PARTNER CONTENT
Impetus transforms the lives of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds by providing the support they need to succeed in school, work and life. We do this by finding, building and funding high–potential charities. Founded in 2002, Impetus Trust was the UK’s first venture philanthropy organisation. In 2006, the Private Equity Foundation was established by private equity leaders who applied private equity principles to help great charities become even better. In 2013, Impetus Trust and PEF merged to form Impetus-PEF, now simply known as Impetus. Our history demonstrates that without the support of the private equity sector, Impetus could not have supported the thousands of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds that we have to date.
Investing together
Impetus works shoulder to shoulder with our portfolio of charities to help them become stronger, better and bigger. This is only possible thanks to the support of our donors and pro-bono network. Founded by individuals committed to meaningful change, we are grateful to continue to be supported by the private equity community. Our unique model relies on unrestricted, core funding, essential for any charity’s growth and mission delivery. Core funding supports grants to our 22 portfolio charities who work to improve outcomes for young people.
“Impetus’ track record of developing and supporting non-profit leaders and their organisations is inspiring. Partnering with this talented team allows us to deepen our support of the selected organisations, their leadership and the dynamic talent they serve.”
Randy Moore, President of the CD&R Foundation
We manage co-investment partnerships by working closely with donors and their chosen charities, offering detailed reporting and engagement opportunities. Impetus has two themed funds: Engage and Connect. These funds address specific issues facing young people, allowing funders to collaborate on multi-faceted solutions. Fund partners help shape strategy and provide sustained support, essential for driving systemic change and scaling impact.
Impetus and KKR: an impactful partnership
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co has supported Impetus for more than 17 years, providing funding as well as team members’ time, talent and expertise. Impetus’ success, impact and collaborative spirit are just a few of the reasons why KKR has been a long-time supporter of Impetus’ efforts to empower charities and transform the lives of young people.
KKR supports Impetus’ Connect Fund, which focuses on driving outcomes and scaling impact to address employment-related equity gaps that can prevent young people — particularly from ethnic minority backgrounds — from reaching their fullest potential. KKR’s involvement is not limited to funding but also taps into the talent and commitment of KKR employees who have volunteered to provide mock interviews, CV reviews, skill development and other support. KKR believes such commitment is as important as financial support in driving transformational change.
KKR funds organisations aligned with its strategic priorities around economic mobility, focusing on outcomes and scalability to evaluate the impact of the programmes they support and the value returned to communities. Impetus provides macro-level insights into the trends, opportunities and challenges faced by nonprofits in this space, both from a direct service perspective and from organisational capacity, valuable to KKR in informing how they engage in communities. KKR looks forward to seeing the results of the Connect Fund and its broader partnership with Impetus, which includes active engagement with KKR team members.
“Impetus brings enthusiasm, energy and a commitment to working together to drive progress.”
Pamela Alexander, Managing Director, Head of Corporate Citizenship at KKR
KKR believes that partnerships with nonprofits are most impactful when they are holistic rather than transactional. KKR’s relationship with Impetus is ongoing — continually working together, adjusting and collaborating to maximise impact. Meaningful interactions, such as discussions on impact measurement, go beyond the funded programme.
Strategic guidance
Private equity individuals and firms bring strategic expertise to Impetus through their roles on the board and committees. Our board is served by six committees, which provide vital guidance on fundraising, finances, governance, investment and public affairs. Without individuals and firms from the private equity sector, Impetus would not be where it is today — and we look forward to further collaborations with leaders in the private sector to continue supporting hundreds of thousands of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
