FOUNDATION HOUSE AND GRATITUDE RAILROAD SUMMIT
JUNE 20, 2024
INTRODUCTION
On June 20th, 2024 we were thrilled to co-host the 'Unlocking the Next Trillion' Summit, with Gratitude Railroad.
The Summit took a “Systems to Solutions” approach and included stimulating workshops, speakers, and conversations to unlock the next trillion in impact investing which will shape tomorrow. The Summit brought together approximately 100 change makers across sectors who are committed to leveraging their social, intellectual and financial capital to drive change. Key stakeholders included investors, entrepreneurs, fund managers, NGOs, academics, and ecosystem leaders.
OVERVIEW
The Summit was introduced by Mimi Sternlicht, Founder of Foundation House, and Howard Fischer, Co-Founder of Gratitude Railroad. Richard Zimmerman, Executive Director of Foundation House, and Rebekah Saul Butler, Co-CEO of Gratitude Railroad, then spoke about the need and opportunity to rapidly drive trillions of dollars to impact investing to help bring about positive environmental and social change.
John Fullerton , founder of the Capital Institute, then led a thought-provoking discussion of Systems thinking and Regenerative Economics and Finance. John explained that the New Millennium has altered life as we know it, creating a ‘Polycrisis’, which is a series of interconnected geopolitical, social, economic, financial, health and ecological crisis. He differentiated between reductionist and systems approaches to design and problem solving and explained the approach to complexity is to understand living systems, to help us manage the poly crisis. He then described Regenerative Capitalism, which includes a holistic, living systems theory of economics.
Using these ideas, the conference then broke into workgroups to discuss how a Systems approach can help unlock the next trillion for impact. Topics included:
Topic 1: Thinking in Systems that Support Life - John Fullerton
Topic 2: Role of Intermediaries - Jeff Gitterman
Topic 3: Post-investment Support for Fund managers and Entrepreneurs - Regina Green
Topic 4: Bridging Private Assets with Government - Max Frankel
Topic 5: Role of Philanthropic or Blended Capital - Paige MacLean, Jaideep Khanna
Topic 6: Driving Capital to Next Gen and Underrepresented Fund Managers - Jenna Bussman-Wise, Roraj Pradhananga
Topic 7: Scaling Solutions Beyond the Lab - Chante Harris, Tim Woodcock
The workgroups then reconvened to share their discussion and findings, moderated by Jessie Tang, Principal and Head of Strategic Initiatives at Gratitude Railroad. These system share-outs included ideas such as:
Creating network focused hubs of product innovation (e.g., in the $200B Donor Advised Fund space)
Better ways to match the right experience of entrepreneurs with fund managers
Identifying clogs in the system of governmental policies (e.g., the Inflation Reduction Act)
Ways to better educate Boards to take more risk and utilize methods such as Program Related Investments
How to have investors stay onboard through investment fund raising cycles.
Improved education on different funding sources such as blended finance
The Forum then hearded from impact company founders. These included:
Tiya Gordon, It’sElectric
Rebecca Egger, Little Otter
Lauren Salz, Sealed
(Moderator) Thomas Knowles, Gratitude Railroad
Session II of the Summit shifted from Systems discussions to focusing on Solutions, who discussed how we can catalyze solutions to bring about positive systemic change. Topics and group leaders included:
Reduce Greenhouse Gasses - Sarah Sclarsic, Voyager VC
Protect Ecological Integrity - Alex Armstrong, Mighty Earth, Craig Cogut, Global Fund for Coral Reef
Educate for the Future: Reskilling / Upskilling - Ashley Bittner, Kalos Ventures
Educate for the Future: K-12 - Mora Segal, A Street
Advance Health Equity - Lenore Beirne Champagne, Bright Ventures, Elana Berkowitz, Springbank VC
Bridge the Wealth Gap - Adrianna Samaniego, Cherryrock Capital, Liz Luckett - The Social Entrepreneurs’ Fund
Heal Food Systems - Julia Paino, Desert Bloom, Jack Algiere, Blue Hill at Stone Barns
Champion Climate Justice - 1 - Rebekah Saul Butler, Gratitude Railroad
Champion Climate Justice - 2 - Roman Torres, The Schmidt Family Foundation
CONCLUSION
Global impact investments have crossed the $1 trillion mark, but in order for us to achieve the UN Sustainability Goals, trillions more are needed. Through the exchanging of ideas and forging connections, the Summit helped expose the next trillion-dollar opportunities!
INFORMATION
About Foundation House:
Foundation House is a Center for Impact and philanthropy on an iconic and beautiful estate in back-county Greenwich, CT, with a commitment to positive and systemic change in the areas of Environment, Community and Mental Health. Foundation House holds gatherings are a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights from leading experts, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and network with other like-minded people.
About Gratitude Railroad:
Gratitude Railroad is a community-driven impact investment firm championing innovative businesses that generate compelling financial returns and enduring impact. Over the past decade, they have seeded and built a large portfolio of companies and funds, catalyzing hundreds of millions of dollars into impact-focused businesses. Learn about the ways to join Gratitude Railroad and invest in early-stage companies and emerging funds dedicated to planetary health, social well-being, and intersectional innovation.
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