Catalytic capital to power ambitious social ventures
Rippleworks provides flexible funding to mission-driven ventures—nonprofit or for-profit—that are delivering real results and ready to grow. We focus on impact first, backing teams with a clear path to scale and strong leadership teams. Every venture is different, so we tailor our support to fit their goals, helping them go further, faster, and reach more people.
Funding across multiple impact areas
We prioritize impact, first and foremost. For that reason, we are open to funding any sector or geography.
Tailored to meet the unique needs of ventures
We provide customized grants and loans so that ventures have the right capital required for grow.
Mezzanine funding required to scale
We offer high-risk funding in the $1M – $3M range, with grants for nonprofits and flexible debt for for-profit or revenue generating ventures.
Key Criteria for Funding:
• Scale: A well-defined operating plan and a venture that has product-market fit with a clear path to significant growth. We’re especially interested in understanding what it will take if that scale requires the support of another party (e.g., government, other nonprofits).
• Team: Strong leadership and management team with proximity to the communities they serve. Strong CEOs and leadership teams that are well-suited to solve this particular challenge.
• Impact:
• Breadth: Directly serving at least 5,000 customers/year.
• Depth: Proven & directly attributable impact having a transformative improvement in quality of life.
• Target population: The most underserved, with no measurable access to markets or alternative opportunities.
• Hard to Find Capital: A need for timely, catalytic capital that isn’t otherwise available in the market. We look for opportunities to provide funding that other donors or investors are unwilling or unable to fill.
Our Commitment to Ventures
Centering co-creation and partnership
We develop shared operating agreements with every venture so all parties can engage fully and authentically.
Clarity on timelines
Together, we build a diligence calendar together with each venture so it’s clear how we engage with each other and when.
Transparency in decision-making
From inbound pipeline all the way until the end of diligence, we ensure that ventures know how and why our team makes all decisions along the way.
Feedback on our role as funders
Our goal is to maintain an open channel of communication with ventures in our portfolio to share what is working, what isn’t, and how we can continually improve.
Since 2018, we’ve supported social ventures with $270 million in flexible capital
$250M grants
$20M debt
Investments
Explore our investment portfolio of social ventures driving lasting impact and innovation.
