Merton Capital Partners’ direct investment model harnesses the power of philanthropy to leverage the private sector’s scalability to deliver social and environmental outcomes for philanthropists and local communities. We lead philanthropic private equity investments on behalf of philanthropists that have the ability to deploy significant philanthropic capital. In doing so, we can deliver sustainable, measurable, and scalable impact and return the funds over time.  

Merton Capital Partners is a US-based investment firm founded by alumni of large private equity firms (Advent International, KKR and TPG) looking to deploy larger funds for good. We help philanthropists address social and environmental challenges by investing alongside large private sector companies—in partnership with expert, local nonprofits and local governments—to accelerate measurable impact at scale. Our vision is a world where untapped philanthropic capital is maximized and returned over time, and where philanthropists have the option to reinvest it into further projects to attain even more scale. 

Our social and climate challenges are at a crisis point. Yet, trillions of dollars in philanthropic capital sits on the sidelines, never reaching intended beneficiaries or realizing its full potential. Merton Capital Partners works to invest significant philanthropic capital into private sector projects to deliver sustainable impact in areas such affordable housing, clean energy, and ocean health through land-based solutions like wastewater upgrades.

Over the last two years, Merton has designed a new impact financing model that allows for the deployment of large-scale philanthropic capital in partnership with private sector leaders. These leaders in turn implement social impact projects alongside local nonprofits, allowing Merton clients to dramatically accelerate the impact of their philanthropy in the issue areas they care about most. With an ambition to unlock at least one trillion dollars sitting on the sidelines in the

assets of these wealthy individuals, and in their private foundations and donor-advised funds (DAFs), Merton works closely with these individuals, their families, and foundations to design projects that deploy untapped philanthropic capital. These projects deliver scalable social impact in partnership with the private sector and expert nonprofits and return capital back to donors that can be reinvested for further impact. 

Merton Capital Partners brings together an exceptional team with over $50B in assets under management throughout their careers. Leveraging their diverse experience and expertise, Merton Capital Partners offers clients a unique, scale-driven approach to philanthropy that translates into measurable positive change. 

Sean DaviS

Founder & Managing Partner

20+ years of private equity, banking, and nonprofit management with Advent International, JP Morgan, and The Salvation Army. Author of Solving the Giving Pledge Bottleneck.

Alexander More Nisbett

Managing Partner

15+ years marketing experience with Y&R, mcgarrybowen, RUMUR and Percival Valentine.

Anand Tejani: Senior Advisor/Partner

25+ years of private equity and investment banking experience, co-founded TPG’s Real Estate business with over $30B in completed transactions.

Justin Reizes: Senior Advisor/Partner

25+ years of private equity and investment banking experience, co-founded KKR & Co. in Asia with $40B in AUM.

Paige Jernigan: Senior Advisor

30+ years of banking, fundraising, and strategic consulting, Goldman Sachs and Heartland Forward

Rob Boyd: Senior Advisor

25+ years of acquisition and development experience in natural resources and wind power with NextEra and The Cline Group.

barnaby marsh: senior advisor

20+ years of advising families on their philanthropy as cofounder of Saint Partners with over $2 billion in donations.

Bob Kriensky: Senior Advisor

40+ years developing and managing multifamily portfolios across the U.S. - including affordable & conventional housing - utilizing Section 8 and tax credits.

Merton Capital Partners contributes to the thought-leadership at the Merton Philanthropy Institute.