From Philanthropy Impact's
Chief Executive

A World Where Individuals and
Families Engage In Values-Driven
Investments and Philanthropy

Article by John Pepin

Funding from Funders 2025 has been a cornerstone support for Philanthropy Impact, enabling the organisation to significantly enhance its engagement and support within the wealth management and philanthropic sectors to increase philanthropic giving and impact investing – more and better.

This funding has notably allowed Philanthropy Impact to redeploy resources more strategically—particularly by liberating two key staff members to primarily focus on membership sales and marketing without having to provide secretarial support. This shift has directly contributed to a remarkable increase in our membership engagement, evidenced by a 63% rise in new memberships and a 46% boost in renewals over the last year, compared to the previous period.

The grant has played a role along with other funders to reinforce Philanthropy Impact’s unique niche in the wealth management industry.

• Providing insights into how professional advisors navigate the complexities and critical topics that are relevant across the finance and wealth management industry, creating understanding and delivering support to advisors and their firms especially as they support a value based approach to their clients.
• Seamlessly supporting the integration of values-based discussions into advisory services reflecting the changing demand for this from (U)HNW GENZ, Millennials and Women of wealth; thereby redefining the concept of wealth management through impactful thought leadership and innovative support for private client wealth managers and their clients.
• This transformation is evident across various dimensions of PI’s operations, from educational initiatives to networking opportunities that collectively foster a more effective way for advisors to support their clients values-based approach while managing risks related to Consumer Duty and SDR compliance issues – all leading to a socially responsible financial advisory landscape.
• For 27 years PI has worked on bringing together siloed sectors – being in the unique position to appeal and gain insight from the main players, the gate keepers of wealth including private client professional advisors, wealth holders, philanthropists and impact investors; as well as the wealth receivers such as trusts, charities, foundations and impact funds.

Philanthropy Impact’s strategic contributions
are summarised as follows

• Mission-Driven Wealth Management enriching the wealth management sector aligning an investors’ financial goals with their personal values, promoting a holistic model of wealth management that prioritises societal well-being alongside financial returns.
• Educational Leadership, Tools and Resources thought leader delivering a comprehensive set of resources and including CPD Certified/CISI Endorsed training programmes, these specifically designed to integrate client driven values based strategies into mainstream wealth management. These initiatives elevate the quality of advice provided by private client professional advisors, enabling them to effectively manage wealth that is both financially and socially productive.
• Research, Publications and Advocacy: Through comprehensive research (e.g. GENZ, Women of Wealth and Millennials wealth holders; DAFs in the UK) and publications, including a quarterly journal, Philanthropy Impact disseminates cutting-edge insights influencing both policy and practice within the wealth management industry as well as with government – enriching the conversation on sustainable investing.
• Networking and Strategic Collaborations: creating robust networking opportunities that bring together diverse professionals from wealth management, legal, tax, and the impact investment and philanthropic sectors; fostering a collaborative environment conducive to innovation and shared learning. These connections are enhanced through events and an online directory (23 Impact – introduced this year) provides learning opportunities and fosters relationships that could lead to innovative strategies.
• Philanthropy Impact is proud to have played a key role in enabling the sector’s shift toward impact investing and philanthropy advisory services. While we do not provide direct advice or work with firms to raise capital, we provide a platform where members can connect with peers, exchange insights, and access the resources they need to integrate impact strategies into their work. As a result, a sizable number of Philanthropy Impact’s corporate members have launched or enhanced impact services (e.g., impact investment portfolios, philanthropy advisory services) in the couple of years.