07:00, 11 April 2025
Words by Abi Scaife, Staff Writer, London
Investment seems to be the buzzword at the moment. Everyone is investing in something, creating a portfolio, diversifying - and no one understands that quite as much as Christopher Hohn.
A well-known British hedge fund manager, Christopher Hohn is also one of the most prolific philanthropists in the UK; one we could all learn something from.
His hedge fund management firm, The Children’s Investment (TCI) Fund, is the second largest in the UK, and its connected charity, The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) was one of the best examples of venture philanthropy.
From TCI Fund’s founding in 2003, until changes to the business occurred in 2012, CIFF would receive a portion of the hedge fund’s profits, alongside other donations. With this Hohn’s aim was to bring some of the benefits of the private sector to the world of charity, making it easier than ever for investors to give back - a process sometimes called ‘philanthrocapitalism’.
Today, through donations rather than the original profit structure, much of CIFF’s money still comes from TCI Fund, and is used to support vulnerable children in developing countries. Supporting families right from conception, CIFF is helping to teach children about reproductive health, how to avoid HIV/AIDS, eliminate death from severe malnutrition, and so much more.
One of their other focuses is on fostering an environment where child labour is not necessary or present; creating conditions where kids can just be kids.
Hohn is also a huge supporter of climate action and regularly puts his money where his mouth is - having made more than one large donation to charities like Extinction Rebellion to help with their work.
Through TCI fund, Hohn launched the ‘Say on climate’ initiative, calling on companies to be upfront and honest about their greenhouse gas emissions and how they are being managed. The initiative also encouraged companies to give their investors an advisory vote on the issue. Companies like Unilever and CN have implemented this initiative, based on Hohn’s encouragement.
Christopher Hohn is a great example of how you can use profit to make a positive impact on the world - especially through charities, which so desperately need donors with the means to make a difference.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
The Fore. This charity is transforming lives and society by turbo-charging exceptional small charities and social enterprises. Support them here.
The Brother’s Trust. This charity is run by Tom Holland’s family, aiming to shine a light on charities where generous donations can be used to maximum effect. Find out more.
The Henry Smith Charity. This is a grant giving charity that aims to use its resources to help people and communities in the UK. Learn more here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG No Poverty, Climate Action and Partnerships for the Goals.
