Cordes Foundation
[File:Cordes Foundation Logo 2025.png|thumb|Cordes Foundation Logo]
The Cordes Foundation is an American philanthropic foundation focused on impact investing, social entrepreneurship, gender equity, and global economic opportunity. It was founded in 2006 by investment executive Ron D. Cordes and his wife, philanthropist Marty Cordes.[1] The foundation is known for its early leadership in mission-aligned investing and its commitment to aligning 100% of its endowment with impact-focused investments.[2]
History
Ron and Marty Cordes established the Cordes Foundation in 2006 following the sale of AssetMark, the financial services firm Ron co-founded. The foundation was created to advance economic opportunity for women and girls, support next-generation philanthropy, and accelerate emerging fields such as impact investing and social entrepreneurship.[3]
The foundation has supported initiatives related to microfinance, financial inclusion, artisan enterprise, and ethical global supply chains. It has also been active in the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems through global gatherings and collaborative networks.
Mission and focus areas
The Cordes Foundation’s work centers on:
- Impact investing — advancing the use of private capital for social and environmental benefit, and promoting mission-aligned investment strategies among family offices and foundations.[4]
- Gender equity — supporting programs that expand economic opportunity for women and girls globally.
- Social entrepreneurship — investing in and supporting entrepreneurs who address poverty, sustainability, and economic inequality.
- Ethical supply chains — helping build transparent, equitable systems for artisans and handworkers.
Programs and initiatives
The foundation has supported a wide range of organizations and initiatives in impact investing and social entrepreneurship, including:
- the annual Global Philanthropy Forum and Opportunity Collaboration (supporting social-impact convenings);
- artisan and supply-chain development through partners such as Nest and Indego Africa;
- early-stage social enterprises developing solutions in health, education, and economic mobility.
The foundation was an early advocate of integrating impact investing into donor-advised funds and played a role in the ecosystem that led to the founding of ImpactAssets, where Ron Cordes served as co-founder and board member.[5]
Leadership
The foundation is led by members of the Cordes family:
- Ron D. Cordes – Co-founder
- Marty Cordes – Co-founder
- Steph Stephenson (née Cordes) – Co-Chair[6]
Partnerships
The Cordes Foundation partners with organizations in global development, artisan enterprise, social entrepreneurship, education, and gender equity. Long-term collaborators have included Nest, Indego Africa, the Global Philanthropy Forum, and social-impact accelerators and fellowships.
See also
- Ron D. Cordes
- Marty Cordes
- Steph Stephenson
- Impact investing
- Social entrepreneurship
- ImpactAssets
References
This article "Cordes Foundation" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Cordes Foundation. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
