In the alternative investment world, capital moves quickly when the right people are in the room. At this year’s Global Alts Miami gathering, iConnections set out to apply that same principle to philanthropy. The firm introduced Funds4Charity, a new initiative designed to bring the structured, meeting-driven framework of capital introductions to charitable giving.
Debuting during the conference, the program facilitated more than 400 curated meetings between philanthropic organizations and a network of family offices, institutional investors, and influential donors.
The idea, according to iConnections Co-Founder and CEO Ron Biscardi, is straightforward: the financial industry has spent decades perfecting efficient ways to connect capital with opportunity. Philanthropy, he believes, can benefit from the same rigor.
“Funds4Charity made its inaugural debut this week in Miami, bringing together leaders from the investment and philanthropic communities with a shared purpose: to unlock capital, relationships, and ideas that drive meaningful impact,” Biscardi said. “Over the course of the event, hundreds of conversations took place between the philanthropic arms of investment organizations and a curated group of charities working on some of the world’s most urgent challenges.”
Global Alts Miami has become one of the most prominent gatherings for the alternative investment community, drawing hedge fund managers, institutional allocators, and family offices from around the world. This year’s philanthropic initiative brought an equally notable group of speakers and advocates into the conversation, including Rob Walton, Lili Buffett, John Arnold, humanitarian leader Petra Němcová, investment strategist Ted Seides, and former Major League Baseball star David Ortiz.
Their presence reflected the broader intersection between legacy philanthropy and modern capital networks. As wealth continues to concentrate within family offices and private investment firms, many of those institutions are seeking new ways to structure their giving—and to measure its impact.
Funds4Charity attempts to address that shift by replacing traditional awareness campaigns with curated, one-on-one meetings between donors and nonprofit leaders. Instead of navigating months of outreach or introductions, organizations participating in the program were able to sit directly with investors who had already expressed interest in supporting social initiatives.
The format mirrors the platform that iConnections built for investment capital introductions, where technology and data are used to match allocators and managers for targeted meetings.
For charities, the structure offers a more efficient path to funding and partnerships. “The energy in the room was electric,” said Lacey Abbott, co-chair of Funds4Charity. “filled with bright minds and generous hearts who genuinely care and are each trying, in their own way, to make a difference. Philanthropists were excited by the opportunity to connect more directly with their impact — to sit with founders, understand their missions firsthand, and openly share what giving means to them. Giving feels good—and that spirit was present throughout the event,” and she added “This model helps ease some of the burden that so often comes with the fundraising process — allowing founders and their teams to dedicate more time and resources to advancing their missions rather than navigating the constant demands of capital raising.”
Several organizations used the event to advance specific initiatives. Olympic tennis champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan met with philanthropists on behalf of the Inspiring Children Foundation, which focuses on mental health and leadership development for underserved youth. Ortiz participated on behalf of the David Ortiz Children’s Fund, which provides pediatric cardiac care for children who otherwise lack access to life-saving treatment.
The philanthropic momentum was underscored by investor Beck Bulat, who announced a $1 million commitment to participating charities during the event. “Being in a position to help in a meaningful way is something I don’t take lightly,” Bulat said, noting that he hopes the contribution will translate into tangible change for the communities served by the organizations present.
For iConnections, the initiative reflects a broader vision for how capital networks can evolve. The firm’s platform connects a global community of investors, including more than 500 single-family offices and institutional foundations. By extending those connections into the philanthropic sector, the company believes it can create a new model for collaboration between the investment world and nonprofit organizations.
Biscardi said the inaugural gathering in Miami represents only the beginning. “What stood out most was the energy in the room,” he said. “When the investment community mobilizes its network, its expertise, and its resources, it can accelerate solutions at scale.”
If the model gains traction, it could signal a shift in how philanthropic capital moves—away from informal networks and toward a more structured marketplace of ideas, relationships, and impact.
