A new philanthropy and impact investing partnership plans to accelerate the growth of early-stage social impact ventures in the Dutch and wider European markets. 

In particular, Draper Richards Kaplan (DRK) Foundation says it will combine its three-year non-financial support programme focused on scaling, with Shaping Impact Group’s wider reach and experience of mergers and acquisitions. Both work in the areas of social cohesion and health.

Senior managing director and Europe director at DRK Foundation, Lisa Jordan, said: ‘DRK Foundation and Shaping Impact Group are both pioneers in impact-first {before financial returns} investments and venture capital and have long been aligned on the need for more early-stage impact-first investment capital for social entrepreneurs.’

Unrestricted capital

DRK which has about USD $45 million in assets, focuses on supporting “exceptional entrepreneurs”, who are trying to eradicate some of the most intangible problems for vulnerable communities worldwide. The Foundation says it provides unrestricted capital, and rigorous, ongoing support by joining the board and partnering with the leadership to help build capacity in the organisation to scale their impact.

Since 2002, the foundation has backed more than 230 social enterprises across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States. In 2020, it made the move of openening a European headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Extraordionary social entrepreneurs

Shaping Impact Group has three social impact funds under management. It has collaborated with investors, governments, funds, and foundations.

The partnership says it will share pipeline and sourcing opportunities, educate and learn from their combined pool of stakeholders, and create a larger pool of extraordinary entrepreneurs in the early stages of their organisational development with a focus on the Dutch market and the wider sphere of Europe.