Impact UK: Transforming futures
We interviewed Ric Lewis as part of Impact UK: The sizing and the story of the impact economy.
Through the Black Heart Foundation, Ric Lewis is giving outstanding young people of all backgrounds the opportunity to pursue their educational ambitions.
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At 6’10, British-American businessman Ric Lewis is larger than life. He played college basketball against Michael Jordan, ranked number one in the Powerlist of Black Britons, and was recently appointed Chair of the Crown Estate. None of this would have happened, however, were it not for one, sliding-doors moment.
Born to a lower-middle-class family in Massachusetts, Lewis was a top student applying to colleges beneath his possibilities. A chance encounter with the city’s head of student guidance shifted that course, and Lewis attended Ivy League college Dartmouth.
The founding partner of Tristan Capital Partners acknowledges this educational intervention as life changing and has spent the last 25 years paying it forward through the Black Heart Foundation, culminating in the Black Heart Scholars Programme, which helps an ever-growing group of young people achieve their educational ambitions.
‘That student counsellor changed the slope and vector of my life,’ he explains. ‘That’s what I’ve been trying to do with my foundation, recreate that moment for others.’
The Spark
I was the product of a village upbringing. My family was the centre of our extended family, always bringing people together. Both my parents were generous, kind, and inviting. That shaped who I became.
When I was about ten, my grandmother told me, ‘I’ve done a lot to get you all here. Now it’s your turn, go build a village we’ll be proud of.’ She was telling me I have a responsibility to the collective.
There were a couple of seminal moments that changed what I call my ‘aspiration bubble’. One was when a guidance counsellor realised I was applying to universities beneath my potential. He literally got a permission slip, took me to a college fair, and walked me table to table.
The Choice
When I moved to the UK, I got involved with groups like the King’s Trust (formerly the Prince’s Trust) and Teach First. Over time, I realised I could organise my giving more effectively. I learned all you need is a bit of legal work and structure, that’s how I set up the Black Heart Foundation 25 years ago. Then in 2013, we developed the Black Heart Scholars Programme. I thought we’d pick three scholars a year to cover the gap between what they had and what it cost to study.
Since those three scholars, the Black Heart Scholars Programme has grown to 860 across 160 institutions. Now we get 6,000 applications a year and fund between 50 and 200 scholars annually.
During Covid, Stormzy put in £500,000, and still wears the Black Heart cap. Currently, we have partners like Lloyd’s of London as well as a prolific artist who co-funds art scholarships.
When I was about ten, my grandmother told me, ‘I’ve done a lot to get you all here. Now it’s your turn, go build a village we’ll be proud of.’ She was telling me I have a responsibility to the collective.
The Impact
From those 860 scholars, we’ve seen people become doctors, lawyers, teachers, and performers, working in the Ministry of Education, on stage in the West End, in the opera, and in business.
One young man came through Eastside Young Leaders Academy, became a Black Heart Scholar, and is now Chair of that very academy.
The Future
Honestly, it’s more of the same. There’s a need, and what we’re doing works. So, we’re going to keep doing it, funding scholarships, growing the Black Heart Scholars Programme. By 2026, we’ll have reached 1,000 scholars. The real question is how we take it from 1,000 to 10,000. What we need now is more partners like Lloyd’s of London and the artist who co-funds art scholarships.
Emotional ROI
The psychological uplift is amazing. You realise you’re literally changing the slope of someone’s life. I feel like I’m Black Santa.
Giving Forward
One of the lessons I’ve learned when it comes to funding is focus. It’s difficult because a great idea comes in and your team asks, ‘Are we sure we don’t want to fund this?’ I have to be the Grinch or Lord Vader and say, no, we’ve got to stay focused. The ripple effect is real. When one student is funded, their family, school, and community all see it’s possible. The belief spreads.
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