Mission Throttle

Overview

Mission Throttle is an impact investing firm dedicated to accelerating positive social change in local communities. Founded in 2009, the firm invests in and supports mission-driven organizations that utilize market-based strategies to address social and environmental challenges. Their approach includes providing capital and advisory services to organizations aiming to solve critical issues in Michigan, such as health, education, environment, basic needs, and community resilience. Mission Throttle focuses on sectors like clean technology, consumer products, education, fashion, healthcare services, lifestyle, medical devices and equipment, retailing/distribution, and software. They invest in social enterprises with the goal of creating measurable social or environmental benefits alongside a financial return. The firm also supports innovative tools and organizations that help change the way people think about philanthropy, funding tools designed to strengthen the impact investing ecosystem, such as social impact bonds and crowdfunding platforms. Mission Throttle frames its work in terms of overarching principles, including culture change, emphasizing the convergence of capitalistic solutions and philanthropic values to accelerate community impact. They believe that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, advocating for funding preventive solutions and system-level change to address the root causes of social problems. Financial self-sufficiency is paramount, as diversified revenue streams allow mission-driven organizations to focus on core principles, consider scale, innovate, and establish independence, breaking the funding “starvation cycle” to create greater social impact. Since its inception, Mission Throttle has invested over $5 million into research, platforms, and tools that advance philanthropic innovation and expand social capital to mission-driven organizations. Their portfolio includes organizations like Yad Ezra, providing kosher food to needy Jewish families in Southeastern Michigan; the W.K. Kellogg Foundation: Battle Creek Community Partners, accelerating community impact in Battle Creek, MI; the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, developing leaders who make a positive difference in the world; United Way for Southeast Michigan, mobilizing the caring power of Detroit and Southeastern Michigan to improve communities and individual lives; Third Sector Capital Partners, accelerating America’s transition to a performance-driven social sector; The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, working with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children to realize their full potential; The Skillman Foundation, committed to improving meaningful graduation rates in the Detroit region; and The Philanthropic Initiative, a nonprofit philanthropic advisory firm that designs transformative giving solutions at the local, national, and global level. Through these investments and partnerships, Mission Throttle continues to drive positive change and innovation in the mission-driven sector, fostering sustainable solutions to complex social and environmental issues.