Skoll Foundation Invests $1.3B in Social Entrepreneurs

Jeff Skoll helped turn eBay into a global marketplace, but his biggest bet came after he left the company.

In 1999, Skoll founded the Skoll Foundation with a clear goal: support entrepreneurs solving the world's hardest problems. By December 2024, that vision had channeled $1.3 billion to 476 organizations across five continents, proving that social innovation can scale just like successful businesses.

The Foundation doesn't just write checks. Each year, it awards $2 million in unrestricted funding to select organizations through the Skoll Awards for Social Innovation, targeting groups that have already proven their solutions work and are ready to grow.

What sets this approach apart is the focus on systems change. Instead of funding temporary fixes, the Foundation backs leaders tackling root causes of poverty, environmental destruction, and inequality.

The strategy combines three elements: investing in high impact organizations, connecting them through global networks, and amplifying their work through strategic storytelling. Partnerships with BBC, NPR, and PBS NewsHour help grassroots innovators reach international audiences, attracting more funding and support.

At this year's Skoll World Forum, the spotlight shines on the connection between human health and planetary health. Leaders like Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka of Conservation Through Public Health and Emily Jacobi of Awana Digital are sharing integrated solutions that protect both communities and ecosystems.

Other sessions explore economic inclusion, examining how innovators are building pathways to shared prosperity. Organizations like One Acre Fund and CAMFED are showing how regenerative food systems and education can strengthen women's economic power.

The Foundation also invests heavily in connection. The Skoll World Forum brings together social entrepreneurs, policymakers, and funders to collaborate and share knowledge, recognizing that complex challenges need coordinated responses.

Academic partnerships strengthen this ecosystem further. Collaborations with the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford University and organizations like Ashoka integrate research, practice, and policy into actionable solutions.

The Ripple Effect

What began as one entrepreneur's commitment to giving back has created a global network of changemakers. The Foundation's emphasis on proximity means it supports leaders who live and work in the communities they serve, ensuring solutions fit local realities.

By treating social innovation like venture capital treats startups, the Foundation has helped proven solutions reach millions more people. Organizations that received early support have gone on to influence policy, shift public narratives, and inspire other funders to invest in systemic change.

The virtual Forum remains open to anyone worldwide, reflecting a belief that good ideas and collaboration shouldn't have barriers. When entrepreneurial thinking meets philanthropy at this scale, solutions that once seemed impossible become real pathways to a better world.