Comparison · 14 material differences
Forward Global vs TIGER 21
This comparison was generated on request from the records. It carries no editorial verdict and is not indexed. The published comparisons are listed on the compare page.
Read down each column for one organization, across a row for the difference. A bronze mark at the left of a cell means the organizations differ on that row. A dash or “not published” means the organization does not disclose the fact; it is not a zero.
Verified September 2026
Philanthropic network
Verified September 2026 Forward Global
Individual and family wealth holders who are actively deploying significant private capital philanthropically and want structured education in how to do it
Peer advisory
TIGER 21
Ultra-high-net-worth entrepreneurs, investors and executives with at least US$20 million in investable assets, many of them post-exit.
What the records say
- Minimum investable assets: Forward Global: No published minimum investable assets; TIGER 21: At least US$20,000,000 in verifiable investable assets or qualifying net worth.
- Annual dues: Forward Global: Not publicly disclosed: no membership dues figure appears on the homepage, membership pages or programme pages.; TIGER 21: $34,000 a year.
Side by side
| Forward Global | TIGER 21 | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | ||
| Type | Philanthropic network | Peer advisory |
| Founded | 1995 (Established in 1995 by the Rockefeller Foundation as The Philanthropy Workshop, based in New York.) | 1999 (Founded by Michael W. Sonnenfeldt with a single group of six entrepreneurs in New York City who had recently sold their businesses. The name is widely reported to stand for The Investment Group for Enhanced Returns in the 21st Century, which TIGER 21 does not state on the pages reviewed. Headquarters city reported by secondary sources; TIGER 21 does not state it on its about page.) |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | New York, United States |
| Geographic footprint | Offices in London (Somerset House), New York and Vancouver; members and programming worldwide, with the 2027 Global Summit scheduled for Amsterdam | 162 groups across 54 cities worldwide, including North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania, plus virtual groups |
| Members | 300as of September 2026 | 1,900as of September 2026 |
| Chapters | No chapters; regional gatherings rather than standing local branches. | 162 |
| Primary audience | Individual and family wealth holders who are actively deploying significant private capital philanthropically and want structured education in how to do it | Ultra-high-net-worth entrepreneurs, investors and executives with at least US$20 million in investable assets, many of them post-exit. |
| Typical member | Members are described by the organisation as "individual and family wealth holders who deploy their resources to build a world where all people and the planet can thrive". The membership of roughly 300 collectively deploys about $1 billion a year, implying an average well into the millions per member, though the organisation publishes no wealth or giving threshold. | Members are wealth creators rather than salaried executives: current and former entrepreneurs, investment managers and senior executives, typically after a liquidity event, whose central problem has shifted from building a business to preserving and allocating capital. |
| Qualification | ||
| Minimum investable assets | No published minimum investable assets | At least US$20,000,000 in verifiable investable assets or qualifying net worthExcludes personal-use assets. TIGER 21 states that meeting the minimum "does not guarantee admittance".verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Invitation required | Yes | No |
| Sponsor required | Not documented | Not documented |
| Application process | Membership is by invitation. Interested wealth holders may complete an online application form to open a conversation about membership; the organisation does not publish what happens next, who reviews applications or how long the process takes. Accepted members begin with the Essentials course before moving through the certification pathway. | Candidates submit an inquiry and are assessed by a Membership Development Director against the 5Cs. Vetting includes extensive background checks and interviews, and TIGER 21 states the process typically takes about two months. Meeting the capital minimum is explicitly not sufficient on its own. |
| Selectivity | Not publicly disclosed: Forward Global states only that membership is by invitation only, with no acceptance rate, criteria or review process published. | TIGER 21 states that meeting the US$20 million minimum "does not guarantee admittance" and that other qualitative requirements apply at its discretion. No acceptance rate is published. |
| Cost | ||
| Annual dues | Not publicly disclosed: no membership dues figure appears on the homepage, membership pages or programme pages.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | $34,000 a yearNorth America. TIGER 21 states dues vary by location and that annual dues cover all costs of the eleven regularly scheduled monthly meetings.verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Initiation fee | Not publicly disclosedverified September 2026 | $5,000 one-timeOne-time initiation fee stated in TIGER 21's membership FAQ.verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Programme fee | Not publicly disclosed: fees for Essentials, Studios, Global Journeys, the Global Summit and Action Planning are not published.verified September 2026 · source ↗ | Dues vary by location; the published figures are for North America. |
| Membership term | Not documented | Annual dues covering eleven scheduled monthly meetings; TIGER 21 does not publish a minimum term |
| Structure | ||
| Meeting frequency | Weekly virtual breakfast clubs, regional gatherings, remote education through the year, plus an annual Global Summit; the 2027 Global Summit is scheduled for Amsterdam, 11–13 March | Monthly group meetings, eleven times a year, with the calendar set up to a year in advance |
| Peer forums | Action Labs organised by issue (climate, artificial intelligence, democracy, mental health and wealth transition) alongside Studios (topic deep-dives) and Global Journeys (place-based immersive learning). No standing confidential peer-forum structure is published. | Groups start with five founding members and grow selectively to a maximum of fifteen; members meet as a peer group with a moderating Chair. |
| Confidentiality | Not publicly disclosed | Confidentiality is one of the four Conditions members must accept, alongside non-solicitation, participation and transparency. |
| Time commitment | Not documented | Eleven monthly meetings a year plus an annual Portfolio Defense presentation |
| Organized as | Cohort-based, Event-focused, Virtual | Forum-based, Event-focused, Virtual |
| Confidential peer forums | Yes | Yes |
| Local chapters | No | Yes |
| Virtual membership | Yes | Partial |
| Online community | Yes | Yes |
| Member directory | Yes | Yes |
| Events | Yes | Yes |
| Programming | ||
| Educational programming | Yes | Yes |
| Leadership development | Yes | Partial |
| Retreats | Yes | Yes |
| Travel | Yes | Partial |
| Family programming | Yes | Partial |
| Spouse and partner programming | Not documented | Partial |
| Next-generation programming | Partial | Partial |
| Investment discussions | Partial | Yes |
| Investment opportunities | No | No |
| Philanthropic component | Yes | Partial |
| Networking emphasis | High | Medium |
| Social emphasis | Medium | Medium |
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Sources
Drawn from the sources listed on each page: Forward Global · TIGER 21