We live in a “Full World,” wrote ecological economist Herman Daly — one where the economy has outgrown the planet’s ability to regenerate its resources or absorb our atmospheric pollutants. As population and consumption rise, our shared commons — water, soil, biodiversity, atmosphere — call for a reimagined relationship between capital and ecology.

At Capital Commons, we ask: What does shareholder value look like in a living system? How can we invest in ways that allow ecosystems, communities, and capital to thrive — together? Are we considering well-crafted solutions to fit local circumstances?

According to the GIIN, the global impact investing market has grown at a 21% compound annual growth rate since 2019, representing over $1.5 trillion in assets. We believe the future of impact investing depends not just on growth — but on integrity, innovation, and a deeper understanding of what it means to return value. This mutual understanding is critical to preserving the authenticity of this evolving industry.

This summit is a call to future investors, founders, and critical thought partners to explore how we craft beautiful portfolios that honor natural resources and the people involved. We will consider what it looks like to finance soil health, social repair, and cultural resilience — while co-creating a new economic logic rooted in reciprocity, not extraction.

Over the course of three days, we’ll gather at Paicines Ranch — a working regenerative ranch in Central California managed in partnership with Cienega Capital — to explore these questions through immersive learning, dialogue, and case work. We’ll ground theory in practice through in-depth portfolio insights, ecological metrics, and systems thinking.

Our readings and reflections will draw from Adventure Finance by Aunnie Patton Power, Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth, and Governing the Commons by Elinor Ostrom. We will be challenged and encouraged by the team at Cienega Capital, Dr. Mairi-Jane Fox, and the Paicines Ranch Learning Center. And we will learn from each other, and walk away with a meaningful network to collaborate with throughout our career journeys.

This is our chance to push the boundaries of the systems we’ve come to believe create a functioning society — and expand our mental boundaries in nature-based systems.