Lead with what you already have. Build what your community actually needs.

Early Bird Rate

$219

$319 after April 15

There’s no shortage of resources in our communities.

What’s missing is alignment, access, and a new way of thinking about what’s possible. Fishing Differently® is where faith-inspired leaders, investors, and institutions come together to reimagine how communities grow— not through extraction, but through activation.

You’ll leave Fishing Differently® with a shift in how you see your work—and what’s actually within reach.

Fishing Differently® is designed for leaders who are:

• Tired of chasing solutions that don’t stick
• Ready to move from scarcity thinking to asset-based strategy
• Looking to build real partnerships across sectors
• Committed to creating lasting economic and community impact

This is where strategy meets conviction—and where vision turns into something tangible.

This is a curated, cross-sector gathering designed for meaningful connection and empowerment.

• You’ll be alongside:
• Faith leaders and congregational innovators
• Place-based investors and funders
• Anchor institutions (hospitals, universities, etc.)
• Community development practitioners
• Policy and systems leaders

People who are serious about doing the work—and doing it differently.

Practical Insight
Clear ways to apply what you’re learning in
your own context—immediately.

Join Us In Philadelphia

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

The Oikos Institute for Social Impact has been empowering faith communities and anchor institutions to drive communal transformation and economic renewal for six years. The Oikos Institute’s assetbased community development model accelerates the revitalization of distressed communities, alleviates human suffering, maximizes human capital, and solves social problems.

For the fourth year, the Oikos Institute’s Fishing Differently® Conference will connect faith-inspired leaders and place-based investors/funders with anchor institutions, including faith communities and organizations for people of color, to leverage their assets for positive change.

In addition to plenary sessions, design labs, and networking, your conference registration includes two dynamic experiences!

The Clearing (Pre-Conference Gathering)

This year we are elevating our Pre-conference to equip participants with timely resources for economic, mental, and spiritual resilience. The Clearing: An Intervention, September 9, 2026, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, is facilitated by Lisa Sharon Harper (President and Founder, Freedom Road Consulting, LLC), with Financial Advisor Brian K. Walls, and Licensed Clinical Psychologist Claudia Owens Shields, PhD.

Inspired by Baby Suggs Holy’s call to radical self-love in Toni Morrison’s Beloved, The Clearing is a national intervention, seeding and resourcing locally-rooted networks of mutual care across the United States. In the context of mounting economic crisis, including the expulsion of nearly 700,000 Black women from the U.S. economy in 2025 and drastically cut healthcare access, this one-day retreat will equip participants with timely resources for economic, mental and spiritual resilience. Participants will also learn about key mutual aid organizations across the Philadelphia area.

Come to The Clearing. Connect and equip yourself to meet the challenges of our times. This special offering has limited capacity. Register today and reserve your space at The Clearing.

Oikos Impact Awards Gala

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

The Oikos Institute for Social Impact acknowledges and celebrates people in the faith community who demonstrate innovative approaches to community service at our Fishing Differently® Impact Awards Gala.

Awardees are nominated and selected for utilizing their spaces and resources to create a positive impact in their communities. They address a range of critical issues, such as food insecurities, affordable housing, childcare accessibility, recidivism, etc. Furthermore, some awardees successfully generate jobs and revenue, showcasing their significant contributions to society and exemplifying the essence of Fishing Differently® for social impact.

One gala ticket is included with every conference registration. If you can’t make the conference but still want to attend, you can purchase a separate ticket for this special evening!

COME READY TO THINK DIFFERENTLY. COME READY TO BUILD DIFFERENTLY. COME READY TO FISH DIFFERENTLY®.

Past Events