Children's Investment Fund Foundation

What Children's Investment Fund Foundation does

Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) is an independent philanthropic foundation registered as a charity in England and Wales (Company No 04370006, Charity No 1091043) and headquartered in London, with 200+ staff distributed across offices in Nairobi, Addis Ababa, New Delhi, and Beijing. Founded in 2002 by Sir Chris Hohn with an initial endowment from his hedge fund The Children's Investment Fund (TCI), CIFF has grown into one of the world's largest foundations dedicated to improving children's lives, with an endowment of $6.1 billion as of 2025 that is managed by TCI under an inflation-adjusted 6% return target.

CIFF operates as an endowment-funded grant-maker rather than a commercial enterprise. Its "products" are thematic and regional grant programmes organised around three interlinked global opportunities: health and nutrition (maternal/newborn health, neglected tropical diseases, HIV/TB, nutrition), climate action (clean technology deployment, energy transition, air quality), and women and girls (sexual and reproductive health, ending child marriage, girls' education, economic empowerment). These are delivered through regional portfolios spanning Africa, India, China, Europe, and East & South East Asia. In 2024, CIFF approved $923 million in charitable commitments and disbursed $631 million in grants to governments, multilaterals (UNICEF, Global Fund, World Bank), NGOs (Save the Children, Action Against Hunger, Sightsavers, MSI Reproductive Choices, Food4Education), and private-sector partners.

The business model is philanthropic by design: CIFF does not sell products or services and has no commercial pricing model. Revenue is structurally the endowment yield plus restricted gifts from Sir Chris Hohn and TCI. Distribution is partnership-led, with co-designed programmes anchored in government priorities — exemplified by the South Africa lenacapavir rollout, the Government of Rajasthan's first multi-year partnership (2015), and the One Childhood, One Chance Alliance. A small commercial investment in David Lloyd Leisure via the TDR Capital Titan fund signals a nascent expansion of CIFF's investment toolkit beyond traditional grant-making.

Name

Children's Investment Fund Foundation

Legal name

Children's Investment Fund Foundation (UK)

Website

https://ciff.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Children's Investment Fund Foundation is an independent London-based philanthropic foundation with a $6.1 billion endowment that funds health, nutrition, climate, and women and girls programmes globally through grants to governments and partners across offices in Africa, India, and China.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation and Philanthropic Grant-Making

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure) (FSAAALAG), STEM, Digital Skills & Innovation Partnerships (EDADALAJ)

Keywords

• Philanthropic grant-making
• Children's health programs
• Climate change mitigation
• Women's empowerment programs
• Sexual reproductive health

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Endowment-based philanthropy: CIFF is funded by an endowment originally gifted by Sir Chris Hohn from his hedge fund The Children's Investment Fund (TCI). The endowment is managed by TCI. Approved CIFF programmes are funded from the endowment and restricted gifts from Sir Chris and TCI. CIFF makes charitable grants and investments to partners rather than generating revenue from products or services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CIFF is an independent philanthropic foundation that makes charitable grants and impact investments to improve the lives of children globally. Its offerings are organized into three global opportunity areas—Health & Nutrition, Climate Action, and Women & Girls—and delivered through thematic and regional programs in Africa, India, China, Europe, and East & South East Asia, in partnership with governments, multilaterals, NGOs, academics, and the private sector.

Product overview

CIFF is an independent philanthropy organization (not a software product company) that makes charitable grants to improve children's lives globally. The organization operates as a unified grant-making foundation with programs organized around three global opportunities: health & nutrition, climate action, and women & girls. Programs are implemented across five regional offices (Africa, India, China, Europe, East & South East Asia) through partnerships with governments, NGOs, multilaterals, and the private sector. CIFF's 'products' are its thematic and regional grant programs rather than commercial software offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Health & Nutrition Programs Grant-making programmes that fund governments, NGOs, and multilaterals to improve child health and nutrition outcomes globally, including maternal and newborn health, NTD elimination, HIV prevention and treatment, and treatment and prevention of malnutrition.
• Climate Action Programs Grant-making initiatives that fund clean technology deployment, energy transition, air quality improvement, and climate resilience in developing regions across Africa, China, India, Europe, and East & South East Asia.
• Women & Girls Programs Grant-making portfolio promoting opportunity and choice for women and girls through sexual and reproductive health rights, ending child marriage, girls' secondary education, and women's economic empowerment programmes.
• Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Global grant-making programme supporting HIV prevention and treatment, sustainable family planning access, contraceptive product innovation, and scale-up of effective SRHR interventions through country and global partnerships.
• Africa Regional Programs Regional grant-making portfolio across Africa covering nutrition, neglected tropical diseases, maternal and newborn health, ending violence against children, clean growth, and water, sanitation and hygiene programmes.
• India Regional Programs Regional programme portfolio in India supporting the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision through women's economic empowerment, ending child marriage, reducing low birthweight, and clean growth partnerships with national and state governments.
• China Climate Programs Exclusive climate-focused grant programmes in China supporting the green and low-carbon transition through energy transition and air quality improvement initiatives.
• Europe Climate Programs Regional grant programmes in Europe supporting the transition to a greener society through energy transition and European climate leadership initiatives.
• East & South East Asia Programs Regional grant portfolio supporting climate action and health and nutrition initiatives in East and South East Asia, with focus on energy transition and nutrition access.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1 invested in nutrition has up to $35 benefit to the economy
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Government of South AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Led national rollout of lenacapavir for HIV prevention, with President Cyril Ramaphosa presiding over launch event. Represents country leadership in HIV response.
• The Global FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Key partner in South Africa's lenacapavir rollout and HIV prevention efforts. CIFF has made historic private sector commitments to the Global Fund's replenishment.
• One Childhood, One Chance AllianceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026A multi-donor and multi-implementor coalition including CIFF, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), UNICEF, Save the Children, Action Against Hunger, ALIMA, and The ELMA Relief Foundation. Committed over $500 million to provide life-saving humanitarian nutrition for at least 5 million children in crisis-hit settings. CIFF contributed $100 million catalyzing commitment, with focus on Africa, Asia and Middle East.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026UNICEF is a key implementation partner for CIFF's humanitarian nutrition work and child health programmes. Partners in One Childhood, One Chance Alliance and Edge of Life campaign for childhood hunger.
• Save the ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Implementation partner for humanitarian nutrition and child protection programmes. Part of One Childhood, One Chance Alliance and Edge of Life campaign.
• Action Against HungercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Implementation partner for nutrition programmes in humanitarian settings. Member of One Childhood, One Chance Alliance.
• ALIMAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Medical humanitarian organization implementing nutrition services in crisis settings as part of One Childhood, One Chance Alliance.
• The ELMA Relief FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Philanthropic partner in One Childhood, One Chance Alliance contributing to humanitarian nutrition funding.
• Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Partner in Child Nutrition Fund supporting maternal and child nutrition. Commitment through Nutrition for Growth Summit MMS Joint Challenge.
• Eleanor Crook FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Partner in MMS Joint Challenge Commitment Statement for prenatal multivitamin scaling.
• Kirk HumanitarianminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Partner in MMS Joint Challenge Commitment Statement for prenatal multivitamin scaling.
• UK GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026Co-host of Global Partnerships Conference 2026 in London. CIFF partnered with UK and South Africa to bring together stakeholders to reimagine development cooperation.
• British International InvestmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026Co-host of Global Partnerships Conference 2026 alongside UK, South Africa, and CIFF to promote new models of international development cooperation.
• World BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2026Launched Water Forward initiative to provide an additional one billion people with sustainable access to safe water by 2030. CIFF and WaterAid supporting as partners.
• WaterAidcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2026Partner in World Bank's Water Forward initiative for global water access.
• Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2026Partnership for Edge of Life campaign to rescue five million children from hunger globally. Campaign raised over AED2.8 billion. MBRGI is a UAE-based humanitarian initiative.
• Edge of Life Campaign PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2026Campaign operating under MBRGI in partnership with UNICEF, Save the Children, CIFF, and Action Against Hunger. Target of rescuing five million children from hunger globally with minimum Dh1 billion fundraising goal.
• AVACminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2025Global health advocacy organization. CIFF announced termination of grants to US-based NGOs amid legal uncertainty around foreign philanthropy, affecting organizations including AVAC.
• David Lloyd LeisurecoreOthers · 8 September 2025Health and fitness club chain valued at approximately £2 billion. CIFF is an investor through TDR Capital Titan fund, with over £100 million allocated for growth initiatives.
• AUDA-NEPADcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2025Partner in Africa Water Investment Summit co-hosted with UAE and Senegal ahead of 2026 UN Water Conference. CIFF part of partnership addressing Africa's water financing gap.
• Global Water Partnership (GWP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2025Partner in Africa Water Investment Summit addressing water financing and climate-resilient water infrastructure.
• GCFCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2025Partner in Africa Water Investment Summit addressing Africa's water financing gap.
• SightsaverscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for neglected tropical diseases elimination programmes, including trachoma through the Accelerate Programme.
• Food4EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for school feeding programmes in Kenya, providing nutritious meals to children and supporting education outcomes.
• Speak Up AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for neglected tropical disease programmes and public health advocacy in Africa.
• MSI Reproductive ChoicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementation partner delivering contraception, safe abortion, and post-abortion care services across 37 countries.
• CAMFEDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for girls' education and women's economic empowerment through the CAMFED Association of Women Leaders.
• British Asian TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead organization for Skill Impact Bond in India, world's largest impact bond on skilling, driving employment outcomes for women.
• IPE GlobalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementation partner for girls' education programmes in India.
• Incepta PharmaceuticalscoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer of the first generic 3-monthly self-injectable contraceptive (DMPA-SC), receiving WHO prequalification.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ciffchild
• Facebookfacebook.com/ciffglobal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/511273

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Children's Investment Fund Foundation