Max Bolles '25 - Partner

My motivation to intern with Ben Franklin Technology Partners for ten weeks over the past summer was driven by a desire to understand how impact investing operates within today's finance world. Going into my Senior year at Haverford, majoring in both Economics and Political Science, the themes of profitability versus social impact seem to be constantly crossing. Thus, being able to explore that problem in a real world environment was bound to be engaging.

Throughout my internship, I learned quickly that even leaders in impact investing, like Ben Franklin, are still constantly struggling to weigh their profit margins against their social impact. Moreover, I realized that not having a broadly applicable answer to this question allows space for each investment to be taken anew, with different investments warranting different support at different times.

My work this summer was mostly remote, with a few ventures into the city for various pitch events and into the Ben office in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Primarily, my work focused on preparing an impact report (the longest document I have written to date in my life) to be given to one of Ben's philanthropic funders. My time was thoroughly enjoyable, and everyone at the company, including all of the chief staff, made an effort to reach out to me personally. The staff also made me welcome to Ben's 'extracurricular' events- an opera, a baseball game, and a company basketball tournament. All were fun, while providing meaningful opportunities for me to engage with the staff and network with others in the field. This fall, I will be hired on at Ben as a part time worker with the same team I worked with all summer, which will be the perfect capstone to my Haverford Career. Of course, all of this would not have happened without CCPA and Whitehead Internship funding.