Common questions about Greater Share.
Why is Greater Share's first focus on education?
Global education is in crisis. Educational systems and practices have remained unchanged over the past century and the world is experiencing the worst crisis in education in a century. Over 700 million children worldwide are unable to meet minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics. Unfortunately, children’s education has been particularly impacted by Covid-19, with over ~1.6 billion students out of school at the height of the pandemic due to closures and related issues.
Endeavoring to better the futures of the next generation, which is inherently a challenge, also fits the long-term, sustained nature of the funding provided by Greater Share. Greater Share's vision is to transform the way children are educated today so they are better prepared for what the future demands.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” – Nelson Mandela
How is Greater Share structured?
Greater Share is a fund-of-funds product. As a fund-of-funds portfolio, it will leverage the flagship strategies of top quartile investment firms which invest across a wide range of fund types, sectors, and geographies. The philanthropic intent is for the model to be repeatable to fund a number of social impact sectors over time.
What happens to the financial returns generated by private equity?
Greater Share generates long-term, sustained funding for some of the highest-impact NGOs. Capital gains are shared between NGOs and Greater Share’s investors. All GP fees and carry are also donated. Investors have the choice of donating between 50% and 100% of their capital gains.
Who receives the donations?
Investors can choose their desired recipients from a portfolio of eight high-impact NGOs, curated and tracked by a committee of education experts. The NGOs in the portfolio were selected based on their alignment with Greater Share’s Theory of Change, as well as their commitment to underserved populations, rigorous evidence of impact, and systemic approach to change. To learn more about the eight NGOs in Greater Share’s portfolio, click here.
Who founded Greater Share?
Greater Share belongs to the community of like-minded people who first gave their time to establish the organisation, with the belief that it would grow to something far beyond any individual. This group began as Paul Fletcher, a former Senior Partner at emerging markets investment firm Actis and Chair of education network Teach for All; Frédéric de Mévius, co-founder of purpose-led growth investor Planet First Partners; Graham Elton, Chairman of the EMEA Private Equity Practice at Bain & Company; and Jason Glover, London Managing Partner at law firm Simpson Thacher.