Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions

Impact for Breakfast: Mobilizing Philanthropic Capital for Impact

Date and Time
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 - 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET
Location
Washington, D.C.
Contact
Lisa Willems
Email

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At a time when public funding is tightening, market capital is more cautious, and social needs are rising, philanthropic dollars have a unique capacity to catalyze innovation, de-risk early-stage solutions, and invest directly in impact-first solutions.  

During this Impact for Breakfast session in Washington, D.C., panelists will share how their organizations are working to shift more philanthropic dollars toward impact and what they are seeing across the broader ecosystem.

The expert panel will feature:
Liz Sessler, CEO of CapShift
Patrice Brickman, Founder & CEO of Inspire Access
Daniel Wanjira, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Blue Haven Initiative
Moderated by Alisha Griffey, CEO of Daintree Capital

Together, panelists will explore topics including:

  • How their organizations are each working to mobilize philanthropic capital—from donor-advised funds to family office strategies
  • Innovative structures and tools gaining traction—including guarantees, recoverable grants, ecosystem-building investments, and the emerging appetite for catalytic deployment
  • How philanthropy is expanding access and building stronger pipelines for entrepreneurs, leaders, and communities who have been traditionally overlooked