An impact strategist committed to the intersection of investment, culture, & art driving regenerative futures.
introduction
Hi, my name is Megan McFadden (she/they). I’m called to co-create thriving futures for people, places, and our planet through career and creative pursuits.
Most urgently, I believe in the need for a Just Transition from extractive economies to regenerative economies. Within this work, my priority is to serve women, BIPOC, and queer artists, culture-bearers, and healers who are essential leaders in this transition.
I exist fluidly in this work, with the expertise, skill, and will to act as a futurist, systems thinker, ecosystem builder, strategist, convenor, researcher, program designer, writer, and/or facilitator, depending on the context, goal, and highest need.
I call on my own experience as a queer woman, creative human, partner, mother, community member, localist, environmentalist, accomplice, and more as I seek to create change at the personal, relational, communal, and systems levels.
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, I’ve lived and worked in Philadelphia, San Francisco, and New York City. I currently reside in the Hudson Valley of New York, on the traditional land of the Mohican people.
career
My 15+-year career has focused on economic systems change. I have worked at international, national, and local levels to cultivate interdisciplinary ecosystems, communities, and strategies to advance the field of impact investing. I’m most passionate about advancing proven and new models for shifting culture, power, assets, and capital to traditionally underserved leaders and communities.
[teams]
I’ve worked in-house or consulted with leading-edge teams, including SOCAP Global, Impact Hub, Institute for the Future, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, The Enterprise Center, ImpactPHL, Community Capital Advisors, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, and more.
[clients & partners]
My work has served and attracted the support of thousands of interdisciplinary stakeholders, including impact entrepreneurs, impact investors, foundations, family offices, federal and local governments, policymakers, corporations, intermediaries, artists, and more. Sample clients & partners include Google.org, NYC Mayor’s Office of Tech & Innovation, American Express, JP Morgan Chase, B Lab, Impact Assets, Eileen Fischer, The Working World, Kiva, and more.
[certifications & affiliations]
I have a BA in Communications from Temple University. I’ve completed foresight training with the Institute for the Future and Designing Thinking with IDEO. I’ve been a NationalSwell member and RSA fellow.
[acknowledgments]
Work I’ve supported has been recognized by leading media outlets, including The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Guardian, ImpactAlpha, Fast Company, INC., Technical.ly, Philadelphia Inquirer, and more.
creative
[writing]
- Philadelphia Rings the Bell on a 21st-Century Revival
- Systems Thinking for 21st Century Cities - part 1, part 2, part 3
- New Revivalists Interviews - Daryn Dodson, Derrick Braziel, Carmen Rojas, Lisa Skeete Tatum
[advocacy]
- Standing for Black Lives Toolkit
- women + blockchain
[visual] 2 minutes project
[photography] instagram
Portfolio
Here is a sample of platforms, projects, and events I’ve created, supported, spoken at, or facilitated.
01
Platform
A globally-leading annual conference for thousands of people building the marketplace, ecosystem, & movement toward a more just and sustainable economy.
[Role: Brand & Community Manager]
SOCAP Conference
[learn more]
02
Platform
Total Impact Summit
[learn more]
An annual summit in Philadelphia connecting investors with community, education, & action opportunities for investing to positively impact planet, people, & place.
[Role: Strategy & Content Lead]
03
Platform
Impact Bazaar
[learn more]
A pop-up incubator in New York City for connecting to space, community, education & services supporting the growth of an impact idea, initiative or enterprise.
[Role: Strategy Lead]
04
Platform
OptImpact
[learn more]
An online platform that simplifies investors' discovery and connection to a pipeline of investable impact opportunities in Greater Philadelphia.
[Role: Strategy & Communications Support]
05
Project
Moving Minds & Money To Transform Arts &
Culture Investment
[learn more]
An investor’s primer & toolkit for catalyzing values-aligned, blended capital into local arts & culture-driven impact practitioners & enterprises.
[Role: Strategy & Co-Author]
06
Project
PAGE Capital
[learn more]
A program connecting BIPOC businesses with aligned capital resources - including The Hurdle Fund - to grow contracts with Philadelphia-based institutions.
[Role: Strategy Lead]
07
Project
CultureBank
[learn more]
An initiative incubated by Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) seeking to develop and scale the potential of artists as investors in their communities.
[Role: R&D Project Manager]
08
Project
Innovate Capital
[learn more]
A SBIC fund that aligns investors with the opportunity to invest growth equity capital into minority and women-owned businesses.
[Role: R&D Project Manager]
09
Project
Investable Impact Toolkit
[learn more]
A basic toolkit for impact-driven entrepreneurs & enterprises to begin identifying, tracking & reporting their impact.
[Role: Strategy, Design, & Writing]
10
Project
Future Skills Toolkit
[learn more]
A toolkit designed to help workers & learners of all ages develop skills to navigate a vastly different labor economy.
[Role: Project Manager & Researcher]