Integrating Philanthropy & Investing to Maximize Impact

This program is designed for private wealth holders, family office principals, foundation heads, and their key staff members who are looking to design systems-led impact strategies by integrating multiple forms of capital across their entire portfolio. It's particularly relevant for those who want to understand how to leverage various forms of economic capital for maximum impact. While no extensive experience is required, participants should have a basic understanding of either philanthropy, impact investing, or both. Participants will explore innovative financing approaches, including catalytic capital structures that blend philanthropic and investment capital, revenue-based financing models that align with systemic change objectives, and strategic co-investment frameworks that amplify impact across multiple stakeholders. Whether you're managing a family foundation, running an impact investing fund, or overseeing a portfolio that combines both, you'll gain practical tools to optimize your capital deployment for systemic change.

The program will run for three full days in October 26-29, 2026, at Stanford University in California. Each day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with special networking dinners on the first and final evenings. In collaboration with the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (Stanford PACS), the program provides a comprehensive learning experience that focuses on designing portfolio-wide impact strategies. Sessions combine expert discussions, behind-the-scenes case studies, peer-to-peer learning, and hands-on programming. Participants will receive pre-reading materials and preparatory work (approximately 10 hours) three weeks prior to the program's start. Following the program, participants join periodic cohort calls for 6-12 months to support strategy implementation and continued learning. Upon completion, participants receive a digital badge certificate recognizing their specialized training in total portfolio impact design.

The program focuses on three core areas essential for creating meaningful impact: Systems thinking and analysis: Learn practical approaches to map complex challenges, identify key stakeholders, and discover strategic intervention points Strategic capital deployment: Master how to match financing solutions to social challenges by assessing system financing needs and exploring various financial structures. Action planning and next steps: Develop concrete action plans that incorporate stakeholder perspectives and define clear indicators for success at various project stages Throughout the program, you'll work with real-world cases and your own impact objectives, ensuring you can immediately apply these frameworks to your specific context.

The program's distinctive feature is its focus on integrating multiple forms of economic capital across an entire portfolio for systemic impact. Through a unique partnership, Stanford PACS brings academic expertise and practical implementation strategies from the philanthropic perspective, while CSP provides thought leadership and foundational frameworks from the impact investing space. Limited to 20 participants, the intimate learning environment provides three focused days of group work, one-on-one feedback, and relationship-building opportunities during both structured and unstructured networking sessions. Being hosted at Stanford University provides participants with unparalleled access to Silicon Valley's innovation ecosystem and its pioneering approaches to global systems change. Upon completion, participants receive a recognized credential in the form of a physical and digital badge certificate.

The program’s final afternoon is dedicated to structured exercises that help participants synthesize their learnings into a personalized, actionable plan. This process is supported by peers and expert facilitators to ensure feasibility and impact. Following the program, participants will be invited to join the CSP alumni community, offering ongoing access to valuable networking opportunities, collaborative projects, and knowledge-sharing forums. This tailored follow-up support is designed to help participants maintain momentum and refine their impact strategies over time.

The program fee is $6,899 per seat. The program fee includes the full training program, all materials, meals, and a physical and digital badge certification upon completion. Travel and accommodation costs are not included. For specific pricing and registration details, please contact Vicki Maler, Program Associate.

The application process varies depending on your previous engagement with our programs. For alumni of Stanford PACS or CSP programs, simply complete the registration form and schedule an information call with our team to ensure you have everything needed for the program. For new participants, we kindly request that you complete an interest application form and schedule an initial conversation with our program team. If there's a good fit, you'll be invited to register and will be guided through the registration process.