Introduction
The Brink Foundation is the philanthropic and grantmaking arm of innovation consultancy Brink, a global organization focused on behavioural innovation, systems change, and social impact. The Foundation was established to rethink traditional philanthropy and create more equitable, participatory, and locally driven funding systems.
Operating internationally, Brink Foundation supports initiatives across:
- Education
- Climate resilience
- Global health
- Innovation ecosystems
- Inclusive economic development
The Foundation emphasizes trust-based philanthropy, collaborative problem-solving, and shifting decision-making power closer to communities directly affected by social and economic challenges.
History and Background
The Brink Foundation was formally launched in 2023 as an extension of the broader work carried out by Brink, an innovation and behavioural science organization founded in 2018. Brink had already spent years designing and implementing innovation funds, accelerator programs, and grantmaking initiatives with governments, development agencies, and philanthropic organizations.
The Foundation emerged from Brink’s belief that traditional international grantmaking systems are often:
- Highly centralized
- Bureaucratic
- Risk-averse
- Disconnected from local realities
According to Brink, critical decisions about global funding are frequently made by institutions geographically and culturally distant from the communities they seek to support. The Foundation was therefore created to experiment with more inclusive and adaptive funding models.
The organization’s philosophy was influenced by Brink’s experience working on innovation initiatives such as:
- Frontier Technologies Hub
- Global EdTech Hub
- Oxygen CoLab
- Better Futures CoLab
Brink Foundation positions itself as part of a broader movement toward “next-generation grantmaking,” where collaboration, experimentation, and community leadership are prioritized over rigid funding systems.
Mission and Purpose
The mission of Brink Foundation is to help create fairer, more inclusive, and more effective systems of funding and innovation.
Core Objectives
Shifting Power in Grantmaking
The Foundation believes communities closest to social challenges should have greater influence over funding decisions and innovation priorities.
Supporting Innovation and Systems Change
Brink Foundation focuses on solving complex global challenges through:
- Behavioural innovation
- Cross-sector collaboration
- Experimental funding models
- Participatory research and evidence generation
Unlocking Underfunded Talent
The Foundation seeks to support innovators and organizations that are frequently overlooked by traditional funding structures, especially:
- African innovators
- Women-led initiatives
- Grassroots organizations
- Community-based entrepreneurs
Encouraging Collaboration
The Foundation aims to unite governments, funders, NGOs, researchers, and communities to create shared solutions for large-scale global issues.
Governance and Structure
Brink Foundation operates as a philanthropic organization connected to Brink Innovation Limited, headquartered in London, United Kingdom.
Leadership and Governance
The Foundation is guided by a Board of Directors that includes leaders from international development, innovation, impact investing, and global health sectors.
Key Board Members Include:
- Teresa Mbagaya – Founding Principal at Imaginable Futures
- Magdalena Banasiak – Associate Director at Acumen
- Kristoffer Gandrup-Marino – Chief of Innovation at UNICEF
- Sheena Raikundalia – Impact investment and innovation leader
- Brink co-founders Abigail Freeman and Lea Simpson
The governance structure combines:
- Strategic oversight
- Innovation expertise
- Development finance experience
- Global systems-change perspectives
The Foundation also benefits from Brink’s multidisciplinary team of:
- Behavioural scientists
- Technologists
- Designers
- Strategists
- Innovation specialists
Funding and Grantmaking
Brink Foundation was created to both:
- Receive grant funding
- Operate as a grantmaker itself
Funding Philosophy
The Foundation advocates for:
- Flexible and adaptive funding
- Trust-based philanthropy
- Simplified grant application processes
- Participatory funding mechanisms
It also explores alternative financing mechanisms such as:
- Recoverable grants
- Convertible grants
- Mission-based pooled funding
- Innovation-focused seed financing
Funding Partners
Brink Foundation has collaborated with organizations including:
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- FCDO (UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- UNICEF
- Acumen
- TRANSFORM initiative
Example Funding Programs
Gender and Learning Evidence Fund
A recently launched initiative focused on evidence generation and innovation in gender and education systems.
uBoraBora Initiative
A grantmaking initiative supporting organizations developing adaptive education models and learning innovations.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Brink Foundation supports innovation-driven programs focused on systemic global challenges.
Education Innovation
The Foundation works on projects designed to:
- Improve learning outcomes
- Expand access to quality education
- Support adaptive and scalable education systems
- Promote locally driven educational innovation
Climate and Sustainability
Brink Foundation supports initiatives related to:
- Climate adaptation in Africa
- Just transition models
- Climate innovation ecosystems
- Cross-sector climate collaboration
Health Innovation
Programs focus on:
- Strengthening primary healthcare systems
- Oxygen access and healthcare infrastructure
- Public health innovation
- Behavioural science approaches to healthcare delivery
Innovation Ecosystems and Behavioural Science
The Foundation integrates behavioural science into innovation and systems design by:
- Studying incentives and human behaviour
- Encouraging participatory design
- Building collaborative “CoLabs”
- Supporting experimentation and adaptive learning
Impact and Examples of Work
Although relatively new as a formal foundation, Brink’s broader innovation ecosystem has already supported:
- More than 340 innovation teams
- Across 53 countries
- With access to over £60 million in funding
Systems Change Impact
Brink Foundation seeks to challenge traditional philanthropy by:
- Decentralizing decision-making
- Increasing flexibility in grantmaking
- Supporting overlooked innovators
- Encouraging cross-sector collaboration
Education and Research Impact
Initiatives such as uBoraBora attracted hundreds of applications from organizations seeking more adaptive and innovation-friendly funding approaches.
The Foundation argues that many traditional grants discourage:
- Honesty about challenges
- Experimentation
- Adaptive learning
- Community leadership
Its alternative model attempts to create more supportive relationships between funders and grantees.
Collaboration and Local Empowerment
One example highlighted by Brink Foundation is its work in Kenya examining the future of work in the informal economy, particularly for women and youth. The project involved local research partners and participatory evidence generation methods.
The Foundation’s approach prioritizes:
- Local participation
- Inclusive innovation
- Long-term systems transformation
- Community-centered evidence building
Conclusion
The Brink Foundation represents a new generation of philanthropic organizations focused on transforming how funding, innovation, and systems change operate globally.
By combining behavioural science, innovation methods, participatory grantmaking, and collaborative partnerships, the Foundation seeks to create more equitable and effective approaches to solving complex social challenges.
Its work across education, climate, health, and inclusive development reflects a growing movement toward:
- Trust-based philanthropy
- Community-led decision-making
- Flexible funding systems
- Cross-sector collaboration
As global challenges become increasingly interconnected and complex, Brink Foundation continues to position itself as an experimental and forward-looking organization working to reshape the future of international grantmaking and social innovation.
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