Our region’s locally owned businesses — that anchor communities and support families — are on the brink of a historic transition as small business ownership passes from retiring baby boomers to new buyers. If capital alone decides the outcome of this transfer, many of these enterprises may be acquired by distant private equity firms whose short-term extractive practices can hollow out jobs, depress wages, and siphon wealth away from our neighborhoods. But what if there were a different path—one in which ownership remained rooted in the hands of the people who create value every day? This session will explore how employee ownership (EO)—including worker cooperatives, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), and other democratically governed enterprises—can function as a tool for poverty alleviation, wealth-building, and community resilience in Philadelphia. The discussion will center on the role that impact investors, foundations, family offices, and other capital stewards can—and must—play in enabling this shift.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the global economy — and Philadelphia is no exception. From healthcare and education to workforce development and city services, AI has the potential to unlock extraordinary benefits for communities. But without intentional action, it also risks deepening inequality, displacing workers, and reinforcing systemic bias — particularly among the city’s most vulnerable populations.

Your wealth is a powerful tool, not just for financial security, but for shaping the world you want to live in and the future you want enable for your children and grandchildren. Yet for most of us, our investments remain disconnected from our philanthropy, advocacy, and personal values. In practice, these topics rarely surface in traditional advisor conversations — not because they aren’t important, but because they’re not part of the standard financial dialogue. This session is designed primarily for high-net-worth individuals, who want to move beyond a finance-only perspective with their money. We’ll explore practical frameworks and language you can use to engage your financial advisor in a more expansive, intentional conversation — one that reflects what matters most to you across your wealth, priorities, and long-term vision. Bring your questions. This is a space for thoughtful discussion, not prescriptions.

The Certificate in Regional Impact Investing Program bridges sustainable finance and regional revitalization. Developed by US SIF: The Sustainable Investment Forum and ImpactPHL, this hybrid course equips financial professionals, impact investors, endowment/foundation leaders, and family office staff with the tools to evaluate, execute, and lead investments that strengthen communities in the Greater Philadelphia region.

Foundations' financial priorities combined with conventional interpretations of fiduciary duty are often used as barriers to moving capital in alignment with values. But what if the long-term sustainability of the very communities these foundations seek to serve are threatened by financial approaches that privilege the preservation of the institution? By reframing fiduciary duty through the lenses of community care, perpetuity, and risk, this session will create space for boards, committees, and investment advisors to consider how their understanding of fiduciary responsibility can evolve to create a local community that is equitable, resilient, and sustainable.

Financial advisors who engage their clients about their values and offer them simple yet credible strategies for impact investing can deepen their relationships and expand their business. In this candid, solutions-focused conversation, advisors can bring the real questions and concerns that often go unspoken: How real is client demand? How do I talk about returns – and tradeoffs? What’s legit in the growing landscape of impact products? Gain practical insights into how impact investing fits into your current practice, and how you can prepare for generational shifts and The Great Wealth Transfer.

On September 18th from 5 pm - 8 pm to connect with others and learn about climate research projects in Philadelphia, the updated infrastructure needed in our changing climate, and the projects in development, which have undefined full funding to make these timely land, water, pollution, and waste solutions happen to mitigate the changing climate in our local ecosystem.

Learn about funders’ strategies to better align their investments with their values, uncovering key lessons that will be shared in this session.

Learn about the diverse roles impact lawyers play in advancing social justice, environmental sustainability, and economic development.

Join us to welcome the solstice. We are holding an ImpactPHL Social at Frankie’s Summer Club that is a pop-up venue between the residential buildings that were designed by Frank Furness at the University of the Arts (UArts). We welcome the impact community - impact investors, family offices, foundations, advisors, social entrepreneurs, and others who want to align financial assets with values to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient regional economy.

Join us to hear about the journey as the next generation steps into managing wealth and leading its impact forward, with is a growing awareness of mission-aligned investing as a critical component of the work.

How localized capital allocation can drive meaningful economic and social change for women and marginalized communities. An interesting conversation focused on gender lens while celebrating Women’s History Month.

Join us at our happy hour in the new year to hear about our 2025 programming. We welcome the impact community - impact investors, family offices, philanthropists, financial professionals, social entrepreneurs, and others who want to align financial assets with values in order to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient regional economy.

During the holiday season, learn more about the current methods for philanthropic donors to give more through moving their invested capital into mission aligned values for impact.

This is a non-partisan event to explore how various electoral outcomes — based on who won the White House and Congress — will likely shape public policy that could influence sustainable investing trends for the next four years and beyond.

Learn about the diverse roles impact lawyers play in advancing social justice, environmental sustainability, and economic development.

Unleashing Scale Through Creative Financing, Partnerships, and Business Models

Join Invest for Better at a Women’s Social to learn about their work and connect with other women investors.

A conference focused on recent trends and developments in financing investments in energy efficiency and sustainability for commercial real estate assets.

Join SBN for a conversation between on how local businesses can navigate the grant application process.

Join us at our fall happy hour that welcomes the impact community - impact investors, family offices, philanthropists, financial professionals, social entrepreneurs, and others who want to align financial assets with values in order to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient regional economy.

Join us for an event to connect around where our city is going in terms of arts and culture. We invite investors, culture-bearers, arts practitioners, and all other local community members who are interested in connecting on this thinking for a social in a center city art gallery.

Join us for our first in person event in 2024! This happy hour welcomes the impact community - impact investors, family offices, philanthropists, financial professionals, social entrepreneurs, and others who want to align financial assets with values in order to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient regional economy.

Please join us for a casual social and cash bar happy hour to connect with investors, businesses, practitioners, and other leaders that have participated in or are interested in the work of PAGE Capital, The Hurdle Fund, and - more broadly - connecting capital for racial justice and equity in the Greater Philadelphia region. If you’re interested in applying for a Hurdle Fund grant or contributing to the fund, please reach out to Melina Harris at mharris@economyleague.org.