Q4 Letter from Align Impact’s CEO, Matthew Weatherley-White
Dear Clients, Investors, and Channel Partners,
As 2026 approaches, I’d like to extend warm wishes for the holiday season and share how honored I am to write to you as Align’s new Chief Executive Officer. As many of you know, my commitment to impact investing stretches back decades; I have spent much of my professional life focused on how capital markets can be harnessed to drive meaningful, durable social and environmental value while simultaneously generating competitive financial returns. That conviction sits at the heart of why Align was founded, how it guides our evolution to meet this moment, and why I am so excited to lead this team into the next chapter.
Impact investing has matured, moving from hope, through proof, to scale. It is now a rigorous discipline that increasingly defines where innovation, resilience, and value creation occur. At the same time, the field is under scrutiny. Political actors have seized on it as a cultural flashpoint, and some market observers question its durability. We view this not as cause for alarm, but as an opportunity to clarify and reaffirm the principles that have always underpinned our work: that capitalism, and the tools of capital markets, can be leveraged to do more than merely focus on financial returns.
Navigating Tension, Seizing Opportunity
In my recent essay, Energy in Reset — Why the Future Still Tilts Renewable, I argued that periods of dislocation often signal positive tension—the friction of systemic change—rather than fundamental doubt about the underlying sectors. We are seeing this dynamic again today, not just in energy but more broadly across the entire discipline. Paradoxically, less capital is flowing into certain impact segments, potentially creating more attractive pricing, stronger terms, and differentiated opportunities for disciplined investors. This is precisely the kind of environment in which clear strategy and informed conviction matter most.
At the same time, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping both the economy and capital markets, concentrating attention and capital flows into a narrow set of dominant themes. Set against this narrowness, we believe impact investing offers a complementary and potentially non-correlated source of return—anchored in real assets, essential services, and system-level transitions that follow different cycles. This diversification role may become increasingly valuable, even as the thesis continues to evolve.
Scaling for Greater Impact
As we gear up for 2026 and prepare for the next chapter in Align’s story, one way we are leaning into this moment is to interrogate the idea of scale. For much of the financial world, the pursuit of growth is an article of faith. Scale is almost self-justified. For Align, however, growth is not an end in itself; it is a measure of how much capital we can mobilize toward solutions that matter. The more we grow, the more capital we will be able to direct to enterprises, funds, and initiatives shaping a resilient and sustainable future. Scale, for us, is impact—and we are incredibly optimistic about the expanded role we can play in the year ahead.
How We’ll Deliver for Our Clients and Partners
Our strategy is grounded in disciplined execution and guided by Align’s core values:
We will integrate impact strategically and intentionally, working with clients from the outset to translate core values and personal priorities into portfolio design.
We will uphold our fiduciary responsibility, stewarding assets with the discipline required to meet clear financial expectations.
We will advance our work with rigor, deepening sourcing and diligence to identify best-in-class managers with proven expertise in their specialty.
We will act transparently, holding ourselves to high standards of measurement and reporting for both financial and impact outcomes.
And we will partner generously, collaborating across the ecosystem—investors, managers, channel partners, and communities—to amplify collective impact.
A Clear Path Forward
Our team is energized to deepen our mission, sharpened by the realities and opportunities of this moment, and focused on moving Align forward relentlessly and with discipline. The world needs thoughtful, strategic capital now more than ever—and it needs the steadiness, optimism, and long-term vision of those who deploy it. Align is prepared to meet this moment with clarity and a renewed sense of possibility.
Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful holiday season and a bright start to the year ahead.
Further Together,
Matthew Weatherley-White
Chief Executive Officer / Chief Investment Officer
Disclaimer: Align Impact is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration as an investment adviser does not constitute an endorsement by the SEC, nor does it imply any level of skill or training. This post is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an investment recommendation. The information provided is believed to be from reliable sources, but no liability is accepted for any inaccuracies, except to the extent such liability arises from a breach of duty Align Impact owes to you as an investment advisory client pursuant to the terms of such relationship (should such a relationship exist). Past performance is no guarantee of future performance.
