11.2025

Starkmacher Impact in Washington, D.C. - A Strong Signal for Global Church Financing 

Washington, D.C., November 2025 

Mathias Kaps, CEO of Starkmacher Impact (SMI), participated in the international Integrated Capital & Global Church Summit hosted by the Francesco Collaborative. The meeting brought together leading voices from philanthropy, the Church, impact investing, and global development – with a common focus: How can we mobilize mission-aligned capital that has a long-term effect? 

Mathias presented the Starkmacher Impact Revolving Fund (SMIRF) model, an innovative approach that converts donations and interest-free or low-interest loans into local, self-replenishing Revolving Funds. This model enables dioceses, religious orders, and NGOs in the Global South to implement long-term income-generating and solar projects, reduce debt, and build sustainable structures. 

The response in Washington was very positive: 

SMIRF was cited as one of the leading examples of how the Church can go beyond classic project funding and promote genuine financial self-reliance, with measurable impact in Rwanda, Kenya, Brazil, Egypt, and the Philippines. 

Mathias also emphasized the value of the global Starkmacher network: 

“Our international team and our local hubs accompany partners on the ground, from project development and business cases to impact measurement. And it is our local partners who are courageously driving the social-ecological transformation of their institutions.” 

Special thanks go to the Archdiocese of Cologne, represented by Nadim Ammann, for their trust and strategic support in establishing Zero-Interest Revolving Funds. 

#ImpactInvesting #ChurchFinancing #GlobalSouth #SustainableDevelopment

See the video: