Introduction
In 2025, Halma plc, a FTSE 100 global group of life-saving technology companies, launched Impact the Future Fund. Halma partnered with the Charities Aid Foundation’s (CAF) Impact Accelerator to design a philanthropic approach rooted in its corporate purpose and reflecting its unique decentralised model.
The objectives
Halma has 50 companies in its group, each one empowered and supported to make decisions close to their customers and the communities in which they operate. Halma wanted to design the Fund in a way that leveraged this decentralised approach while also reinforcing its global purpose.
Its first goal was to develop a Community Investment Philosophy — a clear framework for purposeful giving that draws on the expertise of social purpose organisations, and emphasises systemic, long-term impact and meaningful employee participation.
CAF then worked with Halma to develop a bespoke theory of change and practical impact tools, that could give its companies accessible ways to understand, measure, and shape impact in line with Halma’s purpose.
Our support
Guided by the theory of change, CAF helped Halma to build its fund around two pillars:
- Flexible, high-impact grantmaking
Social purpose organisations, nominated by employees from each Halma company, could apply for core cost or project funding of between £10,000 and £30,000, enabling them to pursue their missions in the most effective way.
- Meaningful partnerships
Halma’s companies were encouraged to go beyond funding by offering impactful volunteering opportunities, skills, technology, and additional matched contributions, amplifying the value of each grant.
The programme was intentionally employee-led. Champions from across Halma’s companies nominated social purpose organisations, raised awareness, and fostered engagement, while CAF managed screening, applications and assessments through its grantmaking platform to ensure transparency.
A global selection committee of 18 employees, chaired by Halma’s Chief Financial Officer, reviewed the applications. Employees from multiple Halma companies volunteered to participate and were then interviewed and selected by Halma’s senior management to serve on the committee, ensuring broad representation across diverse geographies and levels of the business. CAF facilitated the process with impact-led criteria, reviewing materials, and training, giving employees confidence in their decision-making roles.
This structure ensured representatives from across Halma companies were active partners in shaping the Fund’s decision-making, reflecting the employee-led approach of the Fund as a whole.
The impact
In 2025, the Fund’s inaugural year, champions representing the vast majority of Halma’s companies nominated 91 highly relevant social purpose organisations for the Fund. Following a fair and transparent selection process, 19 of these organisations were awarded grants. They are based across India, China, the US, Canada, and Europe, reflecting Halma’s global footprint and its commitment to supporting the communities where its companies and its people live and work.
The funded projects address a wide range of urgent issues, from public health and community safety to environmental sustainability. This diversity reflects Halma’s inclusive, locally responsive approach while staying anchored in its purpose.
Marc Ronchetti, Halma’s Group Chief Executive, reflected on the Fund’s launch, “Impact the Future Fund builds on the incredible work our companies are already doing in communities around the world. It will amplify their impact — helping them go further by developing purpose-driven partnerships with local non-profits to tackle urgent challenges we all care about, from protecting the vulnerable to improving health outcomes.
These partnerships will help to create meaningful, sustainable change and I’m excited to see what they can accomplish together. I would like to extend my thanks to the team and committee whose dedication and commitment made the launch of Impact the Future Fund possible.”
Looking ahead
Impact the Future Fund is more than a corporate grant programme. It is an employee-driven, purpose-led platform for sustainable change, designed to connect each of Halma’s 50 global businesses with the communities they serve.
As it grows, Halma will refine impact measurement and build on lessons learned. The initiative demonstrates how businesses can align philanthropy with purpose, engage employees meaningfully, and create a ripple effect of positive impact across the world.
Its first year proves what is possible when purpose, people, and partnerships come together — a model for other corporates seeking to amplify impact worldwide.
Project takeaways
The first year of the Impact the Future Fund offers valuable insights for companies seeking to align philanthropy with purpose:
Ambitious and values-driven
A one-size-fits-all approach rarely works for global businesses. The Fund was tailored to Halma’s unique structure and culture.
Employee-led by design
Embedding employees in every stage — from nominations, to grant selection, to evaluation and development of the fund — fosters genuine engagement and ownership.
Partnerships, not just grants
Combining flexible funding with skills, technology, and impactful volunteering opportunities deepens the value of support for social purpose organisations.