Catalytic Capital
Fuel for Social and Environmental Progress
Investments that strengthen communities, expand economic opportunity, and support innovation that advances the well-being of people and the planet.
Building a more just, equitable, and resilient world
Millions of households, enterprises, and funds struggle to access the capital they need to build a better future for themselves and the wider world. Catalytic capital is a vital form of impact investment that addresses these critical capital gaps–offering financing that accepts disproportionate risk and/or concessionary returns relative to a conventional investment in order to generate positive impact and enable third-party investment that otherwise would not be possible. It is essential to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Research & Learning
Search for catalytic capital data and analysis that can help inform and accelerate the deployment of vital investments across sectors and regions.
News & Stories
Read more about transformative organizations and investments. Visit the Catalytic Capital Beat at ImpactAlpha for additional insights from the field.
Partners & Projects
Meet C3 investees, grantees and partners. Learn about their projects to design, deploy, and analyze catalytic capital solutions that support social and environmental progress.
Podcast: The Importance of Catalytic Capital
In a new podcast from Women Changing Finance, C3’s Urmi Sengupta discusses the importance of catalytic capital, including how it attracts even more financing for climate justice, place-based investing and small business development.
Importantly, she highlights the role of foundations as they move beyond grantmaking to be system architects—taking on risks others cannot, absorbing uncertainty and convening unlikely partners.
Addressing Capital Gaps: A Guide to Strategic Deployment
C3’s Harvey Koh lays out a framework for investors to take a more strategic approach to catalytic capital deployment by deeply understanding the capital gaps they seek to address. The guide draws on real-world cases and examples developed in collaboration with experienced practitioners.
Banner Photo: Rangsutra Crafts, India/courtesy of 200 Million Artisans