Merton is unlocking the power and potential of philanthropy.

Merton Capital Partners uses philanthropy to leverage private sector scalability, delivering social and environmental outcomes for philanthropists and local communities. We lead philanthropic private equity investments for philanthropists capable of deploying significant capital, achieving sustainable, measurable impact, and returning funds over time.

Merton Capital Partners is a US-based advisory firm founded by alumni of large private equity firms (Advent International, KKR and TPG) looking to deploy larger funds for good. We help philanthropists address social and environmental challenges by investing alongside large private sector companies—in partnership with expert, local nonprofits and local governments—to accelerate measurable impact at scale. Our vision is a world where untapped philanthropic capital is maximized and returned over time, and where philanthropists have the option to reinvest it into further projects to attain even more scale. 

Our social and climate challenges are at a crisis point. Yet, trillions of philanthropic capital sit on the sidelines, never reaching intended beneficiaries or realizing its full potential. Merton Capital Partners works to invest significant philanthropic capital into private sector projects to deliver sustainable impact in areas such as affordable housing, clean energy, and ocean health.

  • Turn your giving into a renewable force for good. With Merton, your gifts are invested, not just granted, allowing them to work year after year toward your family’s values and vision.

  • From selecting projects to deal making and shaping community outcomes, your family members can play meaningful roles that deepen engagement and reinforce shared purpose across generations.

  • We support the thoughtful design and celebration of your family legacy, with customized storytelling. Purposeful PR is fully funded year after year from the projects, as they transform your community.

Merton Capital Partners was founded in 2015 by experienced private equity and nonprofit professionals who believed that there was a better way to fund and solve society’s most pressing problems. They realized that although wealthy individuals were pledging to give much of their fortunes away, there was a bottleneck between that intention and pathways to enable scaled impact for communities in need.  

Professional graphic showing logos of KKR, TPG, and Advent on the left with arrows pointing to the Merton Capital Partners logo on the right, symbolizing founding team experience
 
 
 

12 Must Have Books And Podcasts For Leaders

Merton Capital founder Sean Davis’s book, Solving the Giving Pledge Bottleneck, has been recognized by Forbes as one of the top reads for leaders in 2023. The book delves into the challenges and opportunities of deploying large-scale philanthropic capital, offering innovative solutions to accelerate impactful giving. Davis’s insights are particularly relevant as the philanthropic sector seeks more effective ways to address global challenges.

Can Mega-Philanthropy Fuel Trump's Efforts to Tackle the Housing Crisis?

Merton Capital Senior Advisors Robert “Bob” Kreisky and Gil Kemp are collaborating with Nick Rojo, President of Affiliated Development, along with West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James and Assistant City Administrator Armando Fana, to actively develop “philanthropic private equity” models aimed at transforming housing solutions.

Billionaire Philanthropists Have Discovered a New Way to Give Away Their Fortunes

Philanthropic private equity is unlocking trillions in private wealth to tackle urgent social issues. Industry veterans like Mark Reed, Anand Tejani, and Justin Reizes see immense potential for this model—particularly in affordable and workforce housing—by recycling philanthropic capital for greater long-term impact.