‘Prosper’ comes from the Latin ‘prosperare’ meaning ‘cause to succeed’ or ‘render happy’. The Latin is traditionally regarded as coming from Old Latin ‘prospere’ or ‘for hope’. This word, ‘Prosperity’, encapsulates both wealth and wellbeing: the range of ingredients which make for a life well-lived.

Right from the start, we instinctively felt it was at the heart of what we were seeking to achieve as an organisation, but we knew we needed to find a way to measure it. In 2006, together with several Oxford professors, we set out to define the term, and in doing so produced a methodology that would allow global prosperity to be measured, tracked and improved upon.

That original small project has since gone on to become the Legatum Prosperity Index. A global tool led by the Legatum Institute that tracks prosperity based on a series of different pillars across 167 countries. It provides a metrics-led ‘North Star’ for all of us around the world who are working towards the goal of increasing prosperity, and expresses our core belief as an organisation that individually we can all make a difference, and collectively we can help one another to do well.

The projects and initiatives within our portfolio go through three stages: originate, incubate, scale. At any one time, we will be investing our expertise and capital in nurturing a collection of ventures, each at different stages of this journey, that all support our aim of increasing prosperity.

As ventures develop, as the world around us changes, and as new opportunities arise, our portfolio evolves. Here’s how it looks today.

Legatum Capital invests in listed and private businesses with a focus on the consumer, technology and finance sectors.

The Prosperity Institute exists to promote the prosperity of individuals, families, communities and nations.

The END Fund supports efforts that accelerate the elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases.

The Luminos Fund gives children excluded from school due to poverty, conflict or discrimination, a second chance for a mainstream education.

The Freedom Fund is a leader in the global movement to end modern slavery.

Legatum is alive to the ever-changing context of the world we live in. While the beliefs, values and commitment that drive us will remain, the shape of our organisation will continue to evolve.

At its core, Legatum is a community of people with a shared set of principles and values dedicated to the promotion of prosperity. Our future relies on us working in partnership with other organisations and developing new relationships, so we are always looking to meet new people and find ways to collaborate on projects.

We encourage you to get in touch and join us in helping to make an impact and leave a legacy we can all be proud of.