In the tricky business of venture philanthropy Impetus Trust has been successful- so successful that it plans to almost double its number of active investments from the present number of 13 to an ambitious 22 by the year 2013.
Impetus Trust is UK-based venture philanthropist organization which uses grants and corporate partners to give pro bono backing to charities and other social projects. But expanding is not so simple; the key is for Impetus to convince businesses and corporations that the organizations that Impetus supports are worthy of such support, but also to convince investors that their support will create growth in not only the financial base but also in the people-base; the number of people served.
Impetus Trust has the credentials with a growth of 40 percent in people served by the charitable organizations it supports and an accompanying 31 percent growth of income. But this is not the only aspect of venture philanthropy that is tricky; these trusts need to have organizations to fund or else the investors won’t provide their money or their services; and second, it also, at the same time, cannot have too many organizations or else the money and services are spread too thin, and growth can’t happen.
To date Impetus has already helped about one quarter of a million people throughout the world, including such charities and social enterprises as Keyfund Federation, Camfed International, Fairtrade Foundation, IntoUniversity and Street League.