We are guided by the idea that capitalism is a powerful & effective system, and when integrated with the core elements such as trust, compassion, collaboration and shared value creation, we can create good while generating profits.
Our theory of change directs all our work to ensure our daily activities give way to measurable outcomes and ultimately move us closer to our end impact of realizing a critical mass of capital shifted from traditional finance to impact investing.
Gratitude Railroad was founded in 2013 by Howard Fischer and Eric Jacobsen after attending the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative. Howard, a hedge fund CEO, and Eric, a tech entrepreneur and private equity investor, developed Gratitude Railroad to transform traditional capitalism into a force for solving critical environmental and social problems. Together, they envisioned building a community that supported Gratitude Railroad and was committed to bettering the world.
Howard and Eric met at Harvard ALI
The first Investor Retreat convenes a handful of mission-aligned investors with big visions
Gratitude Railroad, LLC is established
The Builders Fund is launched as a growth stage private equity fund investing in high-growth, purpose-driven companies
Gratitude Railroad Ventures begins early-stage investing in a portfolio of businesses that tackle critical environmental and social problems
GRR Dinner Series begins as a means to more regularly convene and catalyze impact investing communities across the US
Gratitude Investment Partners is launched to increase the pool of capital dedicated to achieving GRR’s mission and investment philosophy
Blackdirt Capital is launched as regenerative grass-fed beef production
Blackdirt Farms is launched as an operational business to develop farmland, real asset, and value chain based investment strategies in the U.S. sustainable agriculture sector
Gratitude Investor Retreat is established as a nationally-recognized impact investment convening
GRR makes a strategic investment in Align Impact, an independent, specialized impact advisory firm that serves with individuals, families, foundations, and their financial advisors
Atlas Impact Partners is launched as a long-short absolute return strategy hedge fund designed to capture investment opportunity at the nexus of innovation, disruption, and impact
We have built a theory of change that guides our stakeholders to think in backwards steps from the end vision to the short-term goals that are required to create our desired impact. Continually revisiting this practices helps us assure we stay focused on the change we seek and adapt our strategic activities accordingly. Today, the work we do is centered in the three core tracks outlined below.
Transparency | openly sharing both successes and failures, because we will all benefit from our mutual learnings
Collaboration | using a help-first mindset, because we realize that we can’t make meaningful progress on major societal challenges unless we work collectively with those who share in our vision
Experimentation | endeavoring to break trail, because innovation necessitates iterative ideas - even if they are messy!
Diligence | maintaining a careful and steadfast rigor in our work, because a commitment to excellence and expanding our knowledge will strengthen both our mission and community
Gratitude | appreciating the goodness in the world, tangible and intangible, because we aspire to connect to something larger than ourselves; to others, to nature, and to that which has yet to be created
