Virgin Unite

Name

Virgin Unite

Legal name

The Virgin Foundation (operating as Virgin Unite)

Website

https://unite.virgin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-Profit Foundation and Social Impact Initiatives

NAICS

Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI)

Keywords

• Nonprofit foundation
• Social impact initiatives
• Philanthropic convening
• Charitable incubation
• Collaborative giving

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Virgin Unite generates revenue through donations from individuals, corporations, and philanthropists. The organization emphasizes that 100% of all donations received go directly to initiatives, as all overheads are covered by Richard Branson and the Virgin Group.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Virgin Unite is the independent non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group that unites people and entrepreneurial ideas to create opportunities for a better world. It convenes purposeful communities of entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and inspirational leaders, incubates charitable initiatives across climate, human rights, criminal justice, and youth empowerment, and channels 100% of donations to the initiatives it creates and supports since all overheads are covered by Richard Branson and the Virgin Group.

Product overview

Virgin Unite is the independent non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group, uniting people and entrepreneurial ideas to create opportunities for a better world. It is not a single product but rather an umbrella organization managing a portfolio of charitable initiatives and programs. The portfolio includes: 100% Human at Work (future of work initiative), Big Change (youth education trust), The Elders (peace and human rights), The B Team (responsible business), Galactic Unite (STEM education), Planetary Guardians (environmental science), Criminal Justice Reform, LGBTQ+ Rights, Founders Unite (minority entrepreneur support), Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator, RMI (clean energy), Eve Branson Foundation, Pride n Purpose, Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship Caribbean, Virgin StartUp, The Audacious Project, The NewNow, and Unite BVI. All overheads are covered by Richard Branson and the Virgin Group, meaning 100% of donations go directly to initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 100% Human at Work: A charitable initiative incubated by The B Team and Virgin Unite to catalyse a future of work that serves both humanity and the planet, bringing together over 600 organisations from around the world.
• Founders Unite
• Galactic Unite
• Local Legends

Products and services

• 100% Human at Work A charitable initiative incubated by The B Team and Virgin Unite to catalyse a future of work that serves both humanity and the planet. It has brought together a network of more than 600 organisations shaping a vision for a better future of work.
• Big Change A charitable trust that connects and supports organisations that create positive change for young people, building a community of changemakers and raising money to accelerate impact of the best projects.
• The Elders A group of independent global leaders working together for peace and human rights, incubated by Virgin Unite and founded in 2007 with Nelson Mandela's support.
• The B Team A global collective of business and civil society leaders driving a better way of doing business for people and the planet, co-founded by Richard Branson.
• Galactic Unite Virgin Galactic's outreach initiative providing STEM scholarships and mentoring to students worldwide, inspired by Future Astronauts.
• Planetary Guardians An independent collective elevating the science to make the Planetary Boundaries a measurement and operating framework for restoring a healthy partnership with the planet.
• Criminal Justice Reform Initiative focused on reforming the US criminal legal system, including ending the death penalty and promoting fair chance hiring.
• Founders Unite An award recognising and supporting individuals and organisations breaking down barriers for Black and Asian entrepreneurs from minority ethnic communities.
• Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator An engine that catalyses and accelerates initiatives building toward a Climate-Smart Zone, delivering resilience, social development, and broad-based economic growth for the Caribbean.
• RMI A US-based NGO dedicated to transforming global energy use to create a clean and prosperous low-carbon future, which merged with Carbon War Room in 2014.
• Eve Branson Foundation A foundation improving the lives of women and young girls in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains through artisanal training, environment, healthcare and education initiatives.
• Pride n Purpose A not-for-profit focused on improving access to food, water, health services, and education for disadvantaged communities adjacent to the Sabi Sand Reserve in South Africa.
• Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship Caribbean A not-for-profit based in Kingston, Jamaica offering acceleration for growth-stage entrepreneurs through training, mentorship, and investment preparation.
• Virgin StartUp The not-for-profit Virgin company for entrepreneurs providing government-backed Start Up Loans and one-to-one business advice in England or Scotland.
• Unite BVI A not-for-profit foundation based in the British Virgin Islands supporting entrepreneurs, environmental conservation, and community development.
• The Audacious Project A collaborative funding initiative catalysing social impact on a grand scale, housed at TED, that selects and nurtures bold solutions to urgent challenges.
• The NewNow A community of extraordinary rising leaders bound together by common purpose to accelerate each other's work and inspire young changemakers.
• Donation Program A donation program allowing donors to contribute to specific Virgin Unite charitable entities (The Virgin Foundation/Virgin Unite UK, Virgin Unite USA, Virgin Unite Canada, or Virgin Unite Australia) with 100% of donations directed to initiatives as overheads are covered by Richard Branson and the Virgin Group.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of donations go directly to initiatives (overheads covered by Branson/Virgin Group)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The ElderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIncubated by Virgin Unite ahead of its launch in 2007. A group of independent global leaders working together for peace and human rights, formed after Richard Branson and Peter Gabriel took the idea to Nelson Mandela. Mary Robinson currently chairs the group.
• The B TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz in 2013 following Virgin Unite-hosted workshops and incubation period. A global collective of business and civil society leaders driving a better way of doing business for people and planet.
• RMI (formerly including Carbon War Room)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarbon War Room was founded by Richard Branson in 2009 and successfully merged with RMI in 2014. RMI is a US-based NGO dedicated to transforming global energy use to create a clean and prosperous low-carbon future.
• Ocean Unite (now ORRAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcean Unite was launched in 2015 to unify and mobilise impactful voices to drive positive Ocean conservation action. Merged into Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance in 2021.
• Caribbean Climate-Smart AcceleratorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched in 2018 with 28 Caribbean Governments and over 40 global organisations. Virgin Unite and Richard Branson worked alongside Caribbean government leaders to form the coalition aiming to create the world's first climate-smart zone.
• 100% Human at WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA charitable initiative incubated by The B Team and Virgin Unite in 2015 to catalyse a future of work that serves both humanity and the planet. Network of 600+ organisations shaping future of work with values including respect, equality, growth, belonging and purpose.
• Big ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable trust founded in 2012 connecting and supporting organisations that create positive change for young people. Virgin Unite covers all Big Change's overheads so 100% of donations go to projects.
• Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship CaribbeancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with Virgin Atlantic Holidays opened in 2011 in Kingston, Jamaica. Offers acceleration for growth-stage entrepreneurs. Virgin Unite remains a major funder supporting training and mentoring programmes.
• Virgin GalacticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between Virgin Galactic and Future Astronaut customers to create Galactic Unite - an outreach initiative providing STEM scholarships and mentoring to students worldwide, harnessing the power of space to inspire education.
• TED / The Audacious ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirgin Unite is a key partner in The Audacious Project, a collaborative funding initiative housed at TED that selects and nurtures bold solutions to world challenges. Projects are publicly unveiled at TED conferences.
• Virgin Limited EditioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirgin Limited Edition co-founded Unite BVI in 2016 and works closely with Eve Branson Foundation at Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco. Partnership focuses on community enrichment and environmental conservation.
• Virgin StartUpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Richard Branson in 2013 following a pilot between Virgin Unite, Virgin Money, The Northern Rock Foundation and Project North East. Virgin Unite supports Virgin StartUp's mentoring programme providing government-backed Start Up Loans and business advice.
• The NewNowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched in 2018 by Virgin Unite and visionary investors to build a community of extraordinary rising leaders. Relaunched in 2024 in partnership with One Young World with a scholarship cohort of ten emerging leaders from the Global South.
• Planetary GuardianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched in 2023 with partners - an independent collective elevating the science to make the Planetary Boundaries a measurement and operating framework for the world. Released first annual Planetary Health Check warning that six of nine planetary boundaries have been breached.
• Virgin AtlanticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing strategic partnership including relief flights during COVID-19 delivering 1.4 million tonnes of medical equipment and PPE, disaster relief operations, and joint initiatives including Pride Flight in 2019.
• Virgin OrbitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuring COVID-19, collaborated to develop ventilators and oxygen helmets distributed to health facilities across Africa. Partnership also includes fair chance hiring through Ladies of Hope Ministries fellowship.
• Open For BusinessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Freedom to Love campaign and Caribbean local Influencer Program to advance LGBTQ+ inclusion and rights in the Caribbean region.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rockefeller Foundation: Historic major foundation that convenes multi-stakeholder initiatives (e.g., climate, food systems, health). Comparable convening function but operates at a vastly larger scale than Virgin Unite.
• Clinton Foundation: Founder-led major foundation associated with a high-profile individual. Comparable in leveraging a famous founder's brand and convening power for global initiatives, though broader in scope and much larger in scale.
• Open Society Foundations: George Soros's global foundation supporting human rights, justice, and democratic governance. Comparable as a founder-backed philanthropic institution operating across geographies and multiple cause areas.
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Founder-led mega-foundation supporting global health, education, and poverty. Comparable in operating as a founder-backed philanthropic institution, though vastly larger in scale and more focused on direct grantmaking.

Direct peers

• Ashoka: Global organization supporting leading social entrepreneurs ('Ashoka Fellows'). Highly comparable network-based model for advancing social innovation, similar to Virgin Unite's entrepreneur-convening approach.
• Skoll Foundation: Founder-led philanthropic foundation focused on social entrepreneurship and scaling impact-driven solutions. Highly comparable to Virgin Unite's portfolio approach of incubating social enterprises and supporting social entrepreneurs.
• Omidyar Network: Founder-led philanthropic venture established by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar. Shares Virgin Unite's approach of combining philanthropic capital with entrepreneurial methods to drive social impact at scale.
• Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship: Stiftung/Foundation co-founded by Klaus Schwab to advance social entrepreneurship globally. Directly comparable model of convening social entrepreneurs and supporting systems-change initiatives.
• Emerson Collective: Laurene Powell Jobs' philanthropic organization combining grantmaking, impact investing, and advocacy. Comparable as a founder-led entity that takes an entrepreneurial approach to philanthropy across multiple causes.

Emerging players

• TED / The Audacious Project: Collaborative funding initiative housed at TED that selects and nurtures bold solutions to global challenges. Virgin Unite is a key partner in The Audacious Project, and the operating model of pooled philanthropic capital for catalytic initiatives is directly comparable.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/virginunite
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/virginunite
• Facebookfacebook.com/VirginUnite
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/virgin-unite
• Instagraminstagram.com/virginunite

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Virgin Unite