The “big field” of impact investing came to Atlanta. No, not in 2020, as Mission Investors Exchange (MIE) originally planned, but in April 2026, with a different set of national and global uncertainties in the room. The years between the COVID-delayed and the largest-ever MIE conference gave Georgia’s ecosystem time to evolve and grow. More foundations are practicing impact investing. The state has more CDFIs, more local investor circles, and ...

There is a tool in the impact investing toolkit that doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves. It doesn't require a fund structure, a term sheet, or even a wire transfer. It lives on the balance sheet, costs almost nothing to deploy, and when used well, it can unlock multiples of its face value in new capital for the communities that need it most. It's called a guarantee, and for ...

Donor-Advised Funds hold $326 billion in charitable assets — yet less than 1% is invested for impact. With 72% of DAF donors expressing interest in impact-first investments, this represents one of philanthropy's largest untapped opportunities. Our latest article examines why this quarter-trillion-dollar pool remains parked in conventional portfolios ...

On January 23, 2026, fifty thousand people marched through Minneapolis in temperatures that dropped to minus twenty degrees Fahrenheit. More than seven hundred businesses closed in solidarity. One hundred clergy members knelt on the frozen tarmac at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, singing hymns until they were arrested, calling on airlines to stop facilitating deportation flights. In Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania, demonstrators gathered at Citizens Bank branches to demand ...

On October 23, 2025, Sydney England, GSIC’s Executive Director, contributed to the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center’s (GIPPC) 2025 Legislative Summit – inviting the faith-based, nonprofit, community development, and municipal leaders in attendance to consider how impact investing can be a tool for community wealth-building. Religious institutions currently invest between $200 billion and $400 billion in impact investments across the United States. This impressive figure represents only 11% of what ...

Update: A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from firing thousands of federal workers during the shutdown, including the CDFI Fund staff. This gives us breathing room, but the fight isn't over. The lawsuits by federal workers' unions and pushback from Republicans in Congress offer hope, but we can't rely on courts alone If December 13 arrives without intervention, the immediate impact will be operational chaos. Pending applications ...

Compared to the national landscape, impact investing is still gaining traction among Georgia foundations. Despite being home to 1,639 foundations stewarding over $25.3 billion in assets and contributing $2.2 billion in grants in 2023 alone, only a handful have formally adopted impact investing practices. This collection of case studies highlights the experiences of four Georgia-based foundation impact investors – The Sapelo Foundation, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, the William ...

The question isn't whether investing in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) carries risk. It's whether we can afford the risk of letting them fail. As foundations and asset allocators navigate an increasingly volatile economic landscape, I find myself fielding the same question repeatedly: "Should we double down on CDFIs right now, or is this the moment to pull back and protect our ...

As Georgia leaders work to expand financial inclusion and community wealth, employee ownership is emerging as one of the most powerful, and underutilized, strategies to get there. Whether through Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), worker cooperatives, or Employee Ownership Trusts, giving workers a stake in the businesses where they work has proven to build wealth, retain jobs, and anchor businesses in their communities. In a state where nearly half of ...

Earlier this month, ImpactPHL hosted the sixth iteration of Total Impact Summit, a multi-day convening bringing together investors, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem leaders committed to building a more just and equitable economy in Philadelphia and beyond. Georgia's impact investing ecosystem was represented at TIS25, and we've invited three thought leaders - Anna Cable, Kelsey Russell, and Khaliff Davis - to share their key takeaways and experiences. Their perspectives offer a window ...

Due to the the tireless efforts of Profitable Purpose Consulting, B Local Georgia, and many, many others, Georgia has a growing B Corp community! Check this FAQ resource GSIC co-developed with Kevin Christopher of Rockridge Venture Law to help more entrepreneurs take steps ...

It’s a common misconception: the belief that being a responsible trustee means walling-off mission from investment considerations. Many board members question, “Can we really pursue impact without compromising our financial obligations?” The truth is, by unpacking and rethinking what fiduciary duty really means—alongside reworking governance systems—we can discover that the pursuit of both financial returns and mission alignment isn’t just possible; it’s a win-win. Let’s dive in and explore how ...

Shifting federal policies and budget priorities could have a profound impact on Georgia’s economy, financial security, and access to essential services. Dramatic reductions to key federal programs and departmental staff reductions targeting employment, social services, and small business funding are likely to negatively impact Georgia as a whole as well as areas of the state already facing economic hardship ...

On February 5, 2025, TruFund Financial Services held its Annual Ecosystem Breakfast – bringing together more than 30 key stakeholders from Atlanta’s entrepreneurial and small business ecosystem. A diverse mix of participants – representing traditional banks, CDFIs, quasi-government agencies, business support organizations, and private sector investors – contributed to a lively, generative discussion on the challenges and opportunities ...

On January 28, 2025, GSIC hosted an educational webinar “Local Impact Investing, the Next Frontier of Community Leadership” to help Georgia’s community foundations to understand how peers across the country are embracing local impact investing ...

New data from CDFI Friendly America highlights a critical challenge facing Georgia: it remains one of just nine U.S. states labeled a "CDFI Desert," reflecting a severe shortage of community development financial institution (CDFI) investment. While significant progress has been made, large portions of Georgia - especially areas beyond Atlanta - continue to be underserved, limiting opportunities for economic growth and financial ...

Nearly 30 years ago, Atlanta captured the world’s attention as the city played host to the 1996 Summer Olympics. Last week Mission Investors Exchange (MIE) - one of the country’s leading impact investing networks - announced that Atlanta will host its 2026 biennial conference ...

Greetings - I'm thrilled to be writing this as Georgia Social Impact Collaborative’s new Executive Director! It's been an exciting and busy first few months. For many of you, I’m a new name and face in your impact investing ecosystem.… ...

The Georgia Shared Ownership Convening, co-hosted by the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing, Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative, Goizueta’s Business & Society Institute, and Georgia Social Innovation Collaborative, brought together 50+ stakeholders to discuss the future of shared ownership models in our state. From ESOPs to cooperatives, these models are vital tools for promoting economic resilience and racial equity ...

The Georgia Social Impact Collaborative (GSIC) is pleased to announce that Sydney England will serve as the new Executive Director. Sydney joins GSIC having spent the past decade working in various capacities in the field of impact investing ...