Heartland Capital Network

Name

Heartland Capital Network

Legal name

Heartland Capital Network

Website

https://heartlandnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Responsible Investing Advocacy Network

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Policy, Research & Advocacy Organizations (Nonprofit) (BPAGADAN)

Keywords

• Responsible investing
• Pension fund stewardship
• ESG labor standards
• Capital stewardship network
• Impact investment advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Network Membership and Partnership Contributions: Heartland operates as a non-profit network supported by partnerships with labor organizations, pension funds, and institutional investors. The organization receives contributions from its network of partners including the Steel Valley Authority, AFL-CIO affiliates, and investment management firms.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Heartland Capital Network operates as a non-profit convening and educational network that mobilizes workers' capital for responsible investment, connecting pension funds, labor unions, and institutional investors through fellowship programs, ESG research (Col(Labor)atory), an online sustainable finance directory, regional economic development initiatives (Appalachian Finance Hub), and educational publications including the Responsible Investor Handbook.

Product overview

Heartland Capital Network is a non-profit responsible investing advocacy organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offerings include the Labor Capital Strategies Fellowship (an 8-week paid internship program placing students in capital stewardship and policy organizations), the Col(Labor)atory (a research initiative developing labor-focused ESG screening tools for pension funds), the Sustainable Finance Hub (an online directory of sustainable investment funds), the Appalachian Finance Hub (a regional investment matchmaking initiative for Appalachian states), and the Expresso Newsletter (weekly news bulletin). Educational resources include the Responsible Investor Handbook (published book), mini-books, and webinars covering responsible investing and ESG integration. The organization does not offer a software product; all offerings are programs, publications, and educational services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Col(Labor)atory: A research consultation initiative launched in 2020 to strengthen the 'S' (labor standards) in ESG and emphasize the 'L' for Labor in private asset monitoring.
• Sustainable Finance Hub
• Appalachian Finance Hub
• Labor Capital Strategies Fellowship
• Mini-Books

Products and services

• Labor Capital Strategies Fellowship

Quantifiable outcome

• 77 fellows trained from 37 universities, $445,000 in wages paid
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Georgetown University Kalmanovitz InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Core academic partner for Labor Capital Strategies Fellowship program. Provides orientation for fellows and faculty drawn from visionary investment, labor, and business leadership. Fellows visit Georgetown campus for introductions to responsible investing and labor movement history.
• Steel Valley Authority (SVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeartland was launched by SVA, an innovative regional organization that has been successfully restructuring troubled manufacturing firms for more than 30 years. SVA and Heartland co-located in Pittsburgh, PA. SVA Executive Director Tom Croft also serves as Heartland Managing Director.
• AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust (HIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost organization for Labor Capital Strategies Fellowship, $7 billion fixed income housing investor capitalized with pension funds. AFL-CIO HIT has 618 successful projects and launched 40 new projects in 20 cities in 2024. Hosts final reception for LCS Fellows annually.
• KPS Capital PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost organization for Labor Capital Strategies Fellowship. Private equity firm committed to constructive working relationships with major manufacturing, industrial and service unions. Founded by GU Business School Alum Michael Psaros. Invests primarily in Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and West Virginia.
• Meketa Investment GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPension consulting firm and LCS Fellowship host. Partnered with Heartland to identify asset managers for the Col(Labor)atory survey. Oversees $2.3 trillion in assets and actively works with fund managers to uphold labor standards.
• Segal Marco AdvisorsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelped identify asset managers for the Col(Labor)atory survey distributed to approximately 150 private asset managers. Partnered with Heartland to strengthen the 'S' (labor standards) in ESG.
• LiUNAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaborers' International Union of North America. Host organization for Labor Capital Strategies Fellowship. Partner in Appalachian Finance Hub with robust pipeline of infrastructure and renewable investments.
• Hamilton LanemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal investment manager and LCS Fellowship host. Manages $90 billion in infrastructure. Investments focus on clean energy transition, digitalization, logistics, and technology innovations across buyout, growth, late-stage venture and real assets.
• GCM GrosvenormajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic global alternatives investment firm and LCS Fellowship host. Offers Infrastructure Advantage product with success through union partnerships. Union partnerships both reduce risk and deliver quality: 'Projects get done on time and right when unions are involved.'
• UllicocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnion-owned insurance and investment company, LCS Fellowship host. Partner in Appalachian Finance Hub with 'robust pipeline of projects in all asset classes.' Infrastructure Fund assists construction, maintenance and refurbishment of America's infrastructure.
• United Steelworkers (USW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of Heartland predecessor (Heartland Labor/Capital Network) in 1995 along with AFL-CIO HIT, AFL-CIO IUC and SVA. Host organization for Labor Capital Strategies Fellowship.
• Milken InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Appalachian Finance Hub through the 10,000 Communities Program. Co-organized Appalachian Finance Hub event in Cincinnati with Heartland. Helps connect project owners with funders and provides technical expertise.
• CenTrio EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerULLICO partnership for renewable energy projects using Responsible Contractor Policies (RCPs).
• Atlas HoldingsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiversified group of 26 manufacturing and distribution businesses. Partners with unions, has labor neutrality policies. Limited partnership investing in operating companies undergoing complex operational and financial challenges.
• Blue Wolf Capital PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLimited partnerships specializing in control investments in middle market companies. Pro-Labor policy. Partners with unions in manufacturing, healthcare, forest products, building products, industrial sectors.
• Stellex Capital ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLimited partnerships investing in middle-market companies in North America and Europe. Partners with unions in manufacturing, basic industry, industrial services, aerospace/defense, automotive, consumer products.
• PenTrust Real Estate Advisory ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate advisory with Erect Funds focusing on multi-family housing, industrial, and to-be-built/rehabilitation projects. Labor requirement generally applies.
• Cohen MilsteinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner law firm that secured $38 million settlement for investors in Bayer AG/Monsanto case, representing Sheet Metal Workers National Pension Fund and other union pension funds.
• Robbins GellerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner law firm that secured $126 million settlement for SPAC investors, one of the largest recoveries in SPAC-related securities litigation.
• Rosen Law FirmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner law firm recognized as top securities class action firm. Recovered over $1 billion for investors in cases against major companies including Alibaba Group ($250M) and Fiat Chrysler ($110M).
• Willig, Williams & DavidsonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner law firm recognized among 2025 'Best Law Firms' for labor, employment, and family law. Ranked Tier 1 in Philadelphia for employee benefits (ERISA) law, employment law, family law, labor & employment litigation, and union-side labor law.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• US SIF (The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment): US SIF is the leading US membership association for sustainable and responsible investing, advancing ESG integration across institutional investors and asset managers. Directly comparable to Heartland as a US-based responsible investment advocacy and education network serving pension funds, advisors, and policy stakeholders.
• Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI): PRI is the UN-backed global responsible investment framework with thousands of signatory institutions. Heartland holds official Support Network status with PRI, making PRI the closest institutional peer in terms of mission (advancing responsible investment standards), network model, and stakeholder base.
• Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR): ICCR is a coalition of faith- and values-driven institutional investors engaging corporations on ESG issues including labor and human rights. Directly comparable as a network of institutional investors using engagement, screening, and shareholder advocacy to advance labor and social standards.
• Ceres: Ceres is a sustainability advocacy organization mobilizing investors, companies, and policymakers to address climate and ESG challenges. Comparable as a nonprofit convening network that organizes institutional capital around sustainability standards, with broader scope but analogous advocacy and education model.

Emerging players

• ShareAction: ShareAction is a UK-based responsible investment advocacy charity mobilizing institutional investors on ESG issues including workforce standards. Comparable mission and advocacy model, but primarily UK-focused and structured as a campaigning NGO rather than a member network.
• JUST Capital: JUST Capital is a nonprofit that ranks and analyzes US corporations on stakeholder-friendly business practices including worker treatment and compensation. Comparable as a data-driven nonprofit shaping how institutional capital evaluates labor and workforce outcomes, though more corporate-rating focused than convening.
• Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance: UN-convened alliance of institutional investors committed to net-zero portfolios by 2050. Comparable in mobilizing pension funds and asset owners around defined ESG standards, though focused specifically on climate rather than the broader labor/ESG agenda Heartland pursues.

Regional players

• UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF): UKSIF is the UK membership organization for sustainable and responsible investment, promoting ESG integration across financial services. Functionally analogous to Heartland but operating in the UK market; offers useful comparison for how regional responsible investment networks structure membership and policy advocacy.

Others

• AFL-CIO: AFL-CIO is a co-founder of Heartland's predecessor network and provides institutional legitimacy, partner host organizations, and access to union pension funds. Not a direct competitor but a foundational ecosystem partner whose policy priorities and capital stewardship agenda directly shape Heartland's mission.
• Center for American Progress (CAP): CAP is a public policy think tank conducting research and advocacy on economic and labor policy issues. Comparable as a progressive-leaning policy and research organization that publishes research influencing investment and regulatory frameworks, though broader in scope than Heartland's investment-specific focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/wix
• Facebookfacebook.com/wix
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heartland-capital-strategies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Heartland Capital Network