How do we partner for impact with foundations?

Investing

Enabling innovation

Collaborating with other charitable foundations is particularly powerful for us, as they are in a strong position to successfully support and drive innovative solutions. To further expand our capacities in the fight against absolute poverty, we partner with foundations that share our ambition in philanthropic impact investing. These partnerships enable a mutual exchange of know-how and unlock additional, diversified impact capital directed toward people living in absolute poverty.

“elea sets high standards in the foundation landscape, because it supports people in becoming financially independent and self-reliant. Our successful partnership is based on trust, and we trust elea fully.”

Carolina Müller-Möhl, Müller-Möhl Foundation, August 2023
Blog article: Why the Müller-Möhl Foundation invests in elea

“We appreciate our professional and constructive partnership with elea. The annual discussions about the portfolio and its impact have helped us to progress as a grant-making foundation. elea enriches our invested money with its excellent professional know-how and close accompaniment of the impact entrepreneurs.”

Manuela Balett, Managing Director, Leopold Bachmann Stiftung, December 2022

Strategic partnership with Fourfold

In April 2024, we have entered into a multi-year strategic partnership with Fourfold Foundation. We share a common belief that entrepreneurship is the primary catalyst for change and progress, and that investing in innovative entrepreneurial solutions is among the most promising responses to the broad challenges of our time. As strategic partners, we aim to build on our existing work to be the partner of choice for impact companies, philanthropic investors, and ambitious talent. Together, we aspire to take a leading position in the global impact investing ecosystem to effectively fight absolute poverty and make a positive difference for the lives of millions of people.

“The partnership with elea enables Fourfold to take a bold step towards philanthropic impact investing. We are expanding Fourfold's reach by supporting talented entrepreneurs to develop innovative and sustainable solutions that put people and the planet at the center."

Alis Schmidheiny, Co-Chair Board, Fourfold Foundation, April 2024

“We share elea's belief in the power of business, along with education, to fight poverty. That is why we are providing elea with capital as well as our entrepreneurial experience and extensive network."

Thomas Schmidheiny, Founder of Fourfold Foundation, April 2024

News: elea and Fourfold: a strategic partnership for greater impact

Livelihood Impact Fund

The partnership with Livelihood Impact Fund, whose mission is to meaningfully and durably improve the lives of the global poor, is an exciting milestone for elea. It marks the expansion of our philanthropic investor circle to the US. Besides a tailored portfolio of investments in selected elea impact ventures, Livelihood Impact Fund and elea will engage in regular exchanges to share interesting opportunities, connections, and research that could develop both organization’s pipelines.

“Through this partnership, we are delighted to build on elea's expertise and portfolio to further improve livelihoods across Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Jeremy Hockenstein, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Livelihood Impact Fund, March 2024