The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is set to open its doors on Wednesday, November 18, 2026 for a hybrid gathering that forms the core of its Making Missing Markets Initiative. Attendees will hear from innovators across finance, philanthropy, community development and academia, all united by the goal of shaping new pathways for capital that reach low- and moderate-income areas.
Fragmented efforts have long hampered the flow of private funds into neighborhoods that need them most. The initiative vows to untangle this web by fostering impact-focused business models and strategic partnerships that can attract capital at a scale matching the magnitude of the challenges. By aligning investors, nonprofit leaders and policymakers, the summit seeks to turn dormant market potential into actionable, outcome-driven investments.
Key speakers and perspectives
Among the lineup, David Erickson Head of Outreach and Education at the NY Fed, will host a fireside chat with Tracy Palandjian CEO and Co-Founder of Social Finance, exploring how outcome-based financing can reshape community development. The agenda also features remarks from Michael S. Barr a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and a panel led by Hanaa Hamdi Visiting Scholar at the NY Fed, alongside experts from Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Central New York Community Foundation.
Agenda highlights
The program begins at 1:00 p.m. with opening remarks by Otho Kerr Director of Strategic Partnerships and Impact Investing. After an introductory fireside chat, the schedule moves into a series of panels: “How Communities Ignite Innovation,” “Catalyzing Capital and Braiding Resources,” and “The Returns on Investing Upstream.” Between sessions, short talks from leaders like Antony Bugg-Levine (Bugg-Levine, Inc.) and Tyler Norris (Investing in Flourishing) will spotlight emerging trends in American impact investing.
Interactive moments include a multimedia experience at 3:05 p.m., an audience-engagement segment at 4:20 p.m., and a closing synthesis by Kerr at 5:35 p.m. Coffee, networking, and a reception will bookend the event, offering participants informal space to explore collaboration possibilities.
Access, media and logistics
The summit is open to the public, with a brief pre-event coffee hour and a post-program reception. It will be held at the NY Fed’s historic headquarters, 33 Liberty Street, New York, NY. Media representatives are invited to attend; all remarks will be on the record and recorded for later release. Those wishing to secure media credentials should email Ellen Simon directly.
With a focus on bridging financing gaps, the event promises to surface concrete solutions that can be scaled nationwide. Whether you are a financial professional, a nonprofit leader, an academic researcher, or simply curious about how capital can be redirected toward thriving, underserved communities, the Making Missing Markets summit offers a front-row seat to the next wave of inclusive investing.
