Impact Funders Directory (Page 8)

Lilly Capital is a privately owned early-stage impact investment firm headquartered in Feusisberg, Switzerland. It backs entrepreneurs at the very early stage and stays involved as an active shareholder and business mentor, helping companies with strategic and operational decisions. The firm says its mission is to make tomorrow’s world a better place by investing in innovative startups and building a bridge between profit and impact. Public materials point to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with particular attention to zero hunger, quality education, clean water and sanitation, and decent work and economic growth. Lilly Capital invests worldwide and describes a long-term horizon rather than a short holding period. Lilly Capital AG was founded in 2022. The team draws on investment professionals with experience across industries to mentor founders toward a stronger market position.

LISC — Local Initiatives Support Corporation — is a national nonprofit community development financial institution that finances affordable housing and broader neighborhood revitalization. It was created in December 1979 from a Ford Foundation initiative and formally announced in May 1980 with a $10 million pool from Ford and corporate partners including Aetna, Atlantic Richfield, Continental Illinois Bank, International Harvester, Levi Strauss, and Prudential. National headquarters are at 28 Liberty Street, Floor 34, New York, NY 10005. Michael T. Pugh became president and chief executive in October 2023 after leading Carver Federal Savings Bank and holding senior roles at Capital One and Citizens. LISC’s public results board reports $1.8 billion in grants, $7 billion in loans, and $29 billion in equity, for $38 billion total investment since 1979 that it says has leveraged about $102 billion in total development. The organization works through local offices in dozens of cities and across more than 2,000 rural counties. Program areas sit on a housing foundation and extend into small business, health, education, public safety, and community facilities. Lending covers predevelopment through permanent financing for multifamily rental, affordable for-sale, and mixed-use projects. Corporate and philanthropic partnership inquiries go to development@lisc.org. Press contacts use press@lisc.org. Affiliates extend the capital stack. National Equity Fund (NEF) is LISC’s LIHTC syndication affiliate. LISC Fund Management runs city and regional housing opportunity funds, including structures in Charlotte and Cleveland that blend public subsidy, bank capital, and mission debt. Broadstreet and other affiliates appear on the national site as part of the investor bridge into under-resourced markets. LISC is both a direct lender and grantmaker and a platform that brings national capital to local community development corporations and mission developers. For Causeartist’s affordable-housing shortlist, LISC is the national CDFI with the deepest local-office network and the parent of NEF’s tax-credit platform. It is not a venture firm. Capital is debt, grants, and tax-credit equity aimed at real estate and community projects.

Longview Philanthropy is a philanthropic advisory and grantmaking organization that helps major donors maximize the long-term impact of their giving. Through research, donor education, grant recommendations, and specialized funding vehicles, Longview supports philanthropy focused on addressing global catastrophic risks and safeguarding humanity’s future. The organization works with philanthropists, researchers, policymakers, and institutions to identify high-impact funding opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence governance, biosecurity, pandemic preparedness, nuclear risk reduction, and other challenges with significant long-term consequences for society.

The Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) is a nonprofit community development financial institution that raises and structures capital for projects mainstream banks will not fully serve. It began in 1984 as the Low Income Housing Fund. Headquarters are at 49 Stevenson Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94105, with regional offices in New York City, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Daniel A. Nissenbaum is chief executive officer. Kimberly Latimer-Nelligan is president. Maygen Moore is senior vice president and chief lending officer. Reymundo Ocañas of PNC Bank chairs the board. LIIF’s public impact scorecard, from the 2025 impact report, is $3.9 billion invested and 2.6 million people served. Affordable housing has been the core book since founding, with more than 108,000 units produced or preserved. The organization also finances early care and education and community facilities such as charter schools, nonprofit space, and health centers. It has set a 2020–2030 goal of $5 billion in community investments and reported 77 percent of that goal as of 30 June 2025. Fiscal 2025 audited figures show total assets of $797 million, notes receivable of $616 million, and total net assets of $222 million. The year closed 65 loans. Lending tools include acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, and green retrofit financing for affordable homeownership and multifamily rental, plus New Markets Tax Credits and Low Income Housing Tax Credit activity through related channels. An FY25 project spotlight describes a $2.75 million, eight-year Brighter Futures Fund loan paired with NMTC for a New Orleans early care center co-located with affordable housing, supported with Goldman Sachs. ECE work includes more than $660 million invested and about 430,000 child care program spaces created, preserved, or enhanced. LIIF presents itself as catalytic and higher-risk than banks, willing to do smaller or earlier loans and to work in markets banks skip. Supporters named in the 2025 report include banks, foundations, and public agencies such as Goldman Sachs Foundation, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, MacKenzie Scott, the CDFI Fund, and Wells Fargo. The organization is a lender and fund manager for mission sponsors, not a venture equity firm.

LowCarbon.Earth is a climate-tech accelerator that supports early-stage startups developing innovative solutions to tackle climate change and environmental challenges across the Asia-Pacific region. The program focuses on sustainable goods and services addressing climate change, nature loss, and pollution across core sectors including renewable energy, mobility, air quality, and sustainable agriculture. Launched in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) by Massive Earth Foundation, the accelerator operates through intensive bootcamps, workshops, mentorship programs, networking sessions, and investor pitch opportunities. Their mission centers on catalyzing climate action by empowering passionate founders and creating scalable, impactful solutions for a sustainable future. Since inception, LowCarbon.Earth has established itself as a significant force in the Asia-Pacific climate innovation landscape, having evaluated over 3,000 startups and supported more than 180 through their programs. The accelerator has gained recognition through national media coverage including CNBC Awaaz and has built a vibrant community of founders, industry leaders, investors, and VCs who collectively shape climate-tech innovation across the region.

Lowe’s Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Lowe's Companies, Inc. focused on strengthening America’s skilled trades workforce. Founded in 1957, the foundation supports workforce development, career training, technical education, and community-based programs that prepare individuals for high-demand careers in construction, electrical work, HVAC, plumbing, appliance repair, and related trades. Through its flagship Gable Grants Program, the foundation is investing $250 million to help train 250,000 skilled trades professionals by 2035, addressing one of the largest workforce shortages facing the U.S. economy.

Lowercarbon Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in companies developing technologies to combat climate change through three primary approaches: slashing CO2 emissions, removing carbon from the atmosphere, and buying time to address planetary climate issues. They focus on backing what they call "kickass companies" that can make real money while addressing environmental challenges across sectors including energy, transportation, industrial materials, and agriculture. The firm operates on the philosophy that fixing the planet is good business and that market forces, rather than shame and guilt, will drive the necessary climate solutions. They combine hard science with ambitious goals, seeking companies that can deliver better, faster, and cheaper alternatives to fossil fuel-based technologies. Lowercarbon Capital plays a significant role in the climate tech ecosystem by funding innovative companies across diverse sectors from solar and wind energy storage to fusion technology, electric aviation, and carbon-free chemical production. Their portfolio includes companies like Antora, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Heart Aerospace, and Solugen, positioning them as a key player in scaling climate solutions that can achieve commercial viability while delivering environmental impact.

Lumina Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation focused on expanding access to education and workforce training beyond high school. The foundation works to increase attainment of college degrees, industry certifications, and workforce credentials that create pathways to economic mobility, informed citizenship, and long-term prosperity. Lumina partners with education leaders, employers, policymakers, nonprofits, and community organizations to redesign learning systems, reduce barriers to postsecondary education, and improve equitable outcomes for students across the United States.

The MacArthur Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation focused on advancing a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world through grantmaking, impact investments, fellowships, and institutional support. The foundation funds creative individuals, nonprofit organizations, research institutions, and mission-driven initiatives working across climate solutions, democracy, journalism, criminal justice reform, technology and society, global security, and community development. Known globally for the MacArthur Fellows Program, often referred to as the “Genius Grants,” the foundation combines long-term systems thinking with bold investments designed to address complex social and environmental challenges.

Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP) is among the top ten foundations in the United States, supporting efforts to enhance quality of life and prevent suffering of children, families, and older adults. Founded by the late Margaret A. Cargill, the organization preserves and promotes the environment and arts while encouraging humane treatment of animals. MACP operates through seven programmatic domains: Arts & Cultures, Disaster Relief & Recovery, Environment, Animal Welfare, Quality of Life, Teachers & Students, and Legacy & Opportunity. The foundation follows an invitation-based grantmaking process, partnering with capable organizations to make lasting differences for individuals and communities with particular attention to overlooked causes.

The Mars Impact Fund is Mars, Incorporated’s enterprise philanthropic vehicle, launched in February 2026 and based with the company in McLean, Virginia. It sits alongside brand foundations (PEDIGREE Foundation, Banfield Foundation, BluePearl Cares, VCA Charities, Royal Canin Foundation, Mars Snacking Foundation) rather than replacing them. The Fund’s job is long-term, invitation-only grants with NGOs, academic partners and development organizations in places Mars already sources, sells or employs people. Three pillars organize the portfolio: sourcing-community resilience (farm livelihoods, women’s economic power, child nutrition and WASH), scientist pipelines in food, agriculture, nutrition and pet care, and companion-animal wellbeing (preventive care, spay/neuter, last-mile veterinary access). A fourth operational role is disaster response when communities around Mars operations are hit—illustrated by a $1M World Central Kitchen grant after the 2026 Venezuela earthquakes. Capital is corporate philanthropy, not a return-seeking impact vehicle: $85 million allocated for 2025–2027, then at least $50 million a year from 2028. The Fund does not accept unsolicited applications; Michelle Grogg is executive director.

Masawa Fund is a European venture capital fund that invests in seed-stage startups focused on mental health and wellness solutions. They target companies working on mental illness cures, mental wellness improvement, and addressing social determinants of mental health including sleep, nutrition, and loneliness. The fund operates in a $400 billion market, recognizing that 1 in 5 people will develop a mental health condition and that mental ill-health costs the EU €630 billion annually. Masawa operates through their "Nurture Capital" approach, which puts humans at the center of their investment strategy and focuses on organizational health and founder wellbeing to minimize risk. Their mission is to advance human flourishing by weaving people, purpose, and prosperity together, creating a compassionate world where people can thrive and reach their potential. The fund was sparked by their founder's personal experience with mental illness and their vision of making wellness accessible to all. Masawa matters in the ecosystem because they are addressing a critical gap where 65% of startups fail from people problems, and founders face 2-3 times higher rates of depression and substance abuse than the general population. They are working to humanize finance and evolve venture capital by supporting purpose-driven founders who are solving real human needs. Their approach recognizes that inner transformation enables outer change, positioning mental health as a catalyst for broader social and environmental solutions.

MassChallenge is a global accelerator network that backs entrepreneurs with the determination to solve the world's toughest challenges. Born in Massachusetts and built for the world, MassChallenge operates as a founder-focused organization that turns bold ideas into meaningful outcomes. The organization supports startups across multiple critical challenge areas without taking equity. MassChallenge focuses on accelerating solutions in five key challenge areas: Healthcare & Life Sciences, Security & Resiliency, Sustainable Food Systems, Climate, and Global Financial Systems. Through their accelerator programs, they connect founders with technical experts, industry leaders, and corporate partners who are committed to driving innovation and impact in these critical sectors.

Mastercard Impact Fund is the charitable fund Mastercard established in 2018 with an initial $500 million commitment following U.S. tax reform. It finances philanthropic programs that advance inclusive growth. The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth describes and helps activate the portfolio, but the Center is the company's social-impact hub and thought-leadership platform; it is not an interchangeable legal or canonical name for the Fund. The current official Fund page reports $432 million “at work” in 104 countries. That is an organization-reported deployment description, not current AUM, independently audited beneficiary impact or proof that the full original commitment has been disbursed as grants. The portfolio works through large nonprofit, research, financial-inclusion and implementation partners on financial health, small-business resilience, data and technology for good and economic mobility. The Fund does not present a general public grant application or a broadly applicable cheque range. Programs such as Mastercard Strive are delivered through selected global and regional partners and may create downstream opportunities for small businesses or local organizations, but participation in those programs is not the same as receiving a direct Impact Fund grant. This profile therefore leaves application and cheque fields empty.

Maycomb Capital is a pioneering impact investing platform that provides financing across asset classes to fund strategies and enterprises that transform underserved communities. The firm harnesses the scale, expertise, and risk tolerance of the private sector in service of the public good, demonstrating what's possible with mission-focused, tailored capital. Their approach is informed by deep expertise in impact investing, economic development, and public policy, with one clear goal: driving long-term change in underserved communities. Maycomb focuses on key areas including workforce development, early childhood, stable and affordable housing, healthcare access and affordability, and social services.

Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) is a human rights organization and non-profit investment fund that provides debt and equity financing to independent media companies worldwide. They support media ventures ranging from digital news portals and TV stations to journalism data tools and AI-powered explainer bots, focusing on organizations that provide diverse news and facilitate information exchange. MDIF operates as a New York-registered not-for-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) public charity status, combining affordable financing with strategic business advice to help independent media grow, adapt and innovate. They work specifically in countries where access to reliable news and information is under threat, mobilizing capital through various private equity, debt, hybrid and venture funds. With 30 years of experience investing for impact, MDIF has become a critical player in the media development ecosystem by enabling independent media to inform millions, hold power accountable, and support democratic participation in their communities. Their work matters because timely, accurate, and relevant information is fundamental to building free, thriving societies, and they provide essential infrastructure for media plurality in challenging environments.

Mekong Capital is Vietnam's pre-eminent Private Equity firm, founded in 2001 with extensive investment track record in the country. The firm specializes in consumer-driven businesses and focuses exclusively on the Vietnamese market, making it the most experienced private equity firm in Vietnam. Mekong Capital's investee companies are typically among the fastest growing and market leading companies in Vietnam's consumer-driven sectors. The firm employs a Vision Driven Investing approach, emphasizing vision as paramount in their investment strategy and focusing on growth capital opportunities in Vietnam's expanding economy.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is the largest philanthropic organization in the United States dedicated to supporting the arts, humanities, and higher education. Founded in 1969, the foundation funds institutions, artists, scholars, cultural organizations, and public initiatives that strengthen civic life, preserve cultural memory, and expand access to humanistic knowledge and creative expression. The foundation supports projects that advance social justice, public storytelling, historical understanding, cultural preservation, higher education innovation, and community-centered arts and humanities initiatives.

Mercy Corps Ventures is the impact investing arm of Mercy Corps that invests in and accelerates high-impact enterprises operating in frontier markets. They focus on backing visionary early-stage founders who are building catalytic solutions across adaptive agriculture & food systems, inclusive climate fintech, and other climate resilience technologies in emerging markets. Their mission centers on increasing the resilience of people and communities in frontier markets by identifying, investing in, and accelerating the growth of innovative solutions. They operate as a family of funds that provide founders with the capital, support, and pathways needed to scale their impact-driven ventures from seed to scale. Mercy Corps Ventures plays a crucial role in the impact investing ecosystem by addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time, including climate volatility, financial exclusion, and fragility of food systems. Their work matters because they bridge the gap between traditional development aid and market-based solutions, creating sustainable pathways for communities to build resilience against global challenges while supporting entrepreneurial innovation in underserved markets.

Microsoft Philanthropies is Microsoft's internal corporate philanthropy organization, announced in December 2015, rather than a separately incorporated Microsoft foundation. Its work combines cash grants, donated or discounted cloud and productivity products, technical assistance, skilling and partnerships. Legal and financial claims therefore belong to Microsoft Corporation or to named nonprofit intermediaries unless a source identifies another grantmaking entity. The current public-access channel is Microsoft for Nonprofits. Eligible organizations can register and be validated for nonprofit offers that may include grants or credits for selected technology, discounts and training. This is a real public eligibility route, but it is not a general cash-grant application. Product value, foregone commercial revenue, cash contributions, employee matching and volunteer activity are different forms of support and should not be added together as though all were cash deployed. Program themes include nonprofit digital transformation, cybersecurity, responsible AI access, digital inclusion, skilling and support for communities facing economic or humanitarian barriers. Microsoft publishes large organization-reported donation and reach totals in impact materials, but those totals may include software and services valued under company methodology. They are not AUM, an endowed pool, a broadly available cheque range or proof of independently verified beneficiary outcomes.

Miller Center for Global Impact is a social entrepreneurship accelerator and capacity-building organization that supports social entrepreneurs working to address poverty and tackle pressing social problems aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They operate from Silicon Valley and run programs including an annual In-Residence cohort program that brings select social entrepreneurs to California for intensive support. Their mission centers on advancing "business for good" by supporting scalable and replicable social enterprises led by local leaders who are best positioned to provide lasting solutions to social challenges. They operate through a proven model that combines executive mentors, world-class programs, Silicon Valley's entrepreneurial expertise, and Santa Clara University's social justice heritage to build capacity for social entrepreneurs globally. Miller Center has been a leader in the global social entrepreneurship movement for over 25 years, establishing significant influence in transforming markets for good and working toward ending poverty. Their impact spans globally from Silicon Valley to regions like the Himalayas, and they form strategic partnerships with organizations like impact fund manager Investisseurs & Partenaires to strengthen entrepreneur capacity-building across African countries.

Minderoo Foundation is a proudly Australian philanthropy dedicated to forging a fair future by courageously challenging inequalities and campaigning for meaningful change. The foundation focuses on four key areas: uplifting communities to help all children in Australia reach their full potential, advancing gender equality so all people realize their inherent freedom and equality, protecting natural ecosystems for future generations, and responding agilely to existential threats and urgent challenges. Minderoo maximizes impact by backing those closest to the problems they seek to solve, using a comprehensive approach that includes partnering with organizations through grants and impact investing, advocating for system change and policy reform, developing and testing solutions collaboratively, and generating evidence to drive meaningful change across their focus areas.

Mission Driven Finance is an impact investing and lending platform that provides capital to small businesses and nonprofits without requiring personal guarantees. They focus on filling the financing gap between philanthropy and conventional investments, targeting businesses that lack sufficient access to affordable capital from traditional sources. The organization operates with the mission of making impact investing accessible and easy for everyone, envisioning a future where all investments are optimized for impact. They work with local and national investors to help them create the social impact they desire while providing structured financial products designed to close financial gaps and opportunity gaps. Since launching in 2016, Mission Driven Finance has become a significant force in accelerating positive social change through innovative financing mechanisms. They have successfully mobilized over $50 million in assets into communities, demonstrating their ability to bridge the gap between capital and worthy enterprises that struggle to achieve scale through conventional funding sources.

MIT Solve is an initiative of MIT that provides social impact and entrepreneurship services, connecting startups with funding and resources to address global challenges. The organization launches open calls for exceptional and diverse solutions to pressing global problems from innovators anywhere in the world, focusing on areas including climate, economic prosperity, health, learning, indigenous communities, youth innovation, and innovative financing. MIT Solve operates on the belief that building a better future requires new voices and ideas from diverse sources. They run challenges to identify groundbreaking solutions, then provide selected innovators with the backing of MIT and their community of supporters to scale their impact and drive lasting change. The organization has established itself as a platform that bridges the gap between innovative solutions and the resources needed to implement them at scale. Over its ten-year history, MIT Solve has become a significant force in the global innovation ecosystem, having run over 100 challenges and received more than 26,800 applications from 185 countries. Their community of innovators and solutions have reached over 370 million lives worldwide, demonstrating tangible impact from refugee education in Lebanon to agricultural improvements in Ethiopia. The organization has mobilized over $80 million and forged over 1,000 partnerships, establishing itself as a crucial connector between social entrepreneurs and the resources they need to create meaningful change.