and wealth inequities are interconnected. They amplify young leaders' voices and create opportunities to challenge existing narratives, spark dialogue, and inspire collective growth, making them essential advocates for dismantling barriers that prevent young people from living joyful and purposeful lives.

Kapor Foundation is a social impact foundation working at the intersection of racial justice and technology. The organization focuses on building a more equitable technology ecosystem by expanding access to computer science education, diversifying entrepreneurship and venture capital, advancing equitable technology policy, and supporting inclusive innovation. Through research, grantmaking, fellowships, policy advocacy, and ecosystem development, the Kapor Foundation supports initiatives designed to increase economic opportunity and representation for Black, Latine, and Native communities across the technology sector.

Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP) is among the top ten foundations in the United States, supporting efforts to enhance quality of life and prevent suffering of children, families, and older adults. Founded by the late Margaret A. Cargill, the organization preserves and promotes the environment and arts while encouraging humane treatment of animals. MACP operates through seven programmatic domains: Arts & Cultures, Disaster Relief & Recovery, Environment, Animal Welfare, Quality of Life, Teachers & Students, and Legacy & Opportunity. The foundation follows an invitation-based grantmaking process, partnering with capable organizations to make lasting differences for individuals and communities with particular attention to overlooked causes.

Minderoo Foundation is a proudly Australian philanthropy dedicated to forging a fair future by courageously challenging inequalities and campaigning for meaningful change. The foundation focuses on four key areas: uplifting communities to help all children in Australia reach their full potential, advancing gender equality so all people realize their inherent freedom and equality, protecting natural ecosystems for future generations, and responding agilely to existential threats and urgent challenges. Minderoo maximizes impact by backing those closest to the problems they seek to solve, using a comprehensive approach that includes partnering with organizations through grants and impact investing, advocating for system change and policy reform, developing and testing solutions collaboratively, and generating evidence to drive meaningful change across their focus areas.

One Acre Fund is an agricultural service provider that supplies smallholder farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa with farm supplies, financing, and training needed to increase productivity and income. They work with 1 million smallholder farmers, providing quality seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural services to help farmers grow more food and earn more money on the same plot of land. The organization operates on an investment model rather than charity, providing farmers with the tools and knowledge they need to build resilient communities and sustainable livelihoods. Instead of giving handouts, One Acre Fund invests in farmers to help them increase yields and profits through better planting techniques, naturally-produced hybrid seeds, and small amounts of fertilizer combined with education and training. One Acre Fund plays a critical role in addressing food security and poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, where most people living on $1 a day are farmers and smallholder farms produce 80% of the continent's food. Their work delivers 45% more farm income on the same plot of land, helping create pathways out of hunger and poverty while strengthening local economies and communities across nine African countries.

The Rockefeller Foundation is one of the world’s largest and most influential philanthropic organizations, focused on advancing human well-being through large-scale investments in energy access, food systems, health, economic opportunity, climate resilience, and emerging technologies. Founded in 1913, the foundation partners with governments, nonprofits, corporations, and local communities to tackle systemic global challenges through innovative finance, data, and technology-driven solutions. The foundation is known for making ambitious “big bets” aimed at improving the lives of hundreds of millions of people worldwide, particularly in underserved and economically vulnerable communities.

The Visa Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Visa, focused on advancing inclusive economies and helping underserved communities thrive through financial inclusion, small business support, humanitarian assistance, and community development initiatives. Founded in 2017, the foundation partners with nonprofits, social enterprises, and mission-driven organizations around the world to expand access to digital financial systems, entrepreneurial resources, and economic opportunities, with a strong emphasis on women-owned and underserved small businesses.

Wellspring Philanthropic Fund operated for 25 years as a foundation dedicated to supporting human rights and social and economic justice for all people. From its launch in 2001 until its planned wind-down by 2028, Wellspring maintained a grantmaking approach rooted in respect for human dignity and worth. The foundation supported thousands of organizations working to strengthen communities both in the U.S. and globally, with a particular focus on addressing systemic drivers of inequity, building power among marginalized communities, and countering structural discrimination. Wellspring believed that social justice movements should employ means consistent with their ideals while giving agency to the people whose interests they seek to advance.