Catalytic Capital in Action: How Pooled Recoverable Grants De-Risk Investment for Job Creation

Small and growing businesses (SGBs) are key job creators but often struggle to attract investment due to high perceived risk and lack of early-stage capital. Pooled Recoverable Grants (PRGs)—funded by donor-advised funds (DAFs) and small family foundations—are emerging as a powerful catalytic tool that absorbs early-stage risk, enhances risk-adjusted returns, and unlocks scalable investment for dignified job creation. This session will showcase how PRGs have mobilized capital, created over 50,000 jobs, and de-risked follow-on investment. Investors and funders will explore how structured PRG models can bridge the financing gap, enabling capital flow into high-impact businesses at scale.