The Skoll Foundation was created in 1999 by Jeff Skoll to build a sustainable world of peace and prosperity for all. The Foundation catalyzes transformational social change by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators who together advance bold and equitable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. Skoll invests in social entrepreneurs and social innovators who offer compelling vision, creative solutions, and proven approaches; connects its community to drive transformational change through its global network and convenings like the Skoll World Forum to share learnings, join forces, and achieve ambitious goals with other social innovators, funders, and key stakeholders; and uses its voice and global audience to champion the work of social innovators, helping extend their reach and expand their impact through storytelling, thought leadership, and strategic alliances to mobilize more resources and create momentum for lasting social change. Skoll supports organizations tackling interconnected problems and advancing solutions from every angle—from disrupting unjust power dynamics and systems, changing attitudes and behaviors, and mobilizing movements, to improving services, policies, and practices—focusing on problems and places that are ripe for change with high potential for major impact.
Why it matters: Skoll Foundation recognizes that transformational social change requires not just funding social entrepreneurs but connecting them through global networks and championing their work to extend reach and expand impact, demonstrating that catalyzing change demands comprehensive support. By focusing on problems and places ripe for change with high potential for major impact and supporting organizations tackling interconnected problems from every angle—disrupting systems, changing attitudes, mobilizing movements, and improving policies—Skoll shows that addressing the world’s most pressing problems requires multi-faceted approaches rather than single solutions. The Foundation’s combination of investing in proven approaches, convening social innovators at the Skoll World Forum to share learnings and join forces, and using storytelling and strategic alliances to mobilize resources demonstrates that building a sustainable world of peace and prosperity requires creating infrastructure for collaboration and momentum, not just individual organizational support.
