Venture Philanthropy

Our mission is to accelerate life-changing solutions to cure, prevent and treat type 1 diabetes (T1D) through equity investments. This requires we take 100% concentration risk in drugs, diagnostics, platforms, devices and other health solutions with application to T1D.

Why venture philanthropy?

Our strategy is simple: We leverage philanthropic capital to build a portfolio of investments that are both attractive to financially motivated investors and are compelling to the T1D community. Yet, it is risky to invest in a fund fully concentrated in one disease. That’s why we are the first to do it in T1D.

We need more philanthropists to disrupt and de-risk the investment market in T1D to continue our investment track record and ultimately create a perpetual source of financing and T1D strategic expertise that will be essential as T1D therapies mature.

We aim for our portfolio companies to achieve success, not only to deliver life-changing solutions for individuals living with or at risk of T1D today, but to also create a pipeline of next-generation novel opportunities tomorrow. As a high-impact philanthropic vehicle, all returns on the Fund’s investments are recycled back into the T1D mission.

Selfishly, I'd like to make a difference in my daughter's life, but my heartstrings have also been torn by children whose parents don't have the resources my wife and I do. By giving to the Fund we know we are making a difference for everyone with T1D.

D. Johnson

What the Fund was good at doing was saying, ‘We’re going to try to fill gaps. We’re going to back some of the companies to help them demonstrate their investment potential. We’re going to back some at an earlier stage.

J. Mallory

The team's ability to make decisions quickly from start to finish coupled with the broad net that has been cast on innovative, exiting and dynamic opportunities makes us proud to be a part of this thrilling effort.

K. Eastman

For Donors

A philanthropic vehicle run as a venture capital fund.

The T1D Fund provides a unique vehicle for philanthropists interested in a high-impact, high-leverage opportunity.

Our sole focus is on raising and investing private capital for opportunities that will change the lives of those who live with, or at risk of developing, T1D.

Similar to limited partners in the commercial sector, donors to the T1D Fund engage with management and leadership, redefining the philanthropic experience and creating a differentiated donor experience.

All donors must contribute a minimum of $500,000 over four years. Donors do not receive distributions on gains as all returns are reinvested back into the Fund so that we can support the next generation of life-changing T1D therapies.

As a donor, you benefit from:

  • 501(c)(3) donation, with associated tax benefits at the time of contribution for U.S. donors
  • Local tax benefits for international donations
  • Regular updates on investments, transparent quarterly reporting including webcasts, and face-to-face updates — just like a venture capital fund
  • Full access to management and governance groups
  • Option for donors to allow the Fund to give their names to CEOs as potential investors in target companies

Join us

If you’d like to know more about our investing guidelines or want to talk to us about putting your capital to work for the T1D mission, we encourage you to contact Amy Montalto.