# John Pepin on future trends in venture philanthropy

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2005/03/29/john-pepin-future-trends-venture-philanthropy/
- Published: 2005-03-29T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

![](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/files/images/news/3080.jpg)

“The venture philanthropy movement is evolving out of the incubation phase into 
a mature and increasingly accepted practice”, says John Pepin in his analysis of
the future of venture philanthropy or “high engagement giving” in the UK.
John Pepin’s
research acknowledges that venture philanthropy activity in Europe is still on a
smaller scale to that in the USA, with just a small number of dedicated funds, such
as Impetus Trust. However, “its influence can be felt in a larger number of venture
philanthropy-like organisations, such as Futurebuilders and Diageo’s corporate citizenship
initiatives.”

Pepin’s report highlights six key trends in the development of venture philanthropy
in the UK:

 * increased financial capital and expertise in the movement
 * the leverage of the movement will be felt throughout the sector, for example 
   with traditional grantmakers adapting some of the principles of the movement
 * the model will involve, with venture philanthropists increasing their understanding
   of the charity sector
 * new capital structures will be developed, such as “recipient-driven captive funds”
   and “diverse blended fund portfolios”
 * charities will change their behaviour, for example with fundraisers adopting 
   a more strategic approach to matching capital
    to needs
 * the impact of venture philanthropy will start to be felt in the larger charities

Pepin concludes from his research that venture philanthropy will result in an increased
diversity of funding, and not just in venture philanthropy, leading

## Advertisement

to more sustainable and less vulnerable charitable organisations. It will also yield
improved evaluation techniques within the sector, leading to improved techniques
for achieving social goals.

Pepin’s paper includes a useful appendix which summarises the main venture philanthropy
models, together with a series of case studies.

You can download the paper from UK Fundraising in Adobe Acrobat format (PDF).

 * **[Midas presents two approaches to capital appeal](https://fundraising.co.uk/2005/03/29/midas-presents-two-approaches-capital-appeal/)**(
   29 March 2005)
 * **[Ethical Consumer to present paper on ethical donations policy](https://fundraising.co.uk/2005/03/29/ethical-consumer-present-paper-ethical-donations-policy/)**(
   29 March 2005)
 * **[Fake charity wristband warning](https://fundraising.co.uk/2005/03/30/fake-charity-wristband-warning/)**(
   30 March 2005)