In summer 2008 Active Philanthropy became a partner of the Private Equity Foundation based in London, UK. Founded by several private equity firms and their advisors, PEF is an internationally operating foundation aiming at empowering young people to reach their full potential. For this purpose PEF has placed a strong emphasis on improving the school-to-work transition. PEF’s grant-making approach follows the Venture Philanthropy model: besides financial grants the Foundation aims to invest in strategic development and growth of charitable organisations and to support them with words and deeds.
Active Philanthropy manages PEF’s grant-making in Germany. It identifies organisations that fit PEF’s set of criteria for a grant. In this process Active Philanthropy gets in touch with these organisations. The process of identification is followed by a very thorough Due Diligence process. The organisations pre-selected will present their work to PEF’s board in London. The board will then decide which of the organisations should be supported by the Private Equity Foundation.
PEF’s selection process:
Organisations that have proven successful and innovative in the research will be contacted by Active Philanthropy. The main criteria are:
- a product that has been proven (by evaluation) to help socially and/or economically disadvantaged young people to successfully manage the school-work transition.
- an organisation with a solid financial basis and a good and efficient management and leadership.
- an organisation that is interested in actively scaling-up their products and that is able to present a comprehensible strategic plan.
