Generating over $35 million for education charities

While many charities rely on continuous fundraising for short-term, restricted projects, Greater Share’s model is designed to provide long-term, sustainable and unrestricted funding to high-impact organisations through its investments in best-in-class private equity funds and donations from its private equity partners. 

Since launching, Greater Share has closed a $53 million education fund and expects to generate between $35 million and $60 million for education charities over the next decade – organisations that are committed to developing bespoke, equitable and effective education models to provide holistic support for children. 

Building this innovative financial model from the ground up, and running it with a deliberately lean team, required more than financial backing. It has depended on specialist expertise, thoughtful connections, and people willing to act on their values.

Dorothea Arndt, Executive Director of Greater Share, explains how skills-based volunteers have become central to making Greater Share’s mission possible:

“Greater Share started when our founders, seasoned private equity professionals with long-standing commitments to serving on charity boards, all noticed the same challenge: the enormous amount of time charity CEOs spend raising money for specific projects. Meanwhile, private equity has historically been very good at generating long-term flows of capital. So, the question became: could we bring that capability to serve social purpose?

Drawing new capital into philanthropy

“That’s how Greater Share was born. We are both a charity and a private equity fund of funds. Investors commit to sharing at least half of their returns, private equity fund managers donate their fees, and everyone plays a part. It draws new capital into philanthropy because people who may not be at a life-stage where they can donate significant sums, can instead invest, with the expectation of getting their money back while directing a share of returns to social impact.

“This funding is needed now – not in the future. Greater Share’s model generates long-term, flexible, unrestricted capital for NGOs over a ten-year period, allowing them to invest in innovation and capacity, not just short-term projects.

“We’ve closed a $53 million education fund and project that is expected to generate between $35 and $60 million in donations over the next decade. We’re now exploring a fund with a new focus, to replicate Greater Share’s impact in another sector in need of long-term, flexible funding. 

“But what surprises people is that the team running all of this is so small. We were set up intentionally to be lean, because we want to maximise the capital flowing to NGOs.

“From the beginning, the model assumed pro bono support. Our fund manager works pro bono. Our lawyers work pro bono. Our PR and communications agency works pro bono. It’s people in finance and private equity coming together and contributing their time, treasure and talent. 

The role of skills-based volunteers

“For that to work operationally, we needed professional expertise at a very high standard, without building a large in-house team. And that’s where skills-based volunteers came in.

“I had seen at the British Red Cross how powerful volunteers can be. Greater Share  needed people with specific professional experience – communications, CRM design, risk management, portfolio review. I didn’t even know a platform like Reach existed until it was suggested to me. When I found it, it genuinely felt like the answer to my prayers. I’d always thought that there must be a lot of people who are highly skilled and willing to give some time – and they’re all there, on the Reach site!

“Through Reach, we’ve had a volunteer completely redesign our CRM system. We’ve had communications leads supporting us on a pro bono basis. A volunteer with a risk management background helped us roll out our first annual safeguarding review. Another has supported our annual grant portfolio review. These are highly skilled individuals bringing real expertise.

“What has impressed me most is the calibre and level of professionalism. These are people with deep experience who are willing to give one or two hours a week because they care. They don’t necessarily want to be trustees. They just want to contribute their skills in a meaningful way.

“And if you treat volunteers like professionals, they behave like professionals. We provide clear role descriptions and set expectations around time commitment – approaches that are encouraged by Reach. We are also honest about what they gain in return. While we cannot offer financial compensation, we can offer purpose, insight into an innovative financial model, and the opportunity to shape something ambitious.

“Of course, occasionally someone’s circumstances change – just as they might with a paid, full-time employee. But overall, the reliability has been strong.

“These volunteers help us operate at a level that would otherwise be out of reach for a small team. And that, ultimately, means more capital flowing to NGOs.

“Greater Share exists because everyone contributes something. Investors share a portion of their returns. Private equity fund managers contribute their fees. And skilled professionals contribute their time. Together, that creates something far bigger than any one contribution.

“For me, that’s inspiring. It shows that people want to be generous, and act. They want to use their expertise in ways that matter. And when you remove barriers and create the right structure, they step forward.”

Photo courtesy of Greater Share beneficiary charity LEYF