Programs & Events

Impact Investing for Foundation Staff and Asset Owners New To the Field, Now with Action Cohorts!

The Mission Investing Institute and Action Cohorts (The Institute) was a six-month virtual learning program presented by Mission Investors Exchange in partnership with the National Center for Family Philanthropy and Philanthropy California. This learning opportunity aimed to deepen knowledge in impact investing, build relationships with leaders in philanthropy, and provide practical tools to implement an effective impact investing strategy. Beginning October 19, 2021, The Institute was designed to help philanthropy professionals gain exposure to approaches to help them get started in impact investing and advance their practice. 
 
Through a core curriculum, supplemented with three small group cohorts, participants heard from industry peers, applied the learnings with fellow philanthropy and finance professionals, and learned from seasoned investors in the field. Learning Sessions covered topics including, but not limited to:
  • Introduction to Impact Investing & the Spectrum of Capital
  • The Equity Imperative
  • Governance & Program Design
  • Activating your Portfolio for Impact
  • Impact Measurement, Management & Reporting
  • Investment Across Asset Classes
  • Pipeline & Diligence
  • Resources & Implementation (cohorts focus)
For additional information, please see the Learning Sessions and Action Cohorts tabs. And click here for MIE's summary of the Institute, including key takeaways and reflections from participants.
 

Learning Sessions Overview & Schedule

The Institute included two interactive sessions each month (1 Learning Session and 1 Action Cohort) from October 2021 through March 2022. Learning Sessions included presentations from experts in the field, an opportunity for Q&A, and interactive break-out sessions. Continue reading below to view details on each Learning Session. 
 

Learning Session 1: Fundamentals of Impact Investing

October 19, 2021, 12:30-2:30PM ET
This kick-off session offered an introduction to Institute peers as they embarked on a collective six-month journey. We learned about the fundamentals of impact investing, including terms and definitions, the different types of capital that may be at our disposal, and an overview of asset classes and potential uses. Participants also worked with peers to explore aspirations for themselves and their organization at the onset of the Institute. 
 

Learning Session 2: Investing with a Racial Equity Lens

November 16, 2021, 12:30-2:30PM ET
How do you build and implement an impact investing program with a racial equity lens? This Learning Session explored the past, present and future of using capital to address justice through financial inclusion. Participants had the opportunity to look inside a foundation’s journey of moving its endowments into mission-aligned investments as well as implementing a racial equity framework into its practices, and learned key principles that carried through the rest of the Institute.
 

Learning Session 3: Designing Your Investment Program

December 7, 2021, 12:30-2:30PM ET
This Learning Session offered practical tools to help design an impact investing program. We explored staffing and governance questions to understand what will best meet the needs of your foundation. We also worked with peers to begin building an impact thesis to define participants' goals, taking into account the realities of existing assets, mission, and capacity. 
 

Learning Session 4: Investment Program Strategy

January 25, 2022, 12:30-2:30PM ET 
In this Learning Session participants learned how to use different asset classes and investment tools to create a portfolio that supports their foundation’s goals. We heard from seasoned investors on how they developed their impact investing strategy, including what they hope to achieve and how they are organizing their capital. 
 

Learning Session 5: Operationalizing Your Impact Investing Program

February 15, 2022, 12:30-2:30PM ET
In this Learning Session participants learned how to translate their program strategy into action. We discussed the iterative process and considerations of deal sourcing, due diligence, portfolio management, impact measurement, managing to change, and evaluation of an impact investing program. 
 

Learning Session 6: Impact Activation

March 15, 2022, 12:30-2:30PM ET
What next steps do you need to take to activate your strategy? This Learning Session discussed legal considerations, internal dynamics, and other practical considerations as you embark on starting, changing, or expanding your program. 
 
 

Action Cohort Overview

Action Cohort sessions provide a space to meet in smaller groups to dive deeper into the materials covered during Learning Sessions to put your learnings into action, participate in hands-on workshop activities, create goals for your impact investing work, and engage with accountability partners to ensure your goals stay on track! Action Cohorts will meet on the day following each Learning Session. Each Institute participant will be assigned to one of the Action Cohort time slots indicated in the schedule below.
 

Action Cohort Facilitators

Cohort 1
  • Melanie Audette, Senior Vice President, Member and Partner Engagement, Mission Investors Exchange
  • John Duong, Founder and CEO, Kind Capital
Cohort 2
  • Andrea Barrios, Founder, Barrios Ltd.
  • James Wahls, Senior Vice President, Programs and Initiatives, Mission Investors Exchange
Cohort 3
  • Rebecca Price, Vice President, Membership, Mission Investors Exchange
  • Richard Woo, Free Range Consultant
Cohort 4
  • Nick Almeida, Chief Operating Officer, Mission Investors Exchange
  • Bert Feuss, Senior Advisor, Community Capital Advisors

Schedule

ACTION COHORT DATES
ACTION COHORT TIMES
October 20, 2021
November 17, 2021
December 8, 2021
January 26, 2022
February 16, 2022
March 16, 2022
Action Cohort 1: 12:30 - 2:30PM ET
Action Cohort 2: 2:30 - 4:00PM ET
Action Cohort 3: 12:30 - 2:30PM ET
Action Cohort 4: 2:30 - 4:00PM ET
 
 

Action Cohort Zoom Links

2019 Mission Investing Institute Highlights

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