Who should attend?

Advising for Impact is designed for professionals who want to add social impact to the services they offer philanthropists and philanthropic families. Successful candidates include those with established careers in roles such as:

• Family office executives
• Dedicated philanthropic advisors
• Wealth managers and financial planners
• Estate and tax planning professionals

Whether you already incorporate social impact into your practice or want to respond to clients seeking more meaningful giving, this program provides the frameworks and skills you need to lead with confidence.

We do not recommend this program for individuals who do not have relevant advising experience or an established client base. Questions about whether the program is right for you? Contact Nick Matlin, nmatlin@upenn.edu.

What our participants say

“This has expanded how I think about giving personally as well as greater discussions to have with clients.”

“The in-person sessions were very well put together, especially those on decision-making, negotiation, and assessment. They introduced new ways for me to analyze and think about my work. I’m most excited to bring back the structure of the guided facilitation to my team.”

What will you gain?

Upon successful completion of the course and exam, you will earn the Certificate in Advising for Impact from the University of Pennsylvania.

You will gain the skills and capabilities to advise clients in high impact philanthropy, based on our own applied research on what high net worth clients need from their advising teams. You will leave with:

• A proven framework on how to achieve the greatest social good
• Real-world strategies for navigating values, motivations, and complex philanthropic goals
• Practical tools to adapt high impact philanthropy principles to unique client situations
• Confidence and clarity to guide clients toward meaningful outcomes

Certified Financial Planners earn 24 continuing education credits, and other professionals may be eligible for credit under their credentialing programs..Questions? Contact Nick Matlin, nmatlin@upenn.edu.

What will you learn?

High impact philanthropy focuses first on social impact—meaningful improvements for people’s lives and their communities —rather than other considerations, such as tax advantage or personal networks.

During in-person and interactive online sessions, you will:

• Explore the principles of high impact philanthropy and their practical application
• Learn four major philanthropic plays and how to guide clients through their trade-offs
• Examine philanthropic culture, motivations, and values
• Strengthen skills in negotiation and stakeholder management
• Understand common legal considerations and how to overcome barriers to impact
• Work through real-world client cases and problems of practice

Faculty include experts from our University of Pennsylvania home, including the,School of Social Policy & Practice,  Wharton, and the Graduate School of Education, alongside leading practitioners from the philanthropic advising field. Learn more about the faculty and team behind the Advising for Impact program.

The learning experience

This program blends the best of in-person and online learning, based on best practices in executive learning. You will form a close cohort of experienced peers committed to driving greater impact through giving, while joining an extended community of 200+ executive education participants within the Center for High Impact Philanthropy’s network.

• Immersive in-person sessions on Penn’s Ivy League campus
• Interactive online classes to reinforce learning and fit your schedule
• A highly experienced, carefully selected cohort of peers
• A community of practice that extends well beyond the program

Learn more about the faculty and team behind the Advising for Impact program.

2026 program dates & curriculum

Introductory Session (Zoom)
Wednesday, May 20, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM ET

In-Person Sessions (Penn Campus)
Wednesday, May 27, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM ET
Thursday, May 28, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM ET

Online Case Sessions (Zoom)
Thursday, June 4, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM ET
Thursday, June 25, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM ET

Tuition and admissions

Tuition: $4,500 (includes breakfast and lunch during on-campus sessions)
Early Bird Rate 1: $3,500 for registrations received by November 30
Early Bird Rate 2: $4,000 for registrations received by January 31

The admissions process is selective, based on your application and interview to ensure a strong fit between your goals and the program and creating a high-caliber learning cohort. No transcripts or test scores are required.

Start your application: Application for Advising for Impact

Cancellation Policy:

• Cancel more than 90 days before the program: full transfer or refund minus $1,000 administrative cost
• Cancel within 90 days: transfer minus $1,000 administrative cost
• Cancel within 30 days: 50% fee transfer to the next program

Group Rates: Contact Nick Matlin at nmatlin@upenn.edu for details.

What our participants say

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of the inaugural class. I loved the coursework, the people, and the mission.”

“The session on strategy was so helpful in terms of reframing the typical approach that I take on values/vision/mission – that paired with the session on negotiation was incredibly helpful.”