Using the power of perspective, purpose, and passion for uplifting communities, our mission is to build a network of investors, supporters, developers, and influencers that care about social justice.
KNGDM Impact Fund exists to amplify individual disconnected efforts into a collective vehicle at-scale, creating more opportunities to improve economic conditions of the disadvantaged.
INVESTING FOR GOOD
EMPOWERMENT
ACCESS
EMPATHY
INCLUSIVENESS
OWNERSHIP
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Our actions are driven by a strong set of values, guiding how our network engages with communities, partners, and government agencies, to ultimately benefit residents & business owners.
We believe social impact investments can break systemic cycles.
With the guidance of our expert community advisors KNGDM Impact Fund will invest with the community outcomes in mind first, giving power to the resident while ensuring that our social impact is both sustainable and measurable based on specific KPIs.
CBS NFL THANKSGIVING SPECIAL
VISION FOR OPPORTUNITY ZONES
In 2019, we start our next chapter in community-building by launching KNGDM Impact Fund to improve the conditions within communities by filling two key marketplace voids:
IMPACT
REAL ESTATE
- Workforce / affordable housing with an emphasis on home ownership
- Single / Multifamily housing
- Student housing
- Commercial / hospitality developments
OPERATING / STARTUP BUSINESS
We will invest in for-profit operating and startup businesses that generate a double bottom line return with an emphasis on education, entrepreneurship, health/wellness, and job creation.
In the next five years, raise and deploy capital & experts to local communities, by creating a thriving network of supporters and investors united by the mission of social justice & change through economic access and empowerment.
25% of each state’s low-income community population census tracts can be designated as qualified Opportunity Zones, which have the same definition as “low-income community” under the New Markets Tax Credit program.
Funds that are invested in qualified Opportunity Zones must be certified by the Treasury Department and invest at least 90% of their assets in Opportunity Zone businesses and/or property.
Investors can defer taxes on gains if they invest in Opportunity Funds within six months of realizing the gain. The deferral deadline is before Dec. 31, 2026 or when the investment in the fund is sold or exchanged.
Investments in Opportunity Funds for at least five years get a 10% increase in tax basis of original gain. Investments for at least seven years get a 15% increase in the tax basis of the original gain. Investments held for at least 10 years are exempt from any additional gains beyond that which was previously deferred.
BY THE NUMBERS
8,700 Opportunity Zones (OZ) nationally in all U.S. states
30 million Americans live in an opportunity zone
10% of U.S. population lives in an opportunity zone
95% of opportunity zones are low-income communities
5% of opportunity zones are disaster relief areas
20% residents in an opportunity zone lives below poverty rate
Median family income in opportunity zones is 80% or less than their region
TARGET MARKETS
We selected four cities across America to invest our time, energy, capital, and influence based on the intersection of our personal connections, passion, and social impact opportunities.
COATESVILLE, PA
| Number of Opportunity Zones |
4 in Chester County (out of 300 in Pennsylvania) |
| City-wide Population |
14,000 |
| Opportunity Zone Unemployment |
13% |
| Opportunity Zone Media HHI** |
$31,000 |
| Opportunity Zone Poverty Level |
32% |
| Opportunity Zone Education 25+ with high school degree or less |
58% |
NASHVILLE, TN
| Number of Opportunity Zones |
18 in Davidson County (out of 176 in Tennessee) |
| City-wide Population |
700,000 |
| Opportunity Zone Unemployment |
12% |
| Opportunity Zone Media HHI** |
$30,000 |
| Opportunity Zone Poverty Level |
32% |
| Opportunity Zone Education 25+ with high school degree or less |
59% |
AUSTIN, TX
| Number of Opportunity Zones |
20 in Travis County (out of 628 in Texas) |
| City-wide Population |
950,000 |
| Opportunity Zone Unemployment |
11% |
| Opportunity Zone Media HHI** |
$36,000 |
| Opportunity Zone Poverty Level |
28% |
| Opportunity Zone Education 25+ with high school degree or less |
60% |
ATLANTA, GA
| Number of Opportunity Zones |
27 in Fulton County Georgia |
| City-wide Population |
500,000 |
| Opportunity Zone Unemployment |
15% |
| Opportunity Zone Media HHI** |
$26,000 |
| Opportunity Zone Poverty Level |
39% |
| Opportunity Zone Education 25+ with high school degree or less |
61% |
CURRENT INVESTMENTS
As a national CDFI, CHC aggregates loan capital to finance the creation and preservation of affordable housing. To fulfill its mission, CHC provides predevelopment, acquisition, construction, and permanent multifamily and single-family loans, directly and exclusively, to the high-performing, nonprofit developers of the NeighborWorks® network.
THE TEAM
DERRICK MORGAN: MANAGING PARTNER
Derrick has been challenging the status quo ever since being born in Lancaster, PA. Attending Coatesville area high he became the #1 player in the state. He studied Business management at Georgia Tech and later received his MBA from the university of Miami. Being drafted into the NFL as a first round pick in 2010 was the realization of a childhood dream but that wasn’t the end of his story. Playing for the Tennessee Titans over the last 9 years has been a rewarding and refining experience. As an outspoken advocate for medical cannabis he has pushed the conversation forward around access to medical cannabis for those who need it the most. Derrick has a passion to change the narrative of a traditional athlete. Taking an interest in Tech investments as well as introducing career opportunities to youth has been a passion for Derrick. As of late Derrick has ventured into the Impact investment space while aligning his finances with his overall life values and striving to create a better legacy. Derrick is also a family man, Married with 2 children and his faith is the centerpiece of his life.KENDRICK WHITTINGTON: MANAGING PARTNER
Kendrick Whittington has been heavily involved in real estate development industry as an experienced commercial construction contractor licensed in various states, with transactions including a mix of residential, office and retail projects. Mr. Whittington has over ten-years of experience in the vertically integrated real estate development industry with Nexlegacy Enterprises which provides real estate, construction, and technology services. He has grown Nexlegacy in the government contracting sector which is certified by SBA, also through his leadership Nexlegacy Construction Solutions has been leading, managing, and delivering successful FEMA disaster recovery programs to the citizens of states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Texas.
Aside from business, Kendrick takes his altruistic nature combined with ambitious approach within the non-profit sphere. In 2017, he launched Nexlegacy Associations, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to empower youth in communities to take collective action towards a mindset focused on positive thinking, celebrating life and living consciously with higher purpose. The idea is to bring global community of youth the leaders, education, and investment of resources to rise together for greater good. The Nexlegacy Association addresses needs such as mental health, youth sports, health and wellness, financial education, entrepreneurship and social good in different communities. Kendrick passion for the empowerment of the next generation derives from being a devoted family man, married with four beloved children.
BRENDAN DOHERTY: MANAGING PARTNER
Brendan Doherty is a recovering lawyer and former diplomat who now backs entrepreneurs, businesses, and investors solving our worlds most pressing challenges.
He’s a big believer that the credit does belong to the one in the arena. His career spans six continents at the highest levels of private, public, and nonprofit sectors. He cofounded Forbes Impact, an influential community and global division of Forbes Media focused on positively transforming markets with the power of capital and culture. He’s a partner at Big & Chewy, a business strategy and growth agency. He’s an advisor to multiple organizations including the Lela Goren Group, a women-led real estate development company; the Laudato Si’ Challenge, a Vatican-backed impact investing nonprofit; and Re:Imagine/ATL.
Previously, he served as a senior official in the U.S. State Department under two Administrations (Bush II and Obama), where he helped shape global policy on conflict, stabilization, and human security.
Brendan leads with heart and scales with mind. He hails from Atlanta y’all.
HOWARD W. BUFFET: DIRECTOR OF IMPACT
Howard W. Buffett is the President of Global Impact LLC, an advisory firm providing management consulting on impact-oriented strategies. Buffett is also a professor and research scholar at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. His award-winning research, Social Value Investing: A Management Framework for Effective Partnerships, analyzes innovative collaborations from across sectors.
Previously, he was the executive director of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, which distributes over $150 million annually to strengthen food security for vulnerable populations throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Prior to that, Buffett oversaw economic development and stabilization programs in Afghanistan and Iraq for the U.S. Department of Defense. Buffett also served as a policy advisor for the White House Domestic Policy Council.
He holds a BS from Northwestern University, an MPA from Columbia University, and graduate-level certificates from Harvard Business School. He serves on a number of corporate advisory boards, including Toyota Motor North America, Inari Agriculture, REEF Technology, KDC Ag, and S2G Ventures. He also chairs the Advisory Council for Harvard University’s International Negotiation Program.
AJ VAYNERCHUK: PE/VC ADVISOR
Is the CEO of VaynerSports and oversees the company’s entire operation. AJ is an NFLPA Certified contract advisor, handling the negotiation of player contracts on his clients behalf. Prior to founding VaynerSports, AJ, along with his brother Gary, started VaynerMedia, a social media – first digital agency in 2009. AJ served as the COO of VaynerMedia from 2009-2016 and helped grow the company to $100M in annual revenue, expand the footprint globally, and build a team of 650+ employees. In addition, AJ serves as a partner at VaynerRSE, a venture capital fund focusing on investments in emerging platforms and technology. Prior to starting the fund, AJ was an active angel investor counting Uber and Venmo as successful startups in his portfolio.
RASHAUN WILLIAMS: PE/VC ADVISOR
is a former investment banker turned venture capitalist focused on tech, consumer products & media companies. With over 100 investments under his belt and over 20 exits, Mr. Williams is currently a general partner in the MVP All-Star Fund which is a late stage tech fund. Previously he founded venture capital fund Queensbridge Venture Partners where he invested in companies like Coinbase, Casper, Ring, PillPack, Lyft & Dropbox. Over the last 15 years he has been primarily responsible for bringing capital to emerging, diverse and alternative markets while working at Wall Street firms such as Goldman Sachs, Wachovia Securities & Deutsche Bank.
In 2007 he founded Dixsville Partners, a private equity fund investing in infrastructure development and mineral companies in West Africa. In 2014 he founded and raised capital for venture capital fund Queensbridge Venture Partners with partners including hip hop icon Nas. Mr. Williams has successfully started, invested in and exited several companies.
With a passion for financial literacy and entrepreneurship, Mr. Williams founded the Kemet Institute in 2001, a non-profit focused on providing free financial literacy, entrepreneurship and life skills classes to under-served communities and schools. In 2015 he was appointed to the Board of Trustees for Fisk University. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and summa cum laude graduate of Morehouse College.
ARVIND CHARY: REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR
Arvind Chary is the Managing Partner & Co-Founder of Atlas Real Estate Partners and $1B+ Real Estate Investment Manager based in New York City. Arvind is focused on the firm’s strategic initiatives, acquisitions, financing, and new capital relationships. Prior to forming Atlas, Arvind was the Director of Acquisitions at WL Capital, an owner-operator of student housing throughout the United States. In this role, he led a team that built WL into one of the largest owners of student housing in the country. Prior to joining WL, Arvind worked in originations in the CMBS group at Countrywide Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.,where he was part of a team that issued over $2B of Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities. Arvind began his career at Boston Capital, one of the top five largest owners of multifamily in the U.S.
MORGAN SIMON: SOCIAL IMPACT ADVISOR
Morgan Simon has close to two decades of experience making finance a tool for social justice. In that time she has influenced over $150B and is a regularly sought out expert on impact investing. Her book, Real Impact: The New Economics of Social Change has been featured everywhere from Harvard Business School to the United Nations. She is a regular voice in media and active investor as Founding Partner of Candide Group, a Registered Investment Advisor.
MATTHEW P. NICHOLSON: REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR
Matt has served as a regional business development leader for Turner construction, one of the top construction management companies in the United States for the last 5 years. He has over 17 years of experience in the design and construction industry, largely focused on delivering design and preconstruction services and leading business development strategy. Matt has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Belmont University. Matt is a licensed professional engineer and LEED Accredited Professional.
Matt is active in the Nashville community, currently serving on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville where he chairs the Strategic Construction Committee and he is also an active board member at Valor Collegiate Academy where he leads the Facilities Committee. Matt is a past board member and volunteer mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, past board member at Phoenix Club of Nashville and an alumnus of Young Leaders Council. Professionally, Matt is an active member of both the ULI and NAIOP Nashville chapters, serving on the NAIOP Government Affairs committee. He is also past president of the Nashville ASHRAE chapter and has been active in the local USGBC chapter.
