Our mission is to connect social entrepreneurs with the resources they need, convene events to strengthen the ecosystems of impact investing and social entrepreneurship and catalyze 100% of our balance sheet for impact.
The Cordes Foundation was founded in 2006 by Ron and Marty Cordes. Following the sale of Ron’s investment management business, the couple blended Ron’s experience in financial services with Marty’s work on issues that affect women and girls to create a family foundation focused on social entrepreneurship, impact investing and the economic advancement of women. In 2014, when they were joined by their daughter, Steph, and son-in-law, Eric Stephenson, the Foundation expanded its strategic focus to include ethical fashion brands, sustainable supply chains and engaging millennials in impact investing. The same year, the Foundation committed to catalyzing 100% of its balance sheet for impact.
Our 3Cs Approach
Connect
We connect social entrepreneurs to investors, advisors and potential stakeholders to help their ideas take flight.
Convene
We convene events, salons and summits that foster knowledge sharing, collaboration and field building for impact investing and social entrepreneurship.
Catalyze
We catalyze mission-aligned social enterprises with philanthropic and investment capital to advance innovative, scalable and sustainable market-based solutions.
“We’re often not an organization’s biggest investor, but we hope we’re their most strategic investor.”
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