A letter from Beatriz Martin and Tom Hall

Portrait of Beatriz Martin Jimenez, Chair ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation board
Portrait of Tom Hall, CEO ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation

The ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation network supports innovative programs that aim to make a measurable, long-term difference in people’s lives globally. Philanthropy can play a vital role in unlocking solutions and driving impact in our focus areas: education, health and the environment. Our goal is to create lasting change by addressing root causes, by shifting how resources flow, empowering local leadership, and fostering more transparent,collaborative approaches for meaningful outcomes. Together with both our clients and our implementing partners we aim to transform systems, one partnership at a time.

Our approach is based on collaborative philanthropy, innovation and scale, as well as impact transparency. Strong and meaningful partnerships underpin all three. Throughout this review you will find examples of how the ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation network works to bring together different organizations, experts, funders and ideas to develop, implement and scale solutions.

In 2024, the ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation continued to unlock the power of strategic philanthropy by mobilizing capital, expertise, and partnerships to drive scalable, lasting impact. We’re proud to have raised a record USD 366 million in donations in 2024, including ۶Ƶ matching contributions. In 2024, we surpassed our goal set in 2021 of mobilizing USD 1bn in philanthropic capital by the end of 2025, by reaching a total of USD 1.1bn. Last year’s donations enabled us to commit USD 310 million in grants and reach over 7 million people through the 500+ programs we supported, and this report outlines some key highlights.

At the heart of our approach sits collaborative philanthropy. By pooling resources, expertise, and networks, we can tackle global challenges more effectively, amplify our impact and drive change.

The three ۶Ƶ Collectives bring philanthropists together to co-fund programs that aim for systemic change, while joining a unique learning journey where they work with experts towards solving an issue close to their hearts. The ۶Ƶ Collectives focus on innovative financing (Accelerate), catalysing the blue carbon economy (Climate), and supporting children through family-based care (Transform). Over USD 20 million has been committed to projects within these Collectives to date. Building on this experience, in 2024, we launched the UK Giving Circle which brings together philanthropists who want to work collaboratively to tackle UK educational inequality. The initiative raised over GBP 1 million in its first year. To drive large-scale change, we continue to place more emphasis on investing for impact1. Rather than relying solely on traditional grants, we use innovative financing models such as blended finance. By doing so, we believe we seek to ensure high-impact solutions receive the funding and support they need to grow sustainably.

We are evolving our approach to investing for impact, as we transition to supporting more innovative financing models. This includes using blended finance to deploy philanthropic capital to unlock private capital. The ۶Ƶ SDG Outcomes Fund recently closed, having achieved its fundraising target of USD 100 million, and exemplifies our commitment to blended finance and outcomes-based financing. In the past decade, blended finance initiatives have mobilized over USD 200 billion in capital toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and we see significant opportunity for this to grow further. In addition, in 2024 we launched Accelerate the Future, the ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation network’s direct investment portfolio, investing USD 15 million of philanthropic capital into early to mid-stage enterprises. In the first year, it supported 12 new investments, and crucially, brought in follow-on investments totalling USD 60 million since inception.

Transparency is essential to provide clients with information about the impact of the projects they invest in and contribute to the further development of the impact market. We have continued to evolve our proprietary, industry-aligned rating tool and, in 2024, integrated it into our grant and investment selection and management processes. We also leveraged the tool to create our first impact report for Accelerate the Future.

Last year marked a significant milestone: 25 years of the ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation. This achievement was made possible by the unwavering support of our clients, employees, and partners across the globe. To mark the occasion, ۶Ƶ committed a transformative USD 25 million: USD 10 million in direct funding and an additional USD 15 million to match contributions from our clients and employees. These funds are fuelling four bold initiatives aimed at protecting coastal environments and communities, scaling quality education programs, expanding access to quality healthcare, and unlocking tertiary education opportunities for young people through innovative financing models.

Looking ahead, we are excited by the potential to drive even greater impact. The future is ours to shape, together.

Looking ahead, we are excited by the potential to drive even greater impact over the next 25 years. The future is ours to shape, together.

Beatriz Martin

Group Executive Board lead for Sustainability and Impact Chair, ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation network Board

Tom Hall

CEO, ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation network Global Head of Social Impact and Philanthropy

Key figures

  • 0 million

    No. of people reached, of whom 3 million are children and 118,000 are professionals trained in providing services to families and communities.

  • USD 0 million

    in donations raised *USD314 million excl. matching funds

  • 0 countries

    Where grants were deployed

  • 0

    implementing partners supported, enabling 500+ programs

  • USD 0 million

    in grants committed

  • USD 0 + million

    programs deployed as grants and investments

 

Portfolio highlights

SDG Outcomes Fund
With USD 100M raised and nine investments already made, this fund links investor returns to real-world results in education, health, jobs, and the environment - benefiting young people in developing countries.

SDG Outcomes Fund

With USD 100M raised and nine investments already made, this fund links investor returns to real-world results in education, health, jobs, and the environment - benefiting young people in developing countries.

The SDG Impact Finance Initiative

SIFI is unlocking private capital for sustainable development by de-risking early-stage ventures. In 2024, it received a high volume of proposals, - highlighting the demand for blended finance solutions that share risk and scale impact.

The Outcomes Accelerator

This initiative is building a stronger market for outcomes-based financing. With 22 programs supported and global advocacy underway, it’s helping shift how impact is funded and measured.

Pristine Seas – Global

With ۶Ƶ support, National Geographic’s Pristine Seas helped create a 287,000 km² marine protected area in the Azores. Since 2008, they’ve protected 6.8 million km² of ocean and even discovered the world’s largest coral colony.

One Acre Fund – Africa

One Acre Fund is helping 650,000 smallholder farmers in Burundi and Rwanda build climate resilience through agroforestry and training. ۶Ƶ is also helping them explore innovative insurance to protect against climate shocks.

Impact Investment

Village Climate Solutions

With ۶Ƶ support, National Geographic’s Pristine Seas helped create a 287,000 km² marine protected area in the Azores. Since 2008, they’ve protected 6.8 million km² of ocean and even discovered the world’s largest coral.

Latin America Regional Commitment to Literacy

This regional literacy initiative is uniting six countries to prioritize child literacy. In 2024, they brought together 40 delegates and seven national teams to share best practices and shape a regional roadmap.

Tiny Totos, Kenya

Tiny Totos is transforming informal childcare through a social franchise model. With 602 daycare centers and 15,465 children served, 88% of centers are now profitable, and 84% of those children are developmentally on track.

Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Program, Ghana

A public–private effort is helping transform early education for every child in Ghana. With USD 40M pooled and matched, the program will bring play-based learning and tailored teaching to classrooms nationwide starting in 2025.

Impact investment

Earlybird, South Africa

Earlybird brings high-quality early learning to underserved communities. Their centers serve 618 children, and an external evaluation showed a 9% improvement in child outcomes over 2024 .

Impact Investment

Karma Healthcare, India

Karma brings nurse-assisted telemedicine to rural India, combining digital consultations with human care. Over 76,000 people have received its services, with 98% of women reporting improved health.

Scope Impact, India and Kenya

Scope is co-creating a digital tool to help health systems respond to climate threats. In 2024, they mapped climate-health risks and built partnerships to scale their AI-powered CHART platform.

doctorSHARE, Indonesia

doctorSHARE delivers healthcare via floating hospitals to remote islands. With ۶Ƶ support, they’ve served 25,000 people and helped shape national policy on mobile health services.

Ukraine Relief Fund

As war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, the ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation network continues to respond to needs on the ground, supporting our partners to provide relief, recovery, and resilience services. At the end of 2024 we had mobilized USD 59.7 million for the Ukraine Relief Fund and committed over USD 54 million.

Israel and Gaza Emergency Humanitarian Relief

The ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation network is working to address immediate humanitarian needs and long-term effects of the crisis in both Gaza and Israel, focusing on support for children and families*.* It is leveraging its long track record to partner with reputable organizations possessing an on-the-ground presence. We raised USD26.2 million in donations and matching funds for our partner organizations since October 2023.

Read more in our ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation 2024 Annual Review

In the words of our partners

Batya Blankers

CEO and co-founder, Chancen International

I am inspired by how the ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation is redefining philanthropy, combining financial innovation with a clear social mission. My hope is to see the ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation continue to lead in catalyzing solutions that can be scaled globally. I envision it championing new asset classes like ISAs (Income Share Agreements), making education financing a mainstream tool for development.

Pham Cam Nhung

Climate and Energy Practice Lead, WWF Vietnam

Here in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, we are strengthening the local resilience efforts against climate change in one of the most vulnerable regions on earth. Thanks to the support of the ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation, we making progress with implementing nature-based solutions to conserve biodiversity, enhance habitat connectivity and maintain the essential ecosystem that touches local livelihood.

Alan McCormick

Partner, Legatum

I think it’s fair to say that Legatum couldn’t have achieved what it has without our strong partnership with the ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation. My biggest learning is that the most effective and productive relationships need to be built through shared values and over the long term. I’m so proud of what we have achieved together, but I’m equally excited about what we can do in the future.

Discover more about ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation

Disclaimer on Data and Figures

Some figures in this review span multiple thematic areas, such as Climate, Health, and Education, and can reflect contributions from multiple partners. While often a key contributor, the ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation network are rarely the sole investor or funder, so credit for outcomes should be rightly shared among all funders of a venture or program. Data sources for this report included Aid Impact, grantee and investee reports, and an annual survey covering the 12-month reporting period of 2024.

Global disclaimer

These materials have been prepared by ۶Ƶ Group AG and/or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof, which are altogether referred to below as “۶Ƶ”. They have not been prepared with regard to any specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any specific recipient, current client or prospective client. These materials are published solely for informational purposes and are not to be construed as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any securities or related financial instruments or services of ۶Ƶ or to participate in any particular trading strategy endorsed or not endorsed by ۶Ƶ. Any recipient of these materials should not consider their contents to be either legal, tax, accounting, regulatory, or other specialist or technical advice or service, or investment advice, or a personal recommendation of any kind, whatsoever. No representation or warranty, either express or implied, is provided in relation to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the information contained in these materials, nor is any of the information herein intended to be a complete statement or summary of the securities markets or other developments referred to in these materials. The information in these materials should not be regarded by any recipient as a substitute for the exercise of their own judgment and any opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by other business areas or groups of ۶Ƶ, which may make different assumptions or rely on different criteria. ۶Ƶ is under no obligation to update or keep current the information contained in these materials. Neither ۶Ƶ nor any of its directors, officers, employees, or agents accept any liability for any loss or damage arising out of the use of all or part of these materials or reliance upon the information contained therein. These materials are not for distribution or redistribution, except under such circumstances as may be permitted by ۶Ƶ and or applicable law. ۶Ƶ specifically prohibits the redistribution or reproduction of these materials in whole or in part, without the written permission of ۶Ƶ and ۶Ƶ accepts no liability whatsoever for the actions of third parties in this respect.

United Kingdom: Social Finance offered through the ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation does not refer to an investment product or tradable security. Social Finance products offered through the foundation were created for the sole purpose of philanthropic activities within the ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation UK.

The ۶Ƶ Optimus Foundation is a global network of nine (9) unaffiliated, separately organized and regulated, tax-exempt organizations founded and managed by ۶Ƶ that engage in a broad range of charitable and philanthropic activities around the world. The entities select partners that seek to improve children’s health, education and safety and address issues that negatively affect the climate and environment. Whenever possible, the foundation seeks to support solutions that have the potential to be transformative, scalable, and sustainable.

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S24 Review Code: IS4758013 Expiration Date: 13/08/2027