Our vision

A fairer society, where all young people thrive.

What we do

We are a not-for-profit that works with social entrepreneurs and philanthropists to build and strengthen organisations that deliver systemic impact.

We provide young people opportunities in education and beyond, helping them reach their true potential.

Working with us

We only provide support where we are confident we can add value. Thus, we are deliberate about who we partner with, to ensure we deliver maximum impact.

How we work

Philanthropists

We partner with visionary philanthropists and organisations that want to transform young people’s lives. We offer bespoke advice, identify opportunities and leverage investments with an evidence-based approach. Great impact starts here.

Social Ventures

We believe great impact starts with great people. As such, we deliberately partner with individuals and organisations with strong theories of change, who mirror our ambitions.

For these change makers, we offer fully individualised support, access to funding and a ‘high-challenge, high-support’ home, to turn great ideas into sustainable and successful ventures.

Our portfolios

Our society leaves too many families and young people behind. Often, it is the most vulnerable members of our society who suffer. Purposeful Ventures supports young people to fulfil their potential by building new ventures and growing existing organisations to tackle the challenges they face.

Early years
Mental health and wellbeing
Vulnerable young people

Our history

Our team has 20 years of experience working with social ventures for young people

2002

Ark founded

Ark is an educational charity founded in 2002. Ark’s early work included work on HIV and AIDS in Africa as well as child protection initiatives in Eastern Europe. Ark Schools, founded in 2006, marks the start of Ark’s focus on education, followed by the support of school programmes for curriculum mastery and school leadership.

2016

Ark Ventures founded

All Ark’s non-school initiatives and programmes were consolidated as “Ark Ventures”, focusing mainly on education. Within Ark Ventures, we helped other initiatives and charities to start, grow and deliver their impact at scale. As Ark Ventures, we supported Ambition Institute, Frontline and Global Schools Forum, amongst others.

2023

Purposeful Ventures spins out of Ark

Purposeful Ventures extends its focus beyond education to issues affecting children and young people more broadly. It increases the number of ventures it supports and deepens its relationships with funders.

Our history

Our team has 20 years of experience working with social ventures for young people

2002

Ark founded

2016

Ark Ventures founded

2023

Purposeful Ventures spins out of Ark

Our team and trustees

Michael Clark
Chief Executive
During Michael’s tenure as Deputy CEO of Ark, he was on the management team of Ark Schools and built and led Ark Ventures from 2012. During this time, Ark grew from 11 to 39 schools and Ark Ventures successfully incubated 15 charities. Prior to Ark, he was a junior partner at McKinsey and co-led its education practice in the UK.
During Michael’s tenure as Deputy CEO of Ark, he was on the management team of Ark Schools and built and led Ark Ventures from 2012. During this time, Ark grew from 11 to 39 schools and Ark Ventures successfully incubated 15 charities. Prior to Ark, he was a junior partner at McKinsey and co-led its education practice in the UK.
Aisha Washington
COO
Aisha joined as a Venture Partner in 2016. She helped launch Now Teach, grew English Mastery to nationwide delivery and led Get Further as Director of Ops—then Interim CEO—as they grew 10-fold. Originally from management consulting, she has worked at Bain, Bridgespan and The Public Sector Consultants.
Aisha joined as a Venture Partner in 2016. She helped launch Now Teach, grew English Mastery to nationwide delivery and led Get Further as Director of Ops—then Interim CEO—as they grew 10-fold. Originally from management consulting, she has worked at Bain, Bridgespan and The Public Sector Consultants.
Nick Darbyshire
Director of Funding and Community
Nick is the Director of Funding and Community at Purposeful Ventures, having joined in 2024 from the charity Impetus, where he was lead of the education sector which encompassed a portfolio of 15 charities. Prior to this, Nick worked in social impact investing, and was a partner in Oliver Wyman’s Financial Services practice for 10 years, as well as co-leading the firm’s social impact practice.
Nick is the Director of Funding and Community at Purposeful Ventures, having joined in 2024 from the charity Impetus, where he was lead of the education sector which encompassed a portfolio of 15 charities. Prior to this, Nick worked in social impact investing, and was a partner in Oliver Wyman’s Financial Services practice for 10 years, as well as co-leading the firm’s social impact practice.
Courtney Gainer
Director of Research and Pipeline
Courtney joined Purposeful Ventures in 2024, bringing 15+ years of education experience as both a strategy consultant to and an executive within universities and schools. Most recently, she was a Partner in EY-Parthenon’s Education Strategy Practice and Executive Director of Hult International Business School’s London Undergraduate campus.
Courtney joined Purposeful Ventures in 2024, bringing 15+ years of education experience as both a strategy consultant to and an executive within universities and schools. Most recently, she was a Partner in EY-Parthenon’s Education Strategy Practice and Executive Director of Hult International Business School’s London Undergraduate campus.
Tom O'Beirne
Director of Delivery
Tom has 15+ years of experience in education and related sectors through roles with non-profit and commercial education organisations and in consulting. Most recently, he has worked at a large online English teaching business and at a VC-backed digital assessment start-up. He is a qualified maths teacher having completed the Teach First scheme.
Tom has 15+ years of experience in education and related sectors through roles with non-profit and commercial education organisations and in consulting. Most recently, he has worked at a large online English teaching business and at a VC-backed digital assessment start-up. He is a qualified maths teacher having completed the Teach First scheme.
Holly Piercy
Director of Philanthropy
Holly joined Purposeful Ventures in 2024. She has worked extensively with philanthropists in the education sector, having led the Development team at the charity Ark, raising funds for a range of programmes and projects, as well as their schools. Holly has worked in charities for over 15 years, including the Francis Holland Schools Trust, The Prince's Trust and Holy Trinity Brompton.
Holly joined Purposeful Ventures in 2024. She has worked extensively with philanthropists in the education sector, having led the Development team at the charity Ark, raising funds for a range of programmes and projects, as well as their schools. Holly has worked in charities for over 15 years, including the Francis Holland Schools Trust, The Prince's Trust and Holy Trinity Brompton.
Libby Dangoor
Chair of Trustees
Libby Dangoor is the Chief of Staff at Multiverse. Prior to Multiverse, Libby was the Operations Director for NowTeach, a Venture Partner at Ark, a Portfolio Director at the Social Business Trust and she spent 5 years as a strategy consultant at Bain & Company. She is a school governor at Westminster Academy and Chair of the UK Advisory Board for charity PJ Library.
Libby Dangoor is the Chief of Staff at Multiverse. Prior to Multiverse, Libby was the Operations Director for NowTeach, a Venture Partner at Ark, a Portfolio Director at the Social Business Trust and she spent 5 years as a strategy consultant at Bain & Company. She is a school governor at Westminster Academy and Chair of the UK Advisory Board for charity PJ Library.
Lucy Heller
Trustee
Lucy Heller is CEO of Ark, an education charity. There are 39 schools in the Ark network and its venture organisations are focused on bringing positive change to key areas of education such as curriculum, teacher training and early years. Before Ark, Lucy was Managing Director of TSL Education and Managing Editor at The Observer. She is also a trustee of Education Endowment Foundation and Now Teach.
Lucy Heller is CEO of Ark, an education charity. There are 39 schools in the Ark network and its venture organisations are focused on bringing positive change to key areas of education such as curriculum, teacher training and early years. Before Ark, Lucy was Managing Director of TSL Education and Managing Editor at The Observer. She is also a trustee of Education Endowment Foundation and Now Teach.
Ed Fidoe
Trustee
Ed Fidoe is the founder and CEO of the London Interdisciplinary School. Previously, Ed co-founded a 4-18 school in Stratford called School 21, and the UK’s oracy charity called Voice 21. He also consulted at McKinsey & Co., ran a theatre production company, and played in 80s hit TV show Woof! Ed holds degrees from Imperial and LSE, and has advised institutions including Cambridge, Eton and Teach First.
Ed Fidoe is the founder and CEO of the London Interdisciplinary School. Previously, Ed co-founded a 4-18 school in Stratford called School 21, and the UK’s oracy charity called Voice 21. He also consulted at McKinsey & Co., ran a theatre production company, and played in 80s hit TV show Woof! Ed holds degrees from Imperial and LSE, and has advised institutions including Cambridge, Eton and Teach First.
Doug Thomson
Philanthropy Adviser
Doug has over 30 years of experience in philanthropy and non-profit management. Major assignments include the Sutton Trust, where he helped them diversify their funding base and scale up their programmes, and the University of Nottingham where he led the £242m Impact Campaign. Doug has worked with 35 organisations to support their fundraising and grant-making.
Doug has over 30 years of experience in philanthropy and non-profit management. Major assignments include the Sutton Trust, where he helped them diversify their funding base and scale up their programmes, and the University of Nottingham where he led the £242m Impact Campaign. Doug has worked with 35 organisations to support their fundraising and grant-making.
Sophie Humphreys OBE
Social Entrepreneur in Residence
Sophie co-founded two national organisations that support some of the most vulnerable members of society, Pause and SHiFT. She is a sought-after child protection expert and has sat on the CAFCASS board and the expert panel for the Commission on Young Lives. Sophie is the creator of Breaking Cycles, an approach to breaking entrenched patterns of harm.
Sophie co-founded two national organisations that support some of the most vulnerable members of society, Pause and SHiFT. She is a sought-after child protection expert and has sat on the CAFCASS board and the expert panel for the Commission on Young Lives. Sophie is the creator of Breaking Cycles, an approach to breaking entrenched patterns of harm.

Join our team

Thank you for your interest in joining Purposeful Ventures. You can find our current vacancies and submit your application on our career site. We also encourage you to follow us on LinkedIn to learn more about our current work, opportunities for collaboration and workplace culture.

Job descriptions

HR & Team Coordinator (maternity cover)
Develop your HR expertise, gain exposure to a breadth of operations functions and help ensure that Purposeful Ventures runs smoothly and efficiently.
Full job description
Venture Partner
Venture Partners are at the core of Purposeful Ventures' work. Our Venture Partners provide intellectual capital and the skills and experience that allow us, and all the ventures we work with, to thrive and deliver huge social impact.
Full job description

Our supporters

Get in touch

We are always on the look-out for new ventures, supporters and talent. Get in touch and we will aim to get back to you within the week.

[email protected]

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A fairer society, where all ​young people thrive.

What we do

Working with us

How we work

Philanthropists

Social Ventures

Our portfolios

Our history

Ark founded

Ark Ventures founded

Purposeful Ventures spins out of Ark

Our history

Ark founded

Ark Ventures founded

Purposeful Ventures spins out of Ark

Michael Clark

Aisha Washington

Nick Darbyshire

Courtney Gainer

Tom O'Beirne

Holly Piercy

Libby Dangoor

Lucy Heller

Ed Fidoe

Doug Thomson

Sophie Humphreys OBE

Join our team

Our supporters

Follow our latest work

Get in touch

A fairer society, where all young people thrive.