Venture Philanthropy
First developed over a decade ago in English-speaking countries, this innovative approach supports high-potential social entrepreneurs over the long term by combining strategic expertise with financial backing — enabling them to dramatically scale their social impact.
The AlphaOmega Foundation selects the most impactful education nonprofits, those offering scientifically validated solutions and teaching methods that meet the needs of young people at critical dropout risk moments.
To be selected, organizations must meet strict criteria for scale, sustainability, and measurable impact — and demonstrate a clear ambition to grow, working hand-in-hand with the Foundation’s team to strengthen their structure and expand their reach.
Inspired by venture capital
The selection process for partner organisations is thorough and highly selective. It relies on the most rigorous diagnostic methods to identify only those with the greatest potential for impact.
A rigorous selection process
To qualify, an organization must have already reached a critical scale — serving at least 10,000 beneficiaries, operating nationwide, and managing a minimum annual budget of €1 million. It must offer a pedagogical approach validated by science, demonstrate proven impact, and have a leadership team committed to scaling up.
Long-term, multi-year funding
The Foundation ties its multi-year funding to key organizational development milestones. It specifically funds strategic leadership and operational roles that are essential for scaling up.
Strategic and skills support
The AlphaOmega Foundation’s team — composed of social investment directors managing the nonprofit portfolio, along with experts in finance, HR, communications, and digital — oversees organizational development efforts and coordinates projects with pro bono consulting firms.
Measuring the impact
Each year, the AlphaOmega Foundation sets, in collaboration with its partner organizations, targets for growth in the number of beneficiaries, indicators to track improvements in program quality and impact, as well as key organizational development and transformation goals to support scaling.
A leverage effect of 4
Venture Philanthropy creates a powerful leverage effect on funding value. For every euro invested in a nonprofit, the AlphaOmega Foundation provides the equivalent of €1 in strategic support. Thanks to its expert team, it also helps partner organizations secure an additional €1 in financial co-investment and €1 in pro bono consulting from the Foundation’s partner firms.
Financial investment by the AlphaOmega Foundation (€1)
Management support from the AlphaOmega Foundation (€1)
Financial co-investments from partners (€1)
Support in skills sponsorship from partners (€1)
Impact and key figures
At the national scale, the Foundation unites key players from education, social services, business, and industry to form a collaborative ecosystem committed to tackling school dropout.
