The Social Impact Fund (SIF) and the FIT Foundation are proud to announce the 2026 Social Impact Summit x NYC, taking place at FIT on March 30. Rooted in a shared commitment to advancing a more just and equitable future and building on the success of the 2024 and 2025 SIF Summits in Los Angeles, SIF and FIT are presenting the 2026 Social Impact Summit as a platform for dialogue and collaboration at the intersection of fashion, beauty, and purposeful advocacy. In addition to high-level panels and thoughtful discourse, this year’s summit will honor two extraordinary individuals who have redefined purposeful advocacy: Selena Gomez and Kenneth Cole.
Selena Gomez: Excellence in Beauty Philanthropy Award
Mental health advocate, actress, producer, singer, and philanthropist Selena Gomez will be recognized for her transformative work through Rare Beauty and the Rare Impact Fund. Founded with a commitment to mental well-being and self-acceptance, Rare Beauty is redefining how the beauty industry supports mental health by pledging 1% of all sales to support the Rare Impact Fund, which aims to mobilize $100 million to expand access to mental health services and education for young people worldwide. The Rare Impact Fund supports 30 nonprofit organizations—including The JED Foundation, The Trevor Project, and Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services—meeting young people where they are: in schools, in communities, and in moments of crisis. In just five years, Gomez’s leadership has helped raise over $30 million, reaching millions of young people globally and establishing a powerful, scalable model for mental health advocacy at a time when support is urgently needed.
“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by the Social Impact Fund and the FIT Foundation,” Selena Gomez said. “Using my platform in a meaningful way has always been important to me. I knew from the start that I wanted Rare Beauty to help create real change. For too long, young people have faced mental health challenges without the support they deserve. Through the brand and the Rare Impact Fund, we’re working together with partners to expand resources, reduce stigma, and meet young people where they are.”
Kenneth Cole: Excellence in Fashion Philanthropy Award
Renowned designer and founder of The Mental Health Coalition, Kenneth Cole, will be honored for his four decades of unwavering commitment to social justice. As a pioneer in using the fashion platform to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s, Cole established a blueprint for brand activism. More recently, he founded The Mental Health Coalition in 2020, at a critical time when the nation’s mental health crisis was exacerbated by global events. His work has proven that a brand’s voice can be its most powerful tool for destigmatizing crucial conversations.
“I have always believed that business and philanthropy are not independent; they are in fact interdependent,” Kenneth Cole said. “To have this work acknowledged, particularly in the mental health space, is incredibly meaningful. I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made at the Mental Health Coalition in advancing mental health awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging open, honest dialogue—and I remain committed to continuing this important work. And I’m honored to be recognized by the Social Impact Fund for the work I care so passionately about.”
Craig Cichy, executive director of the Social Impact Fund added, “The Social Impact Summit was created by the Social Impact Fund to bring together culture and conscience in the same room. Bringing our third Summit to NYC, and partnering with the FIT Foundation, feels especially meaningful, as fashion and beauty continue to shape not only how we express ourselves, but how we show up for our communities. This gathering is about spotlighting leaders, like Kenneth and Selena, who understand that creativity carries responsibility—and that impact is strongest when it’s woven directly into business, storytelling, and design.”
FIT President Jason S. Schupbach said, “We are thrilled to be hosting this year’s Social Impact Summit at FIT and to celebrate the incredible philanthropic contributions of fashion icons Selena Gomez and Kenneth Cole. Their commitment to entrepreneurship in service of community reflects FIT’s own core values and is a shining example for our students and beyond. We thank the FIT Foundation for supporting FIT and for helping bring this important event to our campus.”
The summit panels will cover topics including:
- Trailblazers in Fashion and Beauty Philanthropy. This panel will feature Nicola Formichetti, senior vice president/global creative director, MAC Cosmetics, and Taryn Bird, executive director, social impact, Kate Spade New York.
- Diversity and the Importance of Creative Inclusion with Corey Smith, vice president, diversity and inclusion and academic relations at LVMH; Randy Cousin, global SVP of collaborations and VIP styling at Tommy Hilfiger; and model and activist Jillian Mercado, with more to follow.
- The Sustainability and Impact Mandate. Confirmed speakers include Nancy Mahon, chief sustainability officer at The Estée Lauder Companies, and Tracy Reese, designer, founder, and CEO, Hope for Flowers by Tracy Reese and Artisan Studio.
For SIF’s first fashion- and beauty-focused philanthropy summit, a distinguished group of industry leaders was assembled to guide the summit’s framework and facilitate meaningful dialogue:
- Steven Kolb, CEO and president, Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
- Fern Mallis, president of Fern Mallis LLC and creator of New York Fashion Week (NYFW)
- Tracy Reese, designer, founder, and CEO, Hope for Flowers by Tracy Reese and Artisan Studio
- Amber Valletta, model, actress, and activist
- Robert Rizzolo, global president, Alexander Wang
- Nancy Mahon, chief sustainability officer, The Estée Lauder Companies
- Elaine Welteroth, award-winning journalist, TV host, and founder of birthFUND
The summit will be held at the Fashion Institute of Technology on March 30, from 3 to 6 pm, with an exclusive reception to follow. This invitation-only gathering will convene industry executives, creative visionaries, and philanthropic leaders to explore how the world’s most influential brands are driving systemic change and addressing pressing societal challenges. With The Hollywood Reporter as the official media partner, the Social Impact Summit x NYC sponsors include Kate Spade New York (Gold Sponsor); Perlman & Perlman, LLP, and Ulta Beauty (Bronze Sponsors); as well as Delta Air Lines, the official airline of the Social Impact Fund.