Marking its 25th anniversary, Anchor Investment Management, LLC, a comprehensive wealth management firm based in Columbia, South Carolina, is turning a milestone year into a long-term investment with the launch of the firm’s new charitable initiative, theAnchor Impact Fund. Through two grant cycles, the firm will give away $25,000 this year to a variety of local nonprofit organizations working across four priority areas — health, education, families and communities.
“Our 25th anniversary felt like the right moment to turn celebration into impact,” says Joy Watkins, CFP®, principal and director of financial planning at Anchor Investment Management. “Our clients and our community have shaped who we are as a firm. The Anchor Impact Fund is a way to honor that partnership by supporting organizations that are doing meaningful, on-the-ground work across the Midlands.”
Grantmaking Initiative Launches as Part of 25th Anniversary
Established as a donor-advised fund, the Anchor Impact Fund provides a structured approach to philanthropy, allowing the firm to set aside funds to be distributed to nonprofit organizations over time. Donor-advised funds are one of the core charitable planning solutions Anchor regularly helps clients incorporate into broader financial and philanthropic strategies.
The inaugural grant cycle, Cycle 1, will focus on health and education initiatives. Eligible nonprofits may apply for funding to support programs, projects or capacity-building efforts aligned with these areas.
Priority areas for Cycle 1 include:
- Health: Programs and services that support physical, mental and emotional well-being, including prevention, direct care, access to services and health education.
- Education: Initiatives that improve learning outcomes for individuals of all ages, including academic achievement, literacy, skill development and future readiness.
Applications for Cycle 1 are due April 1, 2026, with funded projects beginning July 1, 2026. To learn more and apply visit https://www.anchorinvestmentmanagement.com/the-anchor-impact-fund/.
“The Anchor Impact Fund represents both a celebration of the firm’s 25-year history and a continued commitment to the future,” says Margaret Ellen Pender, principal at Anchor Investment Management. “It reflects the generosity we see in our clients every day and creates opportunities for us to give back.”
Built to Last: 25 Years of Anchor Investment Management
Anchor was founded in 2000 by Pat Dorn following a decades-long career in banking and trust services. From the beginning, Dorn made the deliberate decision to start the firm from scratch — guided by a belief that confidence, patience and ethical decision-making matter more than rapid growth.
That long-term mindset has shaped not only how Anchor invests, but how it serves clients and communities. For 25 years, the firm has helped individuals and families plan thoughtfully and with clarity — not just for their own futures, but for the causes and communities about which they care. Strategic charitable giving has long been part of those conversations, allowing clients to align generosity with intention and lasting impact.
“Anchor didn’t begin with a focus on scale or quick wins,” Dorn says. “It began with a conviction that long-term investing, done simply and honestly, works. Over the years, that same conviction has guided how we help clients think about giving back — in ways that are thoughtful, personal and sustainable.”
That philosophy influenced Anchor’s early adoption of a fee-only model, its reliance on trust and referrals over transactions, and its emphasis on character and relationships. It also defined the firm’s internal culture, which has experienced virtually no employee turnover over its 25-year history — a reflection of the same values that guide its client relationships.
As a boutique Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) with more than 140 years of combined experience among the team, Anchor provides personalized attention, complete transparency and a deep understanding of client needs at every stage of life. Learn more about at AnchorInvestmentManagement.com.
Also featured in: WIS10 News | The Columbia Star | Who’s on the Move | Colatoday
