These UK foundations are allocating to impact. Now the rest must follow
15 Jun 2026
08:00
Dozens of UK foundations are increasingly using their endowments for impact investing.
But there are thousands more representing hundreds of billions of pounds that must follow suit, argues Jana Bakunina, social investment lead at impact non-profit Social Finance.
But there are thousands more representing hundreds of billions of pounds that must follow suit, argues Jana Bakunina, social investment lead at impact non-profit Social Finance.
The largest 300 trusts and foundations in the UK collectively hold approximately £89bn in assets, including historic endowments and funds raised. Most of them use traditional fund managers to invest their assets and deploy investment income to accomplish their charitable missions through grant-making. Most foundations invest in mainstream financial assets without explicitly aligning their capital with their impact themes.
However, that is changing, as more UK foundations review their investment policies and allocate a share of their assets to impact.