Two business professionals collaborate at a glass board, with one writing on it with a marker while the other holds a tablet.
Two business professionals collaborate at a glass board, with one writing on it with a marker while the other holds a tablet.
Catalytic Capital

Philanthropic Fund Management

Managing a philanthropic fund demands a trusted, neutral steward with the expertise to identify high-potential opportunities, conduct rigorous diligence, and deploy resources where they matter most. The Milken Institute is uniquely positioned for this role—bringing decades of experience, deep sector knowledge, and an expansive global network across health, finance, and philanthropy. As a nonprofit, nonpartisan institution, every dollar we deploy is directed with integrity toward accelerating measurable progress on critical global issues.

Catalytic Philanthropic Funds

Our Catalytic Philanthropic Funds deploy flexible, concessionary capital—through grants, low-cost loans, convertible notes, and equity—to support organizations across the business life cycle from pre-seed through later-stage growth and market diversification.  

Early funding areas may include brain health, rare diseases, and women's health, with a focus on conditions that remain chronically under-researched and under-funded. These investments are designed to catalyze follow-on capital by targeting tools, products, and services that accelerate diagnostics, expand access to care, and build more robust health technologies. 

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Investment Criteria and Impact Metrics

We apply a rigorous diligence framework across our Funds, targeting investments that balance purpose and profit — sound business propositions that generate financial profit while creating meaningful social, health, or community impact.  

Core investment criteria include: impact potential, feasibility, and scalability; business fundamentals, capability, and financial sustainability; equity and reach, with a focus on underserved populations; ethical standards, compliance with local laws, and data-sharing requirements. Key impact metrics for our first health-focused fund include: increase in patients reached; reduction in diagnosis time and cost of treatment; decreased wait times for treatment.  

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