London Business School launches £5m Catalyst Fund to advance responsible business leadership

London Business School has announced the LBS Catalyst Fund, a £5m philanthropic investment designed to accelerate the School’s leadership in responsible business, policy-relevant research and future-focused management education.

Established through a generous gift from longtime friends of the School, the LBS Catalyst Fund marks a significant milestone in the School’s ambitions to shape how business responds to some of the most consequential challenges of our time – ranging from climate and environmental disruption to inequality, technological transformation and the ethical stewardship of emerging technologies like AI.

Over five years, the LBS Catalyst Fund will support the development of ideas, evidence and educational innovation that influence how organisations create value responsibly, with sustained impact across teaching, research and public policy.

A catalytic investment in ideas that matter

The LBS Catalyst Fund is deliberately designed as an expendable, flexible fund, allowing the School to move decisively and invest where impact can be greatest. It will support a range of initiatives aligned to the Fund’s objectives, with a particular focus on curriculum development and teaching, academic research, and activities that translate insight into real-world influence.

At its core, the Fund is about equipping current and future leaders with the judgement, perspective and tools needed to navigate an increasingly complex business environment – one in which long‑term value creation must account for social, environmental and technological consequences alongside financial performance.

These areas of work represent a priority for the School and the wider business community. The launch of the LBS Catalyst Fund signals a clear commitment to advancing rigorous thinking and practical insight that can shape organisational decision‑making, capital allocation and policy debates for years to come.

Designed to spark momentum

The LBS Catalyst Fund will ignite bold ideas, build robust evidence and demonstrate the transformative potential of responsible business leadership on society. It is just the start of a collective movement for change, inspiring responsible business teaching and practice across all corners of LBS, from classrooms to alumni ventures.

It is envisaged that this leadership gift will create momentum in the community and have a wider ripple effect beyond the School as it launches groundbreaking case studies, thought leadership and new entrepreneurial, responsible businesses. In turn, the fund will mobilise alumni, donors and partners to amplify its impact and ensure the long-term success of this critically important initiative.

Commenting on the gift announcement, Sergei Guriev, Dean said:

“The LBS Catalyst Fund represents a defining step in our commitment to shaping the future of business in service of society. This gift enables us to deepen and accelerate work that sits at the heart of our mission - advancing rigorous ideas, evidence and education that help leaders create long‑term value. Just as importantly, it invites others who share this ambition to join us in leaving a lasting mark.”

Highlighting the significance of the Fund for academic innovation and long-term impact, Gary Dushnitsky, Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship and Deputy Dean (Degree Education and Digital Learning), commented:

“The LBS Catalyst Fund creates valuable space for experimentation and innovation in both research and teaching. Its explicit focus on long-term impact will allow us to develop and test ideas that influence not only management practice, but also policy and broader societal outcomes.”

Reflecting on the role of philanthropy in enabling the School’s ambitions, Emily Robin, Associate Dean, Advancement, said:

“The LBS Catalyst Fund is a powerful expression of what purposeful philanthropy can achieve. Designed to spark momentum where it matters most, it transforms aspiration into action - and stands as an open invitation for others to help build the future of business alongside us.”

Working in partnership with others, London Business School is accelerating work that will define the next era of business leadership and is inviting others to join in shaping the impact business has on the world.