Impetus accelerates the growth of innovative charities and social enterprises, which have proven models of poverty alleviation. The aim is for these organisations to be able to help many more people gain education, skills and jobs. Our highly effective venture philanthropy model has led to Impetus-backed organisations increasing the number of people they help by a staggering average of 56% a year.
Approach
Impetus pioneered venture philanthropy in the UK.
Our venture philanthropy package consists of funding, hands-on management support and in-depth specialist expertise. This combination helps to turbo-charge the number of people our investee charities help. Read more about our innovative approach.
We invest in a whole organisation, rather than isolated projects, and are focused on the long-term impact of the organisation.
We assign a highly experienced Impetus investment executive to each charity we invest in. He/she brings knowledge from both the private and voluntary sectors and works closely with the charity to help it become even more efficient, and transform its social impact.
Careful selection of charities and social
enterprises
We undertake thorough due diligence on all potential investments,
and only work with ambitious charities and social enterprises that
are helping the poorest 20% of the population. All of our
portfolio charities focus on breaking the cycle of poverty by
tackling the root causes of poverty, such as access to education
and skills and gaining jobs.
Proven results
The results
of our venture philanthropy approach are proven: charities and
social enterprises supported by Impetus have increased their income
by an average of 40% a year (more than ten times the sector
average) and they have increased the number of people they help by
an average of 56% a year. Read about the lives being turned
around.
As the Chief Executive of Speaking Up - the first charity we invested in - stated: "Working with Impetus is like putting a turbo-charger on your organisation."

Pictured above: Impetus charity Camfed International.
Leveraged donations
We multiply the value of donors' money through our use of
co-investment and specialist expertise provided pro bono. For
every £1 of funding we invest in an Impetus portfolio charity, we
generate at least double that in value for that charity.
Transparent reporting
We are recognised for our superior monitoring and reporting. Read
our latest
Impact Report.
Awards
We won the top award for grantmaking at the UK Charity Awards
2008.
Read more about us.
Ian Armitage
HgCapital, Impetus donor