Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund
Engaging donors · Elevating nonprofits · Empowering communities
The Fidelity Charitable® Catalyst Fund envisions a world where promising nonprofits that strengthen our communities have access to the resources they need to flourish.
Our approach
The Catalyst Fund is a grantmaking program* of Fidelity Charitable, led by our Board of Trustees and separate from Fidelity Charitable’s donor-advised fund program.
While the fund has been supporting the nonprofit sector since 1994, the Catalyst Fund recently shifted its strategy to focus on grantmaking to nonprofit organizations that engage donors with education and community connections and elevate nonprofits so more donors know about their work. When donors and nonprofits partner together, we can empower communities to flourish. Read about the nonprofits that recently received funding in our 2024 Impact Report.
*The Catalyst Fund accepts grant requests by invitation only.
3-part strategic grantmaking focus:
Engaging donors
We grow the intermediaries that help donors craft their approach to philanthropy, learn about our communities, find new nonprofits they can support, and give together.
The goals:
- Connect donors’ values to their giving
- Support donors who are NextGen, women, and/or individuals of color in their giving
- Build donor awareness about credible charitable giving opportunities in our communities
Elevating nonprofits
We invest in programs for nonprofits to build their confidence in fundraising, storytelling, impact measurement, and volunteer engagement.
The goals:
- Position promising nonprofits to get the attention of new donors
- Train nonprofits on how to engage with donors authentically
Field building
We strengthen the ecosystem of organizations that connect donors to nonprofits by funding research and collaboration.
The goals:
- Generate new data that gives the nonprofit sector insights into how to effectively engage donors
- Provide opportunities for intermediaries that work with donors and nonprofits to learn and share best practices
Our impact by the numbers
$95M
Granted since 1994
$14M
Funding 42 grantees in 2023-2024
Hear from our grantees
In this video, five Catalyst Fund grantees from across the country share their perspectives on the vital role local nonprofits play in communities. With the Catalyst Fund’s support, these intermediaries ensure local nonprofits sustainably deliver, innovate, grow their impact, and help communities flourish. (04:56)
Donors often don’t have a personal connection with the promising nonprofits helping those in the community who need the most support. We’re investing in organizations that create trust between donors and nonprofits. We’re funding those bridges.
— Tony Bowen, Executive Director of the Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund, and Catherine D’Amato, Chair of the Catalyst Fund Committee, Fidelity Charitable Board of Trustees
Further reading
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