CASE STUDIES · Incubating the charities of the future

Mission44

Racing car legend empowers young people and disrupts systems

When Sir Lewis Hamilton set out to create a more equitable future for young people, he turned to Prism’s Collective Fund model to bring his vision to life.

Fund type

Collective Fund (now their own charity)

Amount raised/granted

£1,855,989

Years

2021-2024

Background

Mission 44 works with partners to empower young people to succeed by overcoming injustice and improving equality and inclusivity. It does this through funding projects that promote a more inclusive education system, providing opportunities for STEM and motorsport training and helps young people take action on issues affecting them.

The Mission 44 Collective Fund became an independent charity in 2024, a few years after operating under Prism. It was started after Sir Lewis reflected on his own experience of the education system during the rise of the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Problem

Throughout his career, Sir Lewis Hamilton has been a vocal supporter of racial equality and the need to tackle the lack of diversity in motorsport. In 2020, Lewis went public with The Hamilton Commission, a research report he had funded to address Black representation in UK motorsport. Impassioned by global events and inspired by the report’s recommendations, Lewis created Mission 44 with the vision to build a fairer, more inclusive future for young people around the world.

Applying for charitable status and opening related bank accounts take time. To speed up the process Mission 44 operated under Prism’s regulatory framework which allowed them awarding grants straight away. Setting up as a Collective Fund gave them access to the same benefits as being a charity – such as access to Gift Aid – in a much shorter timeframe.

“I’m often asked what I hope my legacy will be. Beyond my achievements on the track, the most important thing for me is to know I played my part in building a fairer, more equitable world – a world in which every young person feels accepted and can chase their dreams.”

–– Lewis Hamilton. Founder of Mission 44

Impact

So far it’s reached over 300,000 young people, granted £6.7million and awarded scholarships to black students – many who’ve gained future employment after taking MSc Motor Sport with Mercedes, AMG and Formula 1 and The Royal Academy of Engineering.

In addition, over 50% of its partner organisations are led by people of colour - they are working to change the system by disrupting it.