Transform Finance
Transform Finance is a New York-based nonprofit founded in 2013 that researches, educates, and advises on "Transformative Finance" — investment models that shift economic power to non-investor stakeholders — serving foundations, fund managers, family offices, government agencies, and community organizations through publications, learning hubs, and tailored advisory engagements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Transform Finance does
Transform Finance is a New York-based nonprofit research, education, and implementation organization founded in 2013 that operates at the intersection of finance and social justice. It defines and disseminates a framework called "Transformative Finance," built on three principles: those affected by capital deployment should be able to design outcomes, govern processes, and share ownership; investors should add more value than they extract as financial returns; and risk and return should be fairly allocated among stakeholders. The organization runs four program areas — Transformative Financing Structures, Community Owned Real Estate, Participatory Investment, and Values-Led Business — supported by three online learning hubs (Alternative Ownership Enterprises, Values-Led Business, Participatory Investment), a portfolio of flagship research reports, and tailored advisory and educational engagements for foundations, family offices, fund managers, development agencies, and government actors.
Its core products are knowledge artifacts rather than software: the Alternative Ownership Enterprises Report (2023), the Hiding in Plain Sight report drawing on 600+ company examples, an analysis of 53 Employee Ownership financing funds in the US and Canada, and briefings on capitalizing the Employee Ownership opportunity and Social Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition. Alongside these publications, Transform Finance delivers professional services including one-on-one advisory engagements, multi-session strategy workshops (e.g., a three-part workshop series with the Center for Cultural Innovation that convened 40+ funders), commissioned research for foundations such as Ford and Robert Wood Johnson, and convening presence at major industry events including SOCAP, GIIN Forum, OFN Conference, and Aspen Ideas.
The business model is that of a donor-funded nonprofit. Revenue streams include commissioned research contracts and grants from foundations (Ford, Robert Wood Johnson, Open Society, Inter-American Development Bank), negotiated advisory and consulting fees from asset owners and government agencies, fees for educational workshops and trainings, and individual donations via PayPal. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; engagements are negotiated per project. The organization is led by Executive Director Curt Lyon (appointed 2023, with prior experience at the New Economy Coalition and Boston Ujima Project) and co-founder/Senior Advisor Andrea Armeni, who also directs the Social Impact, Innovation, and Investment Specialization at NYU's Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. A board chaired by Aner Ben-Ami (Candide Group) provides governance oversight.
Transform Finance firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Transform Finance
- Legal name
- Transform Finance
- Website
- https://transformfinance.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Transform Finance is a New York-based nonprofit founded in 2013 that researches, educates, and advises on "Transformative Finance" — investment models that shift economic power to non-investor stakeholders — serving foundations, fund managers, family offices, government agencies, and community organizations through publications, learning hubs, and tailored advisory engagements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Transform Finance industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Impact Investing Advisory and Research
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Change Management & Transformation Consulting (BPAHAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Development Finance, Guarantees & Blended Finance Programs (BPADABAM), Change Management & Transformation Leadership (EDABAAAD), Transition / Engagement & Stewardship Funds (FSANAJAO), Impact Investment & Development Investment Funds (BPADACAO)
Keywords
Where Transform Finance is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Transform Finance business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Advisory and Consulting Services: Tailored one-on-one advisory engagements for asset owners, fund managers, development agencies, foundations, and government actors to develop investment strategies, evaluate practices, and implement novel frameworks. Fees are likely negotiated per engagement.
- Research Contracts and Grants: Commissioned research engagements funded by foundations (e.g., Ford Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Open Society Foundations) and institutional partners. Also includes field-building research partnerships (e.g., Inter-American Development Bank).
- Educational Workshops and Trainings: Multi-session workshops, trainings, and strategy development sessions for organizations seeking to apply Transformative Finance approaches. Examples include funder workshop series and strategy sessions for partners like Beneficial State Foundation and Center for Cultural Innovation.
- Donations: The organization accepts donations via PayPal, suggesting individual donor contributions as a revenue stream.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Transform Finance product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Transform Finance is a nonprofit research, education, and implementation partner that supports foundations, asset owners, fund managers, development agencies, and government actors in developing transformative investment models. The organization delivers tailored advisory engagements, multi-session educational workshops and trainings, and commissioned research focused on Alternative Ownership Enterprises, Participatory Investment, Community Owned Real Estate, and Values-Led Business. It publishes flagship research reports and maintains online learning hubs that synthesize and disseminate best practices in the field.
Product overview
Transform Finance is a nonprofit research, education, and implementation partner offering a portfolio of educational resources and professional services focused on transformative finance. The core offerings include four programmatic areas (Transformative Financing Structures, Community Owned Real Estate, Participatory Investment, and Values-Led Business) supported by three learning hubs (Alternative Ownership Enterprise, Values-Led Business, and Participatory Investment), flagship research reports (Alternative Ownership Enterprises Report, Hiding in Plain Sight, Employee Ownership briefings), and advisory/educational services. The organization functions as a knowledge and advisory platform rather than a software product, providing research publications, training programs, and consulting services to investors, foundations, and social change actors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Alternative Ownership Enterprises (AOE) Learning Hub: A learning hub focused on Alternative Ownership Enterprises, which are firms that significantly shift economic value and decision-making power toward non-investor stakeholders.
- Values-Led Business Hub
- Participatory Investment Learning Hub
Products and services
- Advisory Services
- Educational Engagements
- Research Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $10 trillion in assets expected to change hands as baby boomers retire, creating a 'Silver Tsunami' opportunity for Employee Ownership conversions — a key market Transform Finance is working to mobilize capital toward.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Transform Finance
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Transform Finance technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Transform Finance partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF)coreTransform Finance worked with MDIF to analyze the impact of a guarantee structure on crowding in investor capital for MDIF's fund that promotes democracy by supporting independent media organizations. The engagement helped MDIF understand the role of its guarantee structure and informed decisions about future fund structuring. Harlan Mandel, MDIF CEO, cited the work as directly leading to a decision to extend MDIF's first fund.
- Center for Cultural InnovationcoreTransform Finance partnered with the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) to deliver a three-part funder workshop series on Grassroots Community Engaged Investment, which convened 40+ philanthropic organizations seeking to develop investment and grant-making strategies for democratizing investments into communities.
- Beneficial State FoundationcoreTransform Finance developed a three-part strategy development series for Beneficial State Foundation to help them understand and apply Participatory Investing approaches in their work to transform the banking industry toward wealth and power building in communities.
- Colorado Office of the Just TransitioncoreTransform Finance is supporting Colorado's Just and Equitable Transition (JET) team to develop community-led investments in post-coal communities in rural Colorado. The engagement involves bringing community leaders into conversations with state leaders, funders, and impact investors to ensure investments align with those most affected by the renewable energy transition.
- Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)coreTransform Finance partnered with the Inter-American Development Bank to understand different financing structures favorable for impact enterprises in Latin America. The partnership built on IDB's experience and relationships with investors and entrepreneurs; Transform Finance provided analysis resulting in the report 'Innovations in Financing Structures for Impact Enterprises: Spotlight on Latin America.'
- SPARCC (Strong, Prosperous, and Resilient Communities Challenge)minorListed as a past and present advisory partner of Transform Finance. SPARCC focuses on building resilient communities and likely represents a collaborative engagement around place-based investment and community development.
- Thousand CurrentsminorListed as a past and present advisory partner. Thousand Currents works at the intersection of philanthropy and social movement, likely partnering on integrated capital and narrative strategies.
- AcumenminorListed as a past and present advisory partner. Acumen is a prominent impact investment organization, suggesting potential collaboration on investment approaches or field building.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)minorListed as a past and present advisory partner. NRDC's involvement suggests collaboration at the intersection of climate/environment and investment strategies.
- Boston Ujima ProjectcoreThe Boston Ujima Project is cited as a core example of a Participatory Investment capital fund that practices direct democracy with member-investors voting at a one investment, one vote ratio. Several Transform Finance team members (including Executive Director Curt Lyon) have prior experience with the Boston Ujima Project, indicating a deep and enduring partnership.
- Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC)minorPartnered with Transform Finance alongside Colorado's Office of the Just Transition and Harvard Initiative for Responsible Investment to develop community-led investments in post-coal communities in Colorado.
- Harvard Initiative for Responsible InvestmentminorCollaborating with Transform Finance on developing community-led investments in post-coal communities in Colorado as part of the Just and Equitable Transition effort.
- Ownership Capital LabcoreTransform Finance co-hosted a webinar on the Employee Ownership opportunity with Ownership Capital Lab, and Transform Finance's Julie Menter is featured as a speaker in Ownership Capital Lab's Employee Ownership Investing Course for foundations and philanthropic institutions.
- NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public ServicecoreAndrea Armeni, Transform Finance's Senior Advisor and co-founder, directs the Social Impact, Innovation, and Investment Specialization (SI3) at NYU Wagner and co-directs the university-wide Social Entrepreneurship minor. He also leads the student-run NYU Impact Investment Fund (NIIF), connecting Transform Finance's work with academic programs and student investment activities.
- The Impact EngineminorPriya Parrish, Partner and Chief Investment Officer at The Impact Engine, participated as a speaker in Transform Finance's Employee Ownership Opportunity webinar, representing an experienced impact investor perspective.
- Acumen AmericaminorAmon Anderson, Managing Director at Acumen America, participated in Transform Finance's Employee Ownership Opportunity webinar, sharing perspectives on EO investing from a leading impact investment organization.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Transform Finance competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN): Industry-standard network for impact investors, providing research, education, and convening similar to Transform Finance but at much greater scale. GIIN serves the broad impact investing market while Transform Finance focuses on the more specialized 'transformative' subset.
- Aspen Institute: Major think tank running multiple programs at the intersection of finance and social impact (e.g., Aspen Business Roundtable, Aspen Impact Economy programs). Comparable as a values-driven policy and convening organization but with vastly larger scale and broader mandate.
Direct peers
- FSG: Mission-driven consulting firm focused on shared value and impact strategy for foundations and corporations. Highly comparable as an advisory/research partner for foundations and impact investors seeking strategic frameworks, though broader in scope than Transform Finance.
- RSF Social Finance: Impact-focused financial intermediary combining lending, investing, and philanthropic services with a values-aligned approach to capital. Comparable at the intersection of finance and social change, though RSF is also a financial practitioner rather than purely a research/advisory organization.
- Mission Investors Exchange: Field-builder specifically serving foundations deploying impact capital, providing peer learning, research, and convening. Direct functional overlap with Transform Finance's foundation-focused advisory work, but narrower in scope to foundation practice.
- Confluence Philanthropy: Field-builder supporting mission-aligned and transformative philanthropists and investors through peer networks, research, and convening. Highly comparable to Transform Finance's transformative finance field-building work, especially around Participatory Investment and stakeholder governance.
- US Impact Investing Alliance: Industry alliance promoting and growing impact investing in the United States through research, policy advocacy, and convening. Comparable as a field-builder for impact investing with foundation and asset owner engagement, though broader and more policy-oriented than Transform Finance.
Emerging players
- Bridges Fund Management: UK-based impact investment firm operating across multiple sustainable strategies. Comparable in that they are an active impact investment practitioner where Transform Finance operates as the research/advisory layer influencing the broader field.
- Ownership Capital Lab: Emerging field-builder focused on employee ownership education and capital deployment, with whom Transform Finance has co-hosted webinars and partnered on EO investor education. Highly comparable niche focus on ownership transformation.
Others
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation: Major foundation with significant programmatic work on community wealth building, equitable economies, and impact investing. Not a direct competitor but a comparable stakeholder in the same field, sometimes commissioning or partnering on research that overlaps with Transform Finance's mission.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Transform Finance social profiles
Digital presenceTransform Finance financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Transform Finance leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Transform Finance funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Transform Finance M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Transform Finance
What does Transform Finance do?
Transform Finance is a nonprofit research, education, and implementation partner that supports foundations, asset owners, fund managers, development agencies, and government actors in developing transformative investment models. The organization delivers tailored advisory engagements, multi-session educational workshops and trainings, and commissioned research focused on Alternative Ownership Enterprises, Participatory Investment, Community Owned Real Estate, and Values-Led Business. It publishes flagship research reports and maintains online learning hubs that synthesize and disseminate best practices in the field.
Is Transform Finance a public or private company?
Transform Finance is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Transform Finance founded?
Transform Finance was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Transform Finance based?
Transform Finance is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Transform Finance make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Advisory and Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are research Contracts and Grants, educational Workshops and Trainings and donations.
Who are Transform Finance's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) and Aspen Institute. Direct peers are FSG, RSF Social Finance, Mission Investors Exchange, Confluence Philanthropy and US Impact Investing Alliance. Emerging players are Bridges Fund Management and Ownership Capital Lab. W.K. Kellogg Foundation is listed as an others.
Does Transform Finance have an API?
No public API is recorded for Transform Finance.
What industry is Transform Finance in?
Transform Finance's product category is Impact Investing Advisory and Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAGAC, Change Management & Transformation Consulting, with a secondary code of BPADABAM, Development Finance, Guarantees & Blended Finance Programs. Its NAICS code is 54172 and its SIC code is 6282.