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MARKET PRESENCE

Impact Investing Convening Series
Spring 2026
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As part of its market-building mandate under the Government of Canada's Social Finance Fund (SFF), Realize Capital Partners has retained Millani to convene institutional asset owners for a hands-on learning journey on impact investing. This initiative is intended to be complementary to other existing industry initiatives, with a bias to action on developing the impact investing market in Canada.

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Pension funds, endowments, unions, and similar institutional asset owners are invited to submit an expression of interest to participate in this pilot program.

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The objective of this initiative is to support institutions that are looking to move beyond high-level discussions and will be an applied program that provides practical pathways for integrating impact investing within existing fiduciary, governance, and portfolio constraints, along with peer engagement and networking. The convening series will offer insights from a faculty of practitioners and subject matter experts.

The convening series will consist of a three-session journey over the months of April and May, with exact dates to be confirmed:

 

  • Sessions 1: 3h | In-person (Toronto & Montréal)

    • Fiduciary framing, practitioner perspectives, and peer discussions to surface institutional barriers and practical pathways forward

  • Session 2: 2h | Virtual

    • Implementation models, impact manager case studies, and a guided portfolio simulation focused on real-world constraints

  • Session 3: 2h | Virtual

    • Allocation scenario, Investment Committee (IC) recommendation simulation exercise, including mock IC review

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Selected participants will be able to take part in this program at no cost as this pilot is funded as part of Realize Capital Partners’ market-building mandate under the Government of Canada’s Social Finance Fund. We are seeking a small group of asset owners that are prepared to commit to be actively engaged and attend all sessions.

 

Participation is limited. All expressions of interest will be reviewed, and shortlisted participants will be notified.

 

If this is of interest, we invite you to submit an expression of interest by completing the short survey linked below, which should take approximately 10 minutes to complete, by 11:59 p.m. on February 19, 2026.

 

Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SRKNHFL

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Selected participants will be notified by February 27, 2026.

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Please feel free to share this invitation with a colleague within your organization or in your network who you feel might be interested to participate.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

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Who is this program for? 

This program is designed for mid-sized Canadian institutional asset owners, including pension funds, endowments, foundations, and similar institutions, that are exploring how to advance impact investing in a way that is practical, and implementable within real governance and portfolio constraints.

 

Are there fees for participating?

No. Participation is fully funded through the Government of Canada’s Social Finance Fund (SFF) as part of a market-building pilot initiative. There are no participation or registration fees for selected participants. The program is not connected to fundraising or business development activities.

 

What size of organization can participate?

We welcome expressions of interest from all Canadian institutional asset owners, including pensions, endowments, and foundations. Given the applied nature of the program, priority may be given to organizations where participants are close to investment decision-making and governance processes.

 

Is this only for asset owners? 

Yes. This pilot is exclusively for asset owners (pensions, endowments, foundations, unions, and similar institutions). The content and exercises are explicitly designed around asset-owner fiduciary duties, governance processes, and portfolio constraints, as well as to provide related tools to advance impact investing.

 

Is this only for Canadian organizations?

Yes. This pilot is intended for Canadian-domiciled institutional asset owners, reflecting the objectives of the Social Finance Fund and the focus on building the Canadian impact investing market.

 

What is the process to participate?

Interested organizations are invited to submit an expression of interest through a short survey (link above). Participation is limited to ensure a strong, engaged cohort.

 

How will I know if I’ve been chosen to participate?

All organizations that submit an expression of interest will receive a response. Shortlisted participants will be notified by February 27, 2026, with program details and confirmed dates will be shared shortly thereafter.

 

What might I expect from the program?

Participants can expect a hands-on, applied learning journey combining in-person and virtual sessions, peer exchange, practitioner perspectives, and practical exercises. The program focuses on diagnosing institutional barriers, exploring implementation models, and testing impact investing approaches through scenario-based and governance-focused simulations.

 

Will the program be provided in English and in French?

Yes. This is a pan-Canadian program. In-person sessions will be offered in Toronto and Montréal, with bilingual facilitation depending on the preference of selected participants. Virtual sessions will be designed to accommodate both English and French participants, as needed.

 

Will the sessions be online?

Session 1 will be delivered in person and offered in two cities. Sessions 2 and 3 will be delivered virtually. This format is intentional and designed to balance relationship-building with accessibility.

 

What outcomes should participants expect?

Participants should expect to leave with:

  • A clearer understanding of how impact investing can align with fiduciary duty

  • Examples and ideas of how to overcome common barriers

  • Practical frameworks for internal discussion and decision-making

  • Practice with scenarios that can support future Investment Committee conversations

 

Do I need to participate in all the sessions?

Yes. Participants are expected to attend all sessions. The program is designed as a cumulative learning journey, with each session building on the previous one.

 

How is this program different from other programs happening in the Canadian market?

This program is intentionally applied, cohort-based, and action-oriented. It is designed specifically for asset owners and focuses on fiduciary, governance, and portfolio constraints through peer exchange, scenario-based exercises, and practitioner insight. The program is complementary to existing initiatives and aims to fill a practical gap between interest and implementation.

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