100Funds is a global campaign aimed at launching and strengthening 100 impact investment funds by 2030 that are genuinely locally-led, leverage innovative financial approaches, and deliver direct impact on people and the planet.

From a venture philanthropy fund for social entrepreneurs supporting veterans in their reintegration through enterpreneurship in Ukraine to a “NGO that thinks it’s a fund” with operations in East Africa, 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 locally-led, independent and boutique investment funds are essential because:

• They fill critical gaps in local funding ecosystems from North Africa to the Caucasus or the Amazon Biome, operating in often overlooked regions or sectors, such as 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 financial products fit for steward-owned companies or cooperative impact funds with communitybased decision-making.
• 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 altenrative to foreign aid.

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

• Fundraising challenges, due to misperceptions about small and early-stage impact investment funds, particularly around fund size and investment ticket size.
• Organizational challenges, stemming from limited operational budgets and small, multifunctional teams.
• Limited access to capital, including co-financing from high-net-worth individuals, private foundations, and governments.
• Lack 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, and high costs and administrative burdens—especially when funds are domiciled overseas.
• 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.