Skoll | Resources

Responding to a need for targeted early stage capacity building support, we built this resources section which includes a subset of the organizations that we are aware of that exist to help social entrepreneurs scale their ideas. The list is relevant for both for-profit and non-profit models across all stages of maturity and was created in consultation with Echoing Green and Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation.

A pdf version of these resources can be found here (note: pdf to be linked once final).

Please note this list is updated quarterly, our last update was 11-06-18. If you’d like to recommend an edit, deletion, or an addition please use the form at the bottom of the page.

The following is a list of accelerators and fellowships that typically offer intensive experiences for growth, networking and learning, often alongside a cohort. Note that many may be invite-only or private, and users are encouraged to visit the organizations’ website for additional information.

The following is a list of some of the largest conferences and networks in social entrepreneurship. Note that many may be invite-only or private, and users are encouraged to visit the organizations’ website for additional information.

The following is a list of Funders with details about their current issue area and geographic focus. Please note that many of these Funders have a closed application process, and this list is intended purely for research.

Accion Venture Lab Focus: Fintech | Geography: Global
Acumen Focus: Global Poverty | Geography: Global
af Jochnick Foundation Focus: Youth, Education, World Health | Geography: Global
AFE Colombia Geography: Latin America
Aga Khan Foundation Focus: Poverty, Hunger, Illiteracy, Health | Geography: Africa, Asia, Middle East
Agora Partnerships Geography: Latin America
Amgen Foundation, Inc. Focus: Science Education | Geography: USA
Andrus Foundation Focus: Youth Foster Care, Community Reconciliation | Geography: USA
Asan Nanum Foundation Focus: Education | Geography: South Korea
Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) Focus: Multi-Issue | Geography: Asia
Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs Focus: Entrepreneurship in Emerging Markets | Geography: Global
Autodesk Foundation Focus: Design | Geography: Global
Avina Foundation Focus: Latin American Development | Geography: Latin America
Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives Focus: Poverty and Inequality | Geography: India
Barclay’s Citizenship Geography: Global
Barr Foundation Focus: Arts, Climate, and Education | Geography: USA
BlackRock Philanthropy Geography: USA
Blackstone Charitable Foundation Focus: Entrepeneurship | Geography: USA
Bohemian Impact Foundation Focus: Community | Geography: USA
Buckminster Fuller Challenge Focus: Agriculture, Energy, Education, Health, Materials Economy | Geography: Global
C.S. Mott Foundation Focus: Civil Society, Environment, Poverty and Inequality | Geography: USA
Carnegie Corporation of New York Focus: Education, Democracy, International Peace | Geography: Sub-Saharan Africa, USA
Cartier Foundation Focus: Poverty and Inequality, Women | Geography: Global
Ceniarth, LLC Focus: Agriculture, Energy Access | Geography: Global
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Focus: Education, Justice and Opportunity, Science | Geography: USA
Chandler Foundation Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Global
Child Relief International Focus: Health | Geography: Sub-Saharan Africa
Children’s Investment Fund Foundation Focus: Poverty and Inequality | Geography: Global
China Foundation Center Focus: Aggregator | Geography: China
Citigroup, Inc. (and Citi Foundation) Focus: Youth Economic Opportunities, Sustainable Cities, Financial Inclusion | Geography: Global
Claneil Foundation Focus: Food, Government, Health | Geography: USA
Climate Justice Resilience Fund Focus: Climate Change | Geography: Global
Coca-Cola Foundation Focus: Women, Water, Well-Being | Geography: Global
Co-Impact Focus: Longer-Term Sustainability of Impact | Geography: Global
Cordes Fellowship Focus: Economic Justice, Poverty Alleviation | Geography: Global
DAK Foundation Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Developing World
Dalio Foundation, Inc. (Bridgewater Associates) Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Global
Dasra Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: India
David and Anita Keller Foundation Focus: Human Rights | Geography: Global
David Weekley Family Foundation Focus: Poverty | Geography: Global
Dietel Partners Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Global
D-Prize Focus: Girl’s Education, Agriculture, Energy, Global Health, Education, Governance and Infrastructure | Geography: Developing World
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Global
East Meets West (Thrive Networks) Focus: Education, WASH | Geography: Southeast Asia
Echoing Green Focus: Economic Development, Racial and Gender Equity, Environmental Sustainability | Geography: Global
Eli Lilly and Company Foundation Focus: Health, K-12 Education, United Way | Geography: USA
ELMA Philanthropies Services (U.S.) Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Africa
Emerson Collective Focus: Education, Immigration Reform, Environment, Health, Social Justice | Geography: USA
Fast Forward Focus: Technology | Geography: USA
Fidelity International Foundation Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: USA
Filanthropia Transformadora Geography: Colombia
Firelight Foundation Focus: Youth | Geography: Africa
Fledge Focus: Environment | Geography: Global
Food System 6 Focus: Food | Geography: Global
Ford Foundation Focus: Challenging Innequality | Geography: Global
Fortitude Fund Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Global
Fossil Foundation Focus: Youth | Geography: Global
Foundation Center Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Global
Freedom Fund Focus: Ending Slavery | Geography: Global
Full Circle Fund Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: USA
Fundacion C&A Focus: Multi Sector
Fundacion Femsa Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: South America
Fundo Vale Focus: Environment | Geography: Global
Gap Inc. Foundation Focus: Youth, Women | Geography: Global
Gates Foundation Focus: Global Health, Development, Growth and Opportunity, U.S Education | Geography: Global
Global Challenges Foundation Focus: Environment, Politically Motivated Violence, Extreme Poverty, Population Growth | Geography: Global
Global Giving Accelerator Geography: Global
Global Good Fund Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Global
Global Innovation Fund Focus: International Development | Geography: Global
Goldman Environmental Prize Focus: Environment | Geography: Global
Google.org Focus: Developing World | Geography: Global
Greenbaum Foundation Focus: Health, Human Rights, Animal Rights | Geography: Global
GSBI (Gobal Social Benefit Insititute) Focus: Social Innovation | Geography: Global
Hewlett Foundation Focus: Education, Environment, Global Development | Geography: Global
Higher Ground Labs Focus: Political Technology | Geography: USA
Hilton Foundation, Conrad N. Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Global
Human Dignity Foundation Focus: Child Sexual Abuse and Harmful Practices | Geography: Global
Humanity United Focus: Human Rights | Geography: Global
IDIS Brazil Geography: Brazil
Ignia Focus: B2C Serving the Emerging Mexican Middle Class | Geography: Mexico
iHub Focus: Technology, Innovation | Geography: Africa
IKEA Foundation (Stichting IKEA) Focus: Home, Health, Education, Economic Equality, Environment | Geography: Global
ImagineH20 Focus: Water | Geography: Global
Imago Dei Fund Focus: Human Rights | Geography: Global
Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) and Foundation Focus: Health, Clean Energy, Agriculture, Water, Education, Livelihoods | Geography: Asia
International Finance Corporation Focus: Development | Geography: Global
J.M.K. Innovation Prize Focus: Social Justice, Environment, Heritage Conservation | Geography: USA
J.P. Morgan Philanthropy Centre Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Global
Jasmine Social Investments Focus: Health, Education, Livelihoods, Environment | Geography: Africa and South Asia
Johnson & Johnson Focus: International Development | Geography: Global
Kendeda Fund Geography: USA
Kenya Community Development Foundation Focus: Development | Geography: Kenya
King Baudouin Foundation Focus: Poverty and Social Justice, Philanthropy, Health, Civic Engagement, Developing Talents, Democracy, European Integration, Heritage, Sustainable Development | Geography: Global
King Khalid Foundation Geography: Saudi Arabia
King Philanthropies Focus: Alleviating Extreme Poverty | Geography: Africa and Asia
Latino Community Foundation Focus: Latinos in California | Geography: California, USA
Learn Launch Accelerator Focus: EdTech | Geography: USA
Lemelson Foundation Focus: Invention | Geography: Global
Li & Fung Foundation Focus: Global Issues | Geography: South America and Asia
MacArthur Foundation Focus: Social Justice, Climate Change, Nuclear Risk, Financial Capital to the Social Sector | Geography: Global
Maitri Trust Focus: Education | Geography: India, South Africa, Mexico
Manan Trust Focus: Healthcare, Education | Geography: Asia
Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Focus: Arts, Disaster Relief, Environment, Animal Welfair, Quality of Life, Teachers, Legacy & Opportunity | Geography: Global
MassChallenge Geography: Boston, Israel, Switzerland, Mexico, Texas, UK (for solutions everywhere)
MasterCard Foundation Focus: Education, Financial Inclusion | Geography: Global
McKnight Foundation Focus: Arts, Education, Climate Change, Nueroscience | Geography: USA
MercyCorps Social Venture Fund Focus: Global Development | Geography: Global
MIT Solve Focus: Brain Health, Sustainable Urban Communities, Women and Technology, Youth Employment | Geography: USA
Montpelier Foundation Focus: Rural Poor, Disadvantaged Youth | Geography: Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia
Moore Foundation Focus: Science, Environmental Conservation, Patient Care | Geography: Global
Mulago Foundation Focus: Livelihood, Energy, Health, Conservation, Education, Amplifiers | Geography: Global
N/Core Focus: Agriculture, Education, Health, Livelihoods, Property Rights | Geography: India
Nationale Postcode Loterij Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Netherlands
Nestle Prize in Creating Shared Value Focus: Nutrition, Water, Rural Development | Geography: Global
New England International Donors Focus: Poverty, Human Rights, Environment | Geography: Africa, Asia, Latin America
New Media Ventures Focus: Media, Technology | Geography: USA
New Profit Focus: Education, Early Childhood Development, Economic Empowerment, Public Health | Geography: USA
New Schools Venture Fund Focus: Education | Geography: USA
Norrsken Foundation Focus: Technology | Geography: Europe
NovaStar Ventures Geography: East Africa
NoVo Foundation Focus: Women and Girls | Geography: Global
Oak Foundation Focus: Environment, Child Abuse, Housing and Homelessness, International Human Rights, Issues Affecting Women and Learning Differences | Geography: Bulgaria, Denmark, India, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States, and Zimbabwe
Omidyar Focus: Education, Emerging Tech, Financial Inclusion, Governance & Citizen Engagement, and Property Rights | Geography: Global
Open Road Alliance Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Global
Open Society Institute/Foundation Focus: Education, Governance, Health, Rights, Media | Geography: Global
Open Value Foundation/Advisors Focus: Job Creation, Income Equality | Geography: Global
Oracle Education Foundation Focus: STEM Education | Geography: USA
Osprey Foundation Focus: Education, Health, Economic Opportunity, Human Rights | Geography: Global
Overseas Private Investment Corporation Focus: Emerging Markets | Geography: Emerging Markets
Packard Foundation Focus: Environment, Agriculture, Health | Geography: Global
Peery Foundation Focus: Social Entrepreneur-led Organizations | Geography: Global
Pershing Square Foundation Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Global
Peter Bennett Foundation Focus: Poverty, Inequality | Geography: Hong Kong, Asia
Peter Cundhill Foundation Focus: Education, Fitness, Health | Geography: Global
Planet Wheeler Foundation Focus: Education, Health, Climate Change, Human Rights | Geography: Southeast Asia, Africa
Points of Light Focus: Pairing Volunteers | Geography: Global
Pop Tech! Focus: Scientists, Social Innovation | Geography: Global
Porticus Foundation Focus: Education, Society, Faith, Care, Economic Development, Climate Change | Geography: Global
Propel Capital Focus: Democracy, Justice, Social Entrepreneurship, Impact Investing | Geography: Global
Ray and Tye Noorda Foundation Focus: Alleviate Suffering, Education, Clean Energy, Environment | Geography: Global
Reconstruction Labs/RLabs Geography: Africa
Richard Cornuelle Awards for Social Entrepreneurship (Manhattan Institute) Focus: Economic Opportunity, Education, Health | Geography: USA
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Focus: Health | Geography: USA
Roberto Marinho Foundation Focus: Education | Geography: Brazil
Robin Hood Focus: Schools, Food, Homeless Shelters, Job Training | Geography: New York City
Rockefeller Brothers Fund Focus: Democratic Practice, Peacebuilding, Sustainable Development | Geography: Global
Rockefeller Foundation Focus: Health, Food, Power, Jobs, Resilient Cities, Innovation, Co-Impact | Geography: Global
Rolex Awards for Enterprise Focus: Social Innovation | Geography: Global
Root Cause Social Innovation Forum Focus: Education, Employment, Health | Geography: USA
RS Group Focus: Sustainability | Geography: Asia
RSF Social Finance Focus: Social Innovation | Geography: USA
Salesforce.com Foundation Focus: Education | Geography: USA
Sandler Foundation Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: USA
Schmidt Family Foundation Focus: Sustainability | Geography: USA
Schooner Foundation Focus: Human Rights, Peace and Security, Economic Opportunity | Geography: USA
SEED Initiative SEED Awards Focus: Economic, Social, and Environmental Benefits | Geography: Colombia, India, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda
Segal Family Foundation Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Sub-Saharan Africa
Shell Foundation Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Global
Singularity Focus: Exponential Technologies | Geography: Global
Skoll Foundation Focus: Multi Sector, Social Entrepreneurship | Geography: Global
Small Foundation Geography: Sub-Saharan Africa
Social Enterprise Alliance Focus: Social Entrepreneurship | Geography: USA
Social Venture Network Geography: USA
Southern African Trust Geography: Sub-Saharan Africa
Surdna Foundation Focus: Local Economy, Environment, Culutre | Geography: USA
Swiss Re Foundation Focus: Climate, Natural Hazards, Society, Water | Geography: Global
Synergos Focus: Health, Nutrition, Agriculture, Youth Employment | Geography: Africa, Latin America, Asia
Synergy Social Ventures Geography: Southeast Asia, China
Target Foundation Focus: Arts, Social Services | Geography: USA
Tata Trusts Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: India
Tech Museum of Innovation Tech Awards Focus: Innovation | Geography: USA
TechStars Foundation Focus: Technology | Geography: USA
TED Prize Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Global
The Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellowship Focus: Social Entrepreneurship | Geography: USA
The Christensen Fund Geography: Global
The globalislocal Fund Focus: Multi Sector | Geography: Asia, Africa, and Latin America
The Grove Foundation Focus: Educational, Recreational, Social Programs | Geography: Illinois, USA
The JPB Foundation Focus: Health, Poverty, Environment | Geography: USA
The Roddenberry Prize Focus: Arts, Education, Environment, Health, Human Rights, Science | Geography: Global
The Sigrid Rausing Trust Geography: Global
The Vladimir Potanin Foundation Focus: Education, Arts and Culture, Philanthropy Development | Geography: Russia
Tiffany & Co. Foundation Focus: Environment | Geography: USA
Tipping Point Focus: Poverty | Geography: San Francisco, USA
Tomkat Foundation Focus: Economic Prosperity, Food, Energy | Geography: USA
Toniic Focus: Impact Investing | Geography: USA
Toyota Foundation Focus: Human and Natural Environments, Social Welfare, Education, Culture | Geography: Global
Toyota Foundation (Japan) Focus: Human and Natural Environments, Social Welfare, Education, Culture | Geography: Global
Trafigura Foundation Focus: Employment, Supply Chains | Geography: Global
Tse Foundation Focus: Education, Healthcare, Social Justice | Geography: China
Twilio.org Focus: Nonprofit Communications | Geography: Global
Uncharted/The Unreasonable Institute Focus: Cities & Urbanization, Economic Empowerment, Education, Environmental Sustainability, Healthcare, Justice & Civil Liberties | Geography: Global
University of Cape Town GSB – Bertha Centre Focus: Social Innovation | Geography: Africa
UnLtd Focus: Ageing, Employment | Geography: UK
US African Development Foundation Focus: Agriculture, Off-grid Energy, Youth-led Enterprise | Geography: Africa
Villgro Focus: Education, Agri-Business, Health | India, Kenya, Vietnam, Philippines
Vitol Foundation Focus: Health, ‘WASH’ (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene), Education and Livelihoods | Geography: Global
Walton Family Foundation Focus: Environment, K-12 Ed | Geography: Arkansas, USA
Westly Foundation Focus: Education, Health, Youth | Geography: California, USA
Whole Planet Foundation Geography: Global
Wilstar Social Impact Focus: Education, Human Dignity and Woman’s Rights, Marine Environment, Arts | Geography: Global
Womanity Foundation Focus: Education, Empowerment | Geography: Glboal
World We Want Foundation Focus: Youth | Geography: Global
X Prize Geography: USA, India
Y-Combinator Focus: Technology | Geography: Global
Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneurs Program Geography: USA

Resources for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) vary greatly by geography, issue area, and project. As a starting point, we suggest social entrepreneurs connect with their local, regional, or national evaluation association. The International Organization for Cooperation in Evaluation provides an interactive map and links to evaluation organizations around the world. These organizations can connect you with M&E resources that meet your particular goals and needs.

If you’re looking to enhance your understanding of M&E and learn best practices, here are a few introductory resources that you may find interesting:

Michael Quinn Patton’s “Evaluation Flash Cards: Embedding Evaluative Thinking in Organizational Culture”
The Overseas Development Institute’s “10 Things to Know About Evaluation”
The Impact Management Project’s content, such as “Understand Impact” and “Glossary”
Better Evaluation’s content, such as its “Rainbow Framework”, which organizes the various evaluation options available to you, and its “Manager’s Guide to Evaluation”
The International Initiative for Impact Evaluation’s (3ie) list of resources, which includes books and papers, toolkits, websites, and more, as well as its Evidence Gap Maps
Innovation for Poverty Action’s “Goldilocks Toolkit”, which provides summaries of key M&E concepts, deep dives, case studies, and links to additional resources
Online courses such as Philanthropy University’s “Planning for Monitoring and Evaluation” as well as +Acumen’s “Social Impact Analysis” and “Lean Data Approaches to Measure Social Impact” (please note that such courses may not be open for enrollment year-round)”
“Project Thrive” An ethnographic independent study conducted by Quantum Research on ‘What does Thriving look like amongst young people growing up in Adversity’. The research has resulted in a definition of Thriving and a framework on Thriving that organizations can use to map their programme interventions.
“Mapping Life Skills” A secondary report by Dream a Dream that explore the Life Skills space in India from a Policy, Research and Practice perspective.
“Dream Life Skills Assessment Scale (DLSAS)” A first of its kind, standardized and published scale that measures Life Skills amongst disadvantaged kids. One can read the academic paper and also download to use this free tool to measure the impact of their programme.