Brands Prioritize Embedded Social Impact

Executives from Macy’s, Kate Spade, and Mac Cosmetics highlighted a significant shift in corporate strategy: moving beyond one-time charitable donations to scalable, long-term social impact integrated into their core operations. This discussion took place at the Social Impact Summit in New York, hosted by the Social Impact Fund and the FIT Foundation on Monday.

“Style and Substance” – A New Industry Mandate

The summit, themed “Style and Substance,” challenged the fashion and beauty industry to prioritize impact as an integral part of business planning, rather than an afterthought. Craig Cichy, executive director of the Social Impact Fund, emphasized that philanthropy is no longer optional. “It’s a mandate, it’s a design requirement, and it’s the first step of any business plan,” he stated.

From Check-Writing to Community Engagement

Fern Mallis, a fashion week pioneer, moderated the panel titled “Trailblazers in Fashion and Beauty Philanthropy.” She framed the change as a move away from simply “writing checks” towards actively reshaping brand engagement with communities. “These leaders are proving that, in 2026, a brand’s soul is just as important as its aesthetic,” Mallis said.

Macy’s Integrates Giving into Customer Experience

Macy’s is integrating giving directly into the customer experience. Their roundup campaigns have generated millions of dollars annually, with participation rates serving as a key indicator of customer engagement. Sam Di Scipio, vice president of corporate communications, giving and volunteerism at Macy’s, explained that this demonstrates a broader effort to align social impact with everyday retail interactions.

Di Scipio described Macy’s “Mission Every One” platform as a way to integrate impact across all operations. The “Future of Style” fund aims to create a commercial pipeline for students, with winning designs from FIT being produced and sold at Macy’s Herald Square.

Kate Spade Focuses on Women’s Mental Health

Kate Spade is focusing on scaling long-term investments in women’s mental health, with a goal of reaching 250,000 women globally by 2030. Taryn Bird emphasized the need to address the foundational needs of well-being, investing in the “root system” rather than just visible outcomes.

Kate Spade’s “flower framework” is a research-backed model designed to be “culturally competent and community centered.” Bird explained, “We take something that is incredibly invisible and we make it visible, we make it warm, we make it inviting and we make it empowering.”

Authenticity and Credibility in Purpose-Driven Branding

Speakers acknowledged that increased focus on purpose has raised expectations for brand credibility. With more brands entering the social impact space, authenticity is now crucial for initiatives to resonate with consumers.