Anchor Institutions Task Force (AITF)

Founded in 2009, the Anchor Institutions Task Force (AITF) is an action-oriented learning community of over a thousand individual members promoting the role of anchor institutions in strengthening communities. AITF acts as a both a values-driven network and think tank producing publications and resources to advance strategic thinking and action.

AITF defines anchor institutions as enduring organizations that remain in their geographic settings and play a vital role in their local communities and economies. There is an objective element of organizations being rooted in their places, which is very important. In AITF, we pay greater attention to the action orientation of being an anchor — how enduring organizations in their localities perceive of their role in the community, how they interact with their neighbors, and how they actively contribute to enhancing their communities.

We are pleased to invite you to AITF’s 2026 Annual Event with the theme: Values in Action. This will be our second Annual Event on this theme, which reinforces AITF’s values — a commitment to place and community; collaboration and partnership, including cross sector collaboration; democracy and democratic practice; social justice and equity, including racial justice and racial equity.

The event will be an opportunity to illustrate how these values are being applied through anchor institution-community partnerships to confront some of our most pressing challenges. As place-based partnerships, these forms of collaboration are taking on issues (e.g. hunger, health) that have global resonance, but are experienced at the local level. The event will also highlight some emerging issues in the anchor field. One important matter that we will prioritize at the event and in our work is the role of Foundations as Anchor Institutions. In recent years, an increasing number of philanthropic institutions are expanding their commitment to and engagement in the localities and regions in which they are situated. This event will include, led by our host, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, voices of foundations from around the U.S. that have been employing a range of strategies to engage with local partners and develop creative ways to respond to community needs.

We hope you will be able to join us for this event. If you expect to attend, please make sure to register.