In 2026, Impact Europe is the European home for catalytic capital.
Catalytic capital is a cross-cutting stream of work that connects research, practitioner insights, ecosystem convening, and peer exchange. Through our Catalytic Capital Community of Practice, dedicated events, and published resources, we support European actors who are exploring, deploying, and advancing catalytic capital in practice. Through structured online gatherings, ecosystem convenings and case-based exchange, we create space to strengthen understanding, close knowledge gaps, and encourage more catalytic deployment across the investment spectrum.
To register your interest in the Community, please share your details here.
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The Catalytic Capital stream
Increasing knowledge about catalytic capital and supporting its deployment have been at the heart of Impact Europe’s collaboration with the Catalytic Capital Consortium (C3). After sparking a global discussion, gathering practitioners, collecting case studies, and publishing the Catalysing Impact, whitepaper, we launched a dedicated Catalytic Capital Community of Practice, the first and only space in Europe specifically designed for catalytic capital providers to connect, learn, and collaborate.
Catalytic capital plays a critical role in unlocking high-impact opportunities that may not attract fully commercial capital. It helps bridge financing gaps, mobilise additional resources, and strengthen the continuum of capital across philanthropic, patient, and commercial actors. Impact Europe’s role is to support practitioners in understanding how catalytic capital works in practice, how it can be structured responsibly, and how it can be deployed more effectively across Europe. Today, catalytic capital at Impact Europe combines:
• research and knowledge development
• practitioner case studies
• peer-led community exchange
• ecosystem convenings
• visibility for emerging catalytic practices
The Community is one core pillar within this broader stream of work.
Catalytic Capital Community: 2026 journey
In 2026, the CoP is structured around a series of external touchpoints designed to move from exploration to implementation and collective reflection:
| When | What | What it means for you |
| 26/03 | CoP Gathering #1 - Mobilising Catalytic Capital: the Investor Club Model | In partnership with Open Value Foundation, we explore an impact investment club model mobilising flexible, patient, and risk-tolerant capital |
| 9-10/06 | Catalytic Capital at Impact Days | Dedicated CC sessions integrated into Impact Days, connecting the CoP with the wider European impact ecosystem |
| 25/06 | CoP Gathering #2 - Case Clinics (Part 1) | Hands-on peer case discussions, members present real catalytic dilemmas and exchange openly in a structured, participatory format |
| 8/09 | CoP Gathering #3 - Case Clinics (Part 2) | A second round of deep-dive peer discussions, more real cases, more practical exchange |
| 13/10 (TBC) | London Catalytic Capital Event (with Toniic) | An external-facing convening bringing together the wider catalytic capital ecosystem |
| 17/11 | CoP Gathering #4 - Catalytic Capital Champions | Insights from the Impact Self-assessment Tool and spotlight on members leading the way in catalytic capital |
| Throughout | Ongoing visibility & amplification | Publication of member case studies, sharing insights from CoP discussions, and amplifying member-led initiatives across the European ecosystem |
Beyond these sessions, members can contribute cases, share insights, and engage with peers shaping catalytic capital practice in Europe.
Resources (all in one place!)
Core publications & insights
- Catalysing Impact – White paper (report)
- Catalytic Capital – Executive Primer (brief)
- Trust & Courage: Unlocking Collaboration for Catalytic Capital (blog)
- Models for the Moment – Catalytic Capital Roundtable Summary (blog)
- Insights from a Global Conversation (opinion)
- Shared Stakes (podcast)
Foundational & community-building work
- Catalytic Capital Quiz (interactive)
- Definition – Opinion Piece (opinion)
- Help Us Map Our Catalytic Capital Community (opinion)
- Help Us Map Catalytic Grantmaking in Europe (opinion)
- Debra Schwartz & Nadia Nikolova talk Catalytic Capital (Part 1) (case study)
- Debra Schwartz & Nadia Nikolova talk Catalytic Capital (Part 2) (case study)
Join the Community
The Catalytic Capital Community of Practice is open to Impact Europe members exploring, deploying, or advancing catalytic capital.
Interested in joining? Express your interest here.
Not yet a member? Join Impact Europe to become part of the European home for catalytic capital.
