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An aligned intermediary for impact through emerging breakthroughs
Following a pediatric health scare in the founder’s family, it became clear how inefficient and misaligned the private funding paradigm was for supporting outcomes that would help other families facing similar challenges. It became apparent that those very same issues were ubiquitous across all cause areas and that dissatisfaction with the experience was not isolated.
Evolution
Benefunder started as a non-profit and gradually evolved to a for-profit social enterprise in order to leverage the attributes of scale and alignment with the existing ecosystem.
Primary Hub for Innovation & Impact for Family Office & Foundations
Launch of Benefunder Capital Markets
- 750 Researchers
- 12 Institutions
Lab to Market Funding Solutions for the Valley of Opportunity. Addition of capital markets capability
- $2M in funding placed to date
- (oct) first investment placed
- (nov) first round launced
- (Dec) b-corp registration
For-profit platform integrated with 3rd Party; DAFs and Private Foundations:
- $1M investment capital raised
- Approved on UBS FAS platform
- First Private Foundation client
- $1.5M in research funding placed
For-profit platform integrated w 3rd Party; DAFs and Private Foundations
- 250 Researchers
- 7 Institutions
- Partnered with 4 DAF Administrators
Donor Advised Fund Solution aimed at worthy research ventures in need of funding (non-profit, no ROI):
- Non-profit funding vehicle for research
- 500 Researchers
- 5 Institutions
Christian’s Nephew Diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma
Today, Benefunder is a resource for funders, researchers, and entrepreneurs alike. We’re a multiplier for access, efficiency, and engagement accelerating the impact mandates of our clients while providing a viable alternative funding source for innovators.
We’re a mission driven organization designed to support the innovation ecosystem by providing unprecedented access, efficiency, and engagement for funders and innovators.
Aligned agents of impact leveraging financial ingenuity, technology, and networks to support discovery through scaling of emerging breakthroughs.
Evolution
The Benefunder team is comprised of seasoned veterans from Wall Street and Silicon Valley with over 85 years of philanthropic, investment, data technology, operations, and impact experience. Our backgrounds span wealth management, investment banking, global banking data services as well as startups and non-profits.
As head of Family Office Services for Benefunder, Julie leverages her extensive experience across capital markets, private philanthropy, and ESG to provide clients with expertise and support needed to better align resources along mission. Julie previously held senior executive and board positions with NASDAQ, Americans for the Arts, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, and TBLI.
Aaron serves as in-house counsel as well as in operational and analyst roles with Benefunder. Aaron has experience leading large teams, as an entrepreneur, investor, and IP lawyer, which he leverages in support of our client in a multitude of facets.
Petr brings a unique perspective to the Benefunder executive team having served as a researcher, venture capital analyst, and on the investment team for his own family office. He has an innate ability to analyze a situation and quickly identify and communicate actionable opportunities and challenges.
Sandy serves as Co-CIO for her family office and ED of their foundation. She previously played a pivotal role in Blackrock’s meteoric growth from inception to IPO and was one of the first female executives at Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs. She’s an associate with The Milken Foundation/Faster Cures, a fellow of The Aspen Institute, one of the earliest supporters of both The Robin Hood Foundation and TED.
Richard advises family offices in alternative finance, technology assessment, and strategy. He is recognized as a global thought leader on FinTech and was recently appointed Fellow in Emerging Technology at UC Irvine. Richard advises the Gates Foundation, and works with several other prominent foundations, think tanks, funds and corporations.
