Impact Funders Directory (Page 9)

The Surdna Foundation, established in 1917 by John Emory Andrus, supports social justice reform, healthy environments, inclusive economies, and thriving cultures across the United States. The foundation works to dismantle barriers that limit opportunity to create more prosperous, culturally enriching, and sustainable communities. In 2017, Surdna launched a $100 million commitment to impact investing that works alongside their grantmaking efforts. Their investment approach combines mission-related investments (MRIs) and program-related investments (PRIs) to advance their mission while generating risk-adjusted returns and building the field of impact investing.

SustainVC is an impact-focused venture capital firm that backs innovative entrepreneurs working toward a sustainable, more equitable, and healthier world. The firm focuses on two primary impact areas: Climate & Sustainability, and Access & Opportunity, targeting companies that can deliver both positive impact and positive returns. Their mission centers on supporting entrepreneurs who share their vision of creating systemic change through market-driven solutions. SustainVC operates with the philosophy that profitable investments and meaningful impact can go hand in hand, seeking to accelerate positive change through strategic capital deployment. The firm plays an important role in the impact investing ecosystem by bridging the gap between traditional venture capital and social impact. With offices in Boston, Durham, and Philadelphia, SustainVC positions itself as a key player in supporting the growth of companies that can address critical societal and environmental challenges while generating strong financial returns.

SVX México is an impact investment organization that designs and implements impact investment strategies to channel financial resources systematically toward the regeneration of social, environmental, and economic capital in Mexico and Latin America. They provide three main services: education and intelligence to foster impact investment ecosystem development, strategy and consulting to design capital channeling strategies, and investment management of impact funds. Their mission is to ensure that capital serves life rather than governs it, operating under a holistic approach adopted since 2017 that integrates impact vision into investments. They work in strategic alliances with development organizations, companies, foundations, financial institutions, international cooperation agencies, and governments to build comprehensive impact investment ecosystems. Since 2014, in collaboration with SVX Canada, they have built the impact investment ecosystem in Latin America and are part of the SVX Americas network including SVX US, SVX Canada, and SVX Colombia. They have trained over 4,000 investors in impact investing in Mexico, demonstrating their significant role in developing the regional impact investment landscape and creating pathways for capital to address social and environmental challenges.

T1D Fund is the world's first scaled venture fund dedicated exclusively to type 1 diabetes, operating as an impact investment fund that supports promising companies through equity investments and expertise. They focus specifically on accelerating treatments, prevention, and cures for the approximately 9 million people living with T1D globally. The fund operates as a powerful platform for collaboration, using catalytic capital and expertise to de-risk investments and create a flywheel effect that attracts other investors to the T1D space. As a wholly owned, not-for-profit independently run subsidiary of Breakthrough T1D, they leverage their intellectual capital and expert network to offer comprehensive support to portfolio companies, steering them through regulatory, clinical, and commercial milestones. With over $200 million in assets under management and 25+ active portfolio companies, T1D Fund creates significant impact in the diabetes ecosystem by reinvesting 100% of returns to propel continuous progress. Their unique position as subject matter experts combined with access to Breakthrough T1D's extensive network of research, clinical, and medical expertise enables them to transform the landscape of T1D investment and accelerate the development of life-changing therapies.

Talanton Impact Fund is a faith-driven impact investment firm that creates transformative change through strategic investments in East Africa's 'missing middle' - growth-stage businesses with $500K-$15M in revenue. The fund targets the critical funding gap between microfinance and traditional banking, where 70% of new jobs are created by small and medium-sized businesses. Guided by the biblical Parable of the Talents, Talanton has committed $60M in capital across 18 active investments, impacting over 148,500 jobs across Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and the DRC. Their rigorous vetting process and ongoing mentorship ensure both business growth and meaningful social impact, allowing faith-driven investors to earn financial returns while combating poverty through job creation.

Techleap is a Dutch organization focused on helping tech scaleups grow and scale their companies within the Netherlands ecosystem. They offer tailored scaling programmes, deeptech innovation programmes, and provide access to a trusted community of founders and tech leaders to support company growth. Their mission is to empower Dutch tech founders in scaling their companies while strengthening the entire tech ecosystem in the process. What started as a government-subsidised initiative has evolved into a grassroots movement driven by the founders themselves, operating through community building, scaling programmes, government policy work, and data reporting. Techleap exists to solve a critical problem in the Dutch startup landscape where companies struggle to scale and miss opportunities for growth and value creation. By building a supportive, self-sustaining founder community and removing barriers to growth, they aim to accelerate the entire tech ecosystem and position the Netherlands as a leader in global innovation.

Techstars is the original mentorship-driven accelerator that operates a global network of 3-month accelerator programs focused on early-stage startups across various tech verticals. They invest in startups led by founders building solutions for the future, providing capital investment, intensive mentorship, and access to their worldwide network of over 1,100 mentors. Techstars operates under a "Give First" philosophy, helping entrepreneurs without expecting immediate returns by combining capital, mentorship, partnerships, and community-building initiatives. Their accelerator model features small class sizes and focuses on helping founders find product-market fit, gain traction, and access ongoing capital and mentorship throughout the program and beyond. Since 2006, Techstars has established itself as a major force in the startup ecosystem, having helped launch thousands of companies including dozens of unicorns like Chainalysis, Zipline, and DataRobot. Their impact extends across more than 150 countries, with 125 of their portfolio companies achieving market caps greater than $100 million, demonstrating their significant influence in scaling startups into world-changing businesses.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) is devoted to developing a brighter future for millions of children and young people at risk of poor educational, economic, social and health outcomes. The foundation works to strengthen families, build stronger communities and create opportunities for vulnerable youth across America. The foundation serves kids and families by advancing research, empowering communities and influencing decision makers to invest in evidence-based solutions. Through comprehensive strategies spanning child welfare, juvenile justice, economic opportunity, and community change, AECF addresses systemic challenges facing at-risk children and youth while promoting racial equity and inclusion in all their work.

The Conservation Fund is a land conservation organization that has protected over 9 million acres across all 50 states over 40 years. They create nature-based solutions for climate protection, sustainable economies, and vibrant communities by moving quickly to acquire and conserve at-risk landscapes before they're lost. The organization specializes in navigating complex land acquisitions and bridging gaps for conservation partners who need time to act. Their integrated approach connects environmental protection with economic opportunity, believing that nature and people depend on each other. The Conservation Fund tackles pressing challenges including climate change, wildlife conservation, sustaining working forests, and providing rural communities with opportunities and access to healthy food. They maintain a 4-star rating on Charity Navigator and have been accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation focused on advancing social equity, environmental sustainability, reproductive health, scientific innovation, and resilient communities. Established in 1964 by David and Lucile Packard, the foundation supports nonprofits, institutions, researchers, movements, and mission-driven initiatives working to create enduring solutions for people and the planet. The foundation operates across interconnected program areas including climate, oceans, democracy, reproductive health, racial justice, children and families, scientific research, and mission investing.

The Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF) is an early growth stage venture capital fund that invests in companies contributing to environmental sustainability. The fund focuses on the economic transformation being driven by the shift toward environmental sustainability across major industries, viewing this as the next phase of the Industrial Revolution. EIF's mission is to use private capital to accelerate the transition to sustainability, resulting in a healthier planet, healthier communities, and strong economic growth. The fund seeks to demonstrate that there is no trade-off between positive environmental impact and outstanding financial returns, believing that sustainability fundamentally makes things better through improved efficiency, functionality, and reduced costs.

The Kresge Foundation is a national philanthropic organization based in metro Detroit that has been promoting human progress since 1924. The foundation works to expand opportunity in America's cities through strategic grantmaking and social investing, with a focus on advancing equity and dismantling barriers to justice. Kresge deploys over $160 million annually through grants, loans, and innovative financial tools to strengthen communities. The foundation operates across multiple program areas including American Cities, Arts & Culture, Detroit, Education, Environment, Health, and Human Services. Central to their approach is diversity, equity and inclusion, which they center in all their operations and funding decisions to create more equitable opportunities in urban communities.

The Nathan Cummings Foundation (NCF) is a multigenerational family foundation rooted in the Jewish tradition of social justice, working to create a more just, vibrant, sustainable, and democratic society. The foundation seeks to advance Racial, Environmental & Economic Justice (REEJ) in the U.S. and Israel-Palestine by partnering with social change organizations that have creative and catalytic solutions to climate change and inequality. NCF operates through multiple focus areas including racial justice, economic justice, environmental justice, and combating antisemitism, with place-based initiatives in the U.S. South and Israel-Palestine regions.

The Reinvestment Fund is a community development financial institution that focuses on neighborhood revitalization by combining expertise, analysis, and creative approaches to investing with a social purpose. They provide financing, grants, and assistance across multiple focus areas including climate and sustainability, early childhood education, equitable food systems, health, housing, K-12 education, and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Their mission centers on building strong, healthy, more equitable communities through targeted and transformative investments. The organization operates by offering various loan products, leveraging New Markets Tax Credits, providing grants and resources, and implementing pay-for-success models that align public investment with high-impact services. The Reinvestment Fund plays a significant role in the community development ecosystem by addressing critical gaps in financing for underserved communities and social impact projects. With national reach and offices in Atlanta and Philadelphia, they serve as a bridge between traditional finance and community needs, reimagining how capital can be deployed to create lasting positive change in neighborhoods across the country.

The Rise Fund is TPG's pioneering institutional-scale impact investing platform, launched in 2016 as one of the world's largest impact investment platforms. With $32 billion in assets under management and over $14 billion invested across 100+ companies, The Rise Fund addresses global societal challenges while delivering strong financial returns through non-concessionary investments. The fund operates with a team of 80+ dedicated investment professionals across 10 countries, averaging 12 years of investing experience. Their approach focuses on partnering with mission-driven entrepreneurs in growth-stage, high-potential companies across education, financial inclusion, healthcare, climate, and impact technology sectors, supported by rigorous impact assessment capabilities and a global network of advisors.

The Vistria Group is a next-generation private investment firm that operates at the intersection of purpose and profit, seeking to deliver both financial returns and societal impact. Founded in 2013, Vistria partners with growing businesses in essential industries including Healthcare, Knowledge & Learning Solutions, and Financial Services that are of strategic importance to the long-term economic success of the United States. The firm operates three investment platforms: Flagship Equity Funds launched in 2014 focused on control investments in U.S. middle-market companies with $10-$100 million in EBITDA, a Structured Credit Fund launched in 2021 that invests in senior and junior debt tranches as well as preferred equity, and focuses on job creation, active citizenship, and positive outcomes for all stakeholders beyond just investors.

Tin Shed Ventures is Patagonia's corporate venture capital fund that invests in startups providing systemic and globally scalable solutions for environmental crises including land, water, air, and biodiversity challenges that underpin climate change. The fund specifically focuses on strategically relevant solutions that reduce environmental impacts in apparel and food industries, leveraging Patagonia's core business expertise. Operating as Patagonia's investment arm, Tin Shed Ventures contributes to the parent company's mission of saving the planet by investing a portion of Patagonia's profits into innovative startups. The fund positions itself uniquely by focusing on solutions that align with their core business areas, allowing them to add distinctive value to portfolio companies through industry expertise and strategic partnerships. Tin Shed Ventures plays a significant role in the impact investing ecosystem by bridging corporate venture capital with environmental solutions at scale. Their portfolio demonstrates commitment to transformative technologies, from turning agricultural waste into textile fibers to developing carbon capture solutions, positioning them as a key player in funding the transition to regenerative business practices across multiple industries.

Trill Impact is a private markets firm exclusively focused on impact investments that deliver attractive financial returns while creating positive change for current and future generations. The firm operates through three investment strategies: Buyout investments in mid-sized companies primarily in Northern Europe, Ventures investments in early-stage companies addressing environmental and health challenges, and Microfinance private debt lending in emerging and frontier markets supporting financial inclusion. Trill Impact's investment approach is built around three specific impact themes: Sustainable Planet, Healthy People, and Resilient Society. The firm seeks to invest in businesses whose products or services contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on measurable impact potential related to prioritized issues for the planet and society at large.

Turner Impact Capital is one of the nation's largest and fastest-growing social impact investment firms, positioned to invest over $6.5 billion since founding. The firm develops real estate solutions that address societal challenges across the U.S. by harnessing market forces to create sustainable solutions at scale. With over 20 years of leadership in social impact investing, Turner Impact Capital focuses on three key areas: accelerating the growth of high-achieving charter schools, preserving naturally occurring affordable workforce housing, and expanding access to high-quality medical care in underserved communities. The firm's diverse, experienced professional team is committed to creating lasting change in communities where it's needed most.

Twilio.org is the social impact arm of Twilio, the leading digital communications platform, dedicated to empowering organizations that are doing good. The organization focuses on increasing nonprofits' capacity to serve their communities by providing access to digital technology, financial resources, and a dedicated support team. Through initiatives like the Impact Access Program and Impact Fund, Twilio.org helps social impact organizations scale responsibly with discounts, credits, and funding for digital transformation projects. The organization offers comprehensive support including solution paths for digital engagement projects, educational resources, and partnerships with qualified implementers to help nonprofits leverage Twilio's communication tools effectively.

The UNICEF Venture Fund is UNICEF’s innovation investment vehicle that provides equity-free funding and support to early-stage frontier technology startups in emerging markets. The fund invests in open source solutions that have the potential to improve outcomes for children and young people globally. Focused on technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, climate technology, digital public infrastructure, data systems, and emerging technologies, the fund backs entrepreneurs building scalable solutions in countries where UNICEF operates. Beyond funding, portfolio companies receive mentorship, technical assistance, and access to UNICEF’s global network of partners, experts, and country offices. A core differentiator of the UNICEF Venture Fund is its commitment to open source technology and Digital Public Goods, ensuring that innovations can be adapted, reused, and scaled to benefit communities worldwide. Since launching, the fund has supported startups across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and other emerging technology ecosystems.

Unreasonable Group is a Colorado-based international company that partners with growth-stage entrepreneurs solving pressing global challenges through capital, community, and storytelling. They operate a Fellowship program that handpicks and privately invites the world's most compelling solutions, focusing on five key verticals: Energy & Environment, Food & Water, Health, and other sectors aimed at transitioning into a more resilient and regenerative economy. Their mission centers on creating trusted partnerships and moving capital to ensure a better future, believing in the power of business and finance to drive lasting, scalable change. They build trust across growth-stage entrepreneurs, institutions, and investors by channeling exclusive deal-flow to investors and partnering with institutions to discover profit in solving global problems. Unreasonable Group has established itself as a significant force in the impact ecosystem, striving to become the world's most trusted community in service of a more connected and regenerative economy. Their approach of focusing on scaling what works has created a substantial network that operates across multiple countries and industries, demonstrating that reasonable ideas seldom change anything while unreasonable ones drive progress.

Vanguard Charitable operates the highest-value donor-advised fund (DAF), providing a tax-smart, low-fee charitable giving vehicle that makes philanthropy easy, convenient, and impactful. The platform allows donors to make tax-deductible charitable investments while supporting their preferred nonprofits through a flexible giving structure. The organization offers powerful investment tools, including options for donating complex assets and investing in high-quality, carefully curated investment options that support significant charitable impact. With industry-low all-in fees, Vanguard Charitable ensures more dollars go directly to charity, while their core value remains focused on maximizing philanthropic impact and providing vital support to nonprofits.

Village Capital is an impact investment organization that unlocks social and financial capital for startups solving the world's biggest problems. They focus on three key thematic areas: Climate Innovation & Adaptation, Economic Mobility, and Equitable Access to Essential Services, supporting entrepreneurs through accelerator programs and comprehensive resources. Their mission centers on creating real impact by ensuring that startups and ecosystems grow together symbiotically. Village Capital operates by partnering with locally-led Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESOs) to co-deliver programs, while also equipping these partners with tools, methodologies, and curriculum to strengthen local entrepreneurial ecosystems. Village Capital matters because they reimagine the entire entrepreneurship support system and build tools that benefit the broader community. They unlock capital through various financing structures including equity, debt, and revenue-share arrangements, connecting impact-creating startups with the appropriate type of capital for their specific needs. Their approach of working with local partners and supporting featured founders like QuinTerra and Tierra de Monte demonstrates their commitment to driving measurable environmental and social impact.