Our Story
17 Asset Management (17 AM) was founded as an asset management development shop, serving as a platform dedicated to advancing impact investing through research, consulting, and field building. Over the years, from advising non-profit organizations, development institutions, institutional investors, and corporations, to designing frameworks that shaped how capital could be aligned with systemic solutions, 17 AM established itself as a trusted partner at the intersection of finance and impact.
From this foundation, we launched two dedicated entities:
Intentional Asset Management (DBA of Intentional Funds LLC), a boutique investment advisory firm that combines institutional rigor, human-centered design, and integrated wealth servicing, and
17 Intentional Investment Institute, a fiscally-sponsored initiative focused on research, education, and market development.
Together, IAM and 17 III represent the next chapter in 17 AM’s evolution: a platform that not only develops ideas but also puts them into practice, deploying intentional capital to accelerate systems change while delivering durable value to investors.
TIMELINE
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John Morris, while Managing Partner of SOCAP Global, launched the Good Capital Project, a two-year initiative to educate investors on embedding impact into portfolios and building shared language for the field.
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17 Asset Management (17 AM) began operations through a two-year partnership with UNCDF. That same year, the team was commissioned by UNDP to design the Jordan SDG Opportunity Fund.
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17 AM raised its first capital to fund operations, developed the proprietary Populate Wall Street curriculum, and launched the first Sustainable Investing Fellowship, which now has over 300 alumni.
17 AM began research and development for 17 SDG-aligned US-listed equity portfolios.
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17 AM started consulting, supporting clients including:
Crown Agents - mobilized $10M for serving last-mile humanitarian health needs in Syria and Africa
Better Shelter - developed a partnership and business development strategy used to secure $1 million+ in operating capital to continue providing housing for displaced populations
Rosseau - developed an IMM strategy and helped secure $0.5 million in seed capital for immersion cooling technology solutions
The Growth Collective - designed the Philadelphia Impact Real Estate Fund targeting $100 million for equity investments in deals led by African-American Developers
Riverside Center for Innovation - developed the Pittsburgh Riverside Equitable Entrepreneurs Facility (REEF), targeting underinvested businesses in the built environment.
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17 AM founded Intentional Funds LLC and launched and seeded 17 SDG US-listed equity portfolios
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Funded by UN FAO and OECS, 17 AM launched the Caribbean Food Systems Investment Initiative, conducting field research, developing investment theses and designing instruments for mobilizing private capital for food security and resilience across the region. This was the foundation for IAM’s CaribGROW Fund.
17 AM began research and development for 7 thematic US-listed equity portfolios based on learnings from the SDG portfolios
17 AM developed 6 SDG Indices - 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, and 13 in partnership with Syntax Data
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17 AM established Intentional Asset Management (the new DBA of Intentional Funds) to manage assets, funds, and clients. Simultaneously, it launched the 17 Intentional Investment Institute (17III) as the fiscally sponsored home for fellowships, training, research, and global initiatives, including the Africa Investment Initiative.
17 AM established its Advisory Board, bringing together respected industry professionals to guide our strategy, expand our reach, and ensure accountability in advancing intentional investing.
Reach Out
Wherever you stand along the investing continuum, our asset management, consulting, and research experts can equip you with the tools, frameworks, and connections to become leading pioneers within your respective spheres of influence.
Meet the Team
Our team is deeply committed to rigor, accountability, and authenticity in creating intentional and responsible capital markets. Our team has deep expertise across industries, geographies, and disciplines, supplemented by our advisory board’s tremendous experience and deep commitment to guiding the next generation of leaders in financial innovation and investment management.