Impact Finance Center
2026 Training Opportunities
IFC delivers world-class training to individuals and organizations.
The 2026 Learning Lineup – Find the training that’s right for you
Housing – Impact Investing & Financial Innovation Learning Circle Cohort
Mondays 10 am – 12:00 pm MT starting February 2, 2026
Are you looking to unlock capital, build community, and accelerate solutions to your community’s most pressing housing challenges? Join Impact Finance Center (IFC) for an in-depth impact investing learning circle designed for individuals and organizations who are committed to developing actionable solutions for their local housing sector. This cohort is a unique opportunity to gain the knowledge necessary to turn bold ideas into a blueprint for future housing in your community.
Who Should Attend
Individuals, foundation leadership, and community impact officers looking to activate local capital for housing development. For organizations, we invite you to bring 2 – 5 people to the circle.
Download the Housing flyer for more information.
Community Foundations – Impact Investing & Financial Innovation Learning Circle Cohort
Wednesdays 9 am – 11 am MT starting January 28, 2026
Join Impact Finance Center (IFC) for a transformative eight-week learning experience designed to equip community foundations to become leaders in financial innovation and impact investing.
Dr. Stephanie Gripne, Founder and Executive Director of IFC, and Lawrence Miller, Senior Advisor for Mission Investments at Vermont Community Foundation are leading a collaborative learning journey that teaches the integration of place-based investment practices across all asset classes into actionable strategic frameworks. Community Foundation participants will engage in interactive sessions that reveal how local private wealth—combined with philanthropic, corporate, and public capital—can be mobilized to deliver measurable community benefits. Together, we will learn practical and innovative models for mobilizing capital that are tailored to your foundation’s unique position, and build the strategies to align your community and institutional investments with values and mission.
The final two weeks of this program features tools from IFC’s Rapid Response work:
- Creating/rewriting investment belief statements to align with new priorities;
- Aligning investment policy statements with impact goals; and
- Designing financial products, such as recoverable grants, forgivable loans, and revolving loan funds, to meet emergency, or “rapid response” community needs.
IFC provides a customized curriculum that creates the confidence, knowledge, experience, and mindset shift necessary to navigate the complex world of impact investing effectively. Learn how to build the infrastructure that will make your money matter right where you live.
Who Should Attend
Community Foundation staff and board members who want to learn the many tools that will stimulate private investment and allow for comprehensive local community investment. We invite you to bring 2 – 5 people to the circle to integrate the learning experience.
Download the National Community Foundation Cohort flyer
COMPLETE THIS SHORT INTEREST FORM AND WE’LL REACH OUT TO YOU
IFC Fellowship Case Studies
Walton Family Foundation Teresa Ish and Impact Finance Center’s Dr. Stephanie Gripne discuss how they were able to leverage a -50% investment into a for-profit sustainable seafood company. Learn more here!
Rebecca Hart was part of the inaugural fellowship cohort and has now completed multiple direct impact investments, supporting diverse entrepreneurs! Read more of her story here.
Impact Investing Fellowship
Whether you’re an individual or a representative in a role such as a program officer, development director, or a director of corporate responsibility, this course is for you!
This custom program will be designed around your needs, schedules, and learning objectives with conducive one-on-one lesson plans.
Board of Trustees – Group Training
Custom training for boards, foundations, family offices, and corporations. IFC will fly out to your location and deliver expert training, led by Dr. Stephanie Gripne in partnership with Senior Advisers.
You will work with professional teams that will meet the trustees where they are at to establish and meet clear goals.
Impact Investing Giving Circles
Harness the power and tradition of Philanthropic Giving Circles and Immigrant Lending Circles, IFC has developed a model to educate would-be impact investors in a low risk, entry-level environment.
The Impact Investing Giving Circle (IIGC), is structured as a donor-advised fund or field of interest fund.