100 Funds is an initiative to catalyse 100 impact investment funds by 2030. The goal is to support fund models that are often overlooked as the impact investment market consolidates around larger vehicles, expand the pool of impact fund managers, and direct capital to markets where it is most needed.

We focus on funds that are:

•Locally led, rooted in regional investment ecosystems

•Thematically specialised, targeting underserved sectors

•Innovative in structure, often using blended finance

From a venture philanthropy fund for social entrepreneurs supporting veterans in their reintegration through enterpreneurship in Ukraine to a corporate foundation that adds investment to the tools for making more impact; this campaign brings together a diverse coalition of impact investors, impact professionals, companies, universities and civil society.

Why 100 Funds?

There is an urgent need for a resilient infrastructure of locally-led, agile, and boutique impact investment funds to support social and green entrepreneurs in the years ahead. They can be more efficient then traditional grant programs and more local than the increasingly larger impact investment funds. These investment funds are essential because:

• They fill critical gaps in local funding ecosystems, operating in often overlooked regions or sectors, often supporting the direct community needs in underserved and challenged areas.
• They provide space for financial innovation, enabling experimentation with emerging financial models and governance structures such as steward-owned or cooperative impact funds.
• They nurture the next generation, serving as training grounds for young and local investment managers who will shape the future of impact finance.
• They offer a timely alternative, as governments retreat from development financing and progressive philanthropy faces growing pressure – these funds present a more equitable, locally led alternative.

However, These funds also face various challenges which hinder them from reaching their full potential:

• Fundraising challenges, due to misperceptions about first-time and early-stage impact investment funds, particularly regarding performance.
• Organizational challenges, stemming from limited operational budgets and small, multifunctional teams.
• Shortage of catalytic funding, such as first-loss capital or guarantee facilities that can de-risk investments.
• Regulatory and legal barriers, with local legal frameworks often unsupportive, or leading to high costs and administrative burdens.
• Limited visibility, as these funds often lack presence on international platforms and decision-making spaces, making it harder to amplify their voices, attract partners, and influence global investment agendas.