Capital & Funding Models

What it means? Catalytic Capital refers to debt, equity, guarantees, and other investments that accept disproportionate risk and/or concessionary returns relative to conventional investments. Its primary purpose is not just to generate impact, but to “catalyze” or unlock additional third-party investment that otherwise would not be possible. In the 2026 investment landscape, Catalytic Capital is […]

Category: Capital & Funding Models What it means? In the world of social impact, the distinction between Unrestricted and Restricted funding is the difference between a donor providing a “tool” and a donor providing a “mission.” As of 2026, a major shift toward “Trust-Based Philanthropy” has elevated unrestricted funding from a rarity to a strategic […]

What it means? Impact Investing is the practice of investing capital into companies, organizations, and funds with the explicit intention of generating measurable, positive social or environmental impact alongside a financial return. It is the middle ground on the spectrum of capital, sitting between traditional “finance-first” investing and pure “impact-first” philanthropy. As of 2026, the […]

What it means? Blended Finance is the strategic use of catalytic capital (from public or philanthropic sources) to mobilize commercial capital toward sustainable development. It is not an investment instrument in itself, but a structuring approach that allows different types of investors—with vastly different risk-return expectations—to invest alongside each other in the same project. In […]

What it means? Venture Philanthropy (VP) is a high-engagement, long-term approach to social investment that applies the principles of Venture Capital (VC) to the non-profit and social enterprise sectors. In 2026, it is often described as “Impact Investing’s bolder cousin”—it is the intersection where the “head” of a business investor meets the “heart” of a […]

What it means? Strategic Philanthropy is a data-driven, outcome-oriented approach to giving that moves beyond traditional “checkbook charity.” While traditional charity focuses on immediate relief (symptoms), strategic philanthropy targets systemic change and root causes. It is characterized by a “theory of change”—a logical framework that maps out exactly how a specific set of resources will […]