Supercharging a just transition through a coordinated philanthropic response

Sustainability | Equity | Diversity

Who we are

The SED Fund stands for Sustainability, Equity and Diversity. Our model supports new and innovative programmes that take a solutions-oriented approach towards just transition and climate action by aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals. We do this through a venture philanthropy model, providing seed and scale up funding to organisations or programmes across their life cycle and continuing to support them in their growth and scale-up journey.

OUR MISSION

The SED Fund’s mission is to catalyse resources and leadership for an equitable energy transition, by raising the ambitions of government and civil society through philanthropic support. The breadth of the SDGs to which our work is linked highlights the systemic nature of the approach needed to support economic development according to our vision of sustainability, equity and diversity.

Since many of the grantees are new organisations, the SED team directly invests time and effort in mentoring and capacity building.

Organisational development support is also provided in areas such as strategy, fundraising, systems and processes. 

We believe an innovative and multi-partner approach, operating at the required scale and pace is imperative to address the scale of the challenge. We also seek to remain nimble and adapt in real time to the context, needs and opportunities that arise. 

OUR VALUES

  • Trust

    To maximise our chances of success we aim to maintain relationships based on trust, so we can respond to needs and achieve our collective mission. We aim to provide a safe space, characterised by humility, kindness, flexibility and personal initiative to achieve collective impact.

  • Collaboration

    Those most affected are the greatest source of solutions. Systemic problems require systemic solutions. We use a partnership approach based on shared learning, codevelopment, and collective decision-making to harness the experience, knowledge and effort of multiple partners.

  • Diversity

    We are committed to equality and diversity by promoting and sustaining an open, inclusive and supportive environment, which affirms the rights of individuals to be treated fairly and with respect. Diversity underpins our approach to protect and support our planet and its people.

  • Integrity

    Underpinning our approach and decision making are the fundamental principles of accountability, objectivity, honesty, and fairness.

  • Solutions-oriented

    In all our activities and engagements we are focused on our mission while fostering an environment that is conducive to learning, being open minded, and willing to take strategic risks.

  • Ambition

    We are results driven and therefore strive for the pace and scale required to deliver our mission.

OUR JOURNEY UNTIL NOW

  • 286 projects

    granted since 2018

  • 107 organisations

    supported since 2018

  • 15 countries

The SED Fund was set up in 2018 to deliver an ecosystem of actions mapped to nine of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals by raising ambitions through philanthropic support. The work is aligned with targets within the following SDGs:

The breadth of SDGs to which our work is linked highlights the systemic nature of the approach needed to support economic development according to our vision of sustainability, equity, and diversity.

Change for the good

SED is committed to supporting initiatives that bring inclusive, just and sustainable change.