Modern Philanthropy: Innovative Tools to Unlock Impact

Imagine uncovering additional capital you could put toward your mission — without adjusting your grantmaking budget. For many foundations, this isn’t just a hypothetical. It’s entirely possible when you look across your full portfolio and discover new ways to invest alongside your goals. Impact investing is a rapidly growing practice — now exceeding $1 trillion globally — and increasingly adopted by foundations and donor-advised funds of all sizes. And while it can feel complex from the outside, it's far more accessible than most foundations expect. In this practitioner-led session, Foundation Source and CapShift will demystify the impact investing landscape in clear, practical terms: highlight what tools exist — from recoverable grants to program-related investments (PRIs) and mission-related investments (MRIs), how foundations are using them today, and how these approaches can be integrated within your existing structures and advisory relationships. We will also explore: How impact investments can bridge a tension every foundation faces: maximizing impact today while preserving assets for the future How these tools can support nonprofit resilience — helping grantees strengthen their balance sheets, access bridge capital, and build revenue beyond the annual fundraising cycle Drawing from case studies and CapShift’s platform of 1,700+ impact opportunities, this session will offer straightforward guidance on how to thoughtfully take the first step to activate more of your capital in service of the work you already lead.