Embracing Impact: Reflections from the 2025 Mission Investing Institute

Recently, members of the Change Happens Foundation had the distinct pleasure of participating in the 2025 Mission Investing Institute hosted by Mission Investors Exchange at Atlanta's Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs. This transformative gathering reaffirmed our belief in the power of aligning financial strategy with mission-driven goals, specifically paving the way for our foundation's deeper commitment to green innovation.

The Institute emphasized that philanthropy is evolving. Foundations, especially private family foundations like ours, have an unprecedented opportunity—and responsibility—to utilize our entire asset base, not just traditional grants, to amplify positive environmental and social outcomes. By adopting a comprehensive, mission-aligned investment approach, we can exponentially increase our impact, particularly in areas such as sustainable technologies, environmental stewardship, and innovative solutions to ecological challenges.

Key insights from the Institute that particularly resonated with our foundation include:

• Integrative Investment Strategies: The importance of embedding our commitment to environmental sustainability within all asset classes, beyond grantmaking, to catalyze scalable, lasting change.

• Community-Driven Impact: Recognizing that authentic community engagement leads to stronger, more sustainable outcomes, particularly essential in supporting green innovations that directly address environmental challenges at a local and global scale.

• Cross-Sector Collaboration: Learning from and partnering with a diverse network of philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and investors ensures robust and resilient solutions for pressing environmental problems.

  
  

Looking forward, the Change Happens Foundation is energized to:

• Expand Our Financial Toolkit: We aim to progressively integrate mission investing into our broader portfolio, enhancing our impact in green innovation initiatives that are pragmatic, economically viable, and ecologically beneficial.

• Deepen Strategic Partnerships: We will actively seek collaborations with innovative entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders dedicated to developing sustainable solutions to ecological challenges.

• Pursue Continuous Innovation and Learning: As we grow in our understanding and application of mission investing, we remain committed to ongoing learning, adapting best practices, and evolving to maximize the positive outcomes of our efforts.

  
  

The 2025 Mission Investing Institute has been a pivotal step in our foundation’s journey toward a more impactful and sustainable future. We are deeply inspired to leverage our resources strategically and responsibly, fostering innovative green solutions that support not only our mission but the broader global community.

Together, let us commit to meaningful investment today, to secure a thriving, sustainable tomorrow.