Skoll Foundation’s Global Social Innovation Strategy: Investing in Systems Change for Lasting Impact

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From Technology Pioneer to Global Philanthropist

Before establishing the Skoll Foundation, Jeff Skoll had already built a reputation as a transformative figure in the digital economy. As the first full-time employee and first President of eBay, he developed the company’s initial business plan and helped guide its early expansion into a global online marketplace.

His transition into philanthropy followed a clear trajectory. After contributing to the creation of the eBay Foundation, Skoll founded the Skoll Foundation in 1999 with a defined mission: to build a sustainable world rooted in peace and shared prosperity. Through the broader framework of the Jeff Skoll Group, his work has consistently combined entrepreneurship, capital, and storytelling to drive large-scale social impact.

This foundation of entrepreneurial thinking continues to shape the organisation’s approach to global development.

Skoll Foundation’s Model of Transformational Change

The Skoll Foundation operates as more than a conventional philanthropic institution. It functions as a catalyst for systems-level change, supporting social entrepreneurs and innovators addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Its strategy is structured around three core pillars: investing in high-impact organisations, connecting them through global networks, and championing their work through storytelling and strategic partnerships. This integrated model positions the Foundation as both a funder and a convenor within the global development ecosystem.

Investing in Scalable Social Innovation

A central feature of the Foundation’s work is its focus on scaling proven solutions. As of December 2024, it has invested over $1.3 billion globally, supporting 476 organisations across five continents.

Through the Skoll Awards for Social Innovation, the Foundation provides $2 million in unrestricted funding to selected organisations each year. These awards target entities that have already demonstrated measurable impact and are positioned at a critical stage where additional support can accelerate system-wide change.

Selection is based on clear criteria, including the potential for transformational impact, institutional capacity, a strong track record, and the ability to influence systems beyond local communities. The Foundation also prioritises proximity, recognising leaders who are closely connected to the challenges they seek to address.

Beyond Funding: Building Networks and Influence

The Skoll Foundation’s approach extends beyond financial support. Through global convenings such as the Skoll World Forum, it brings together social entrepreneurs, policymakers, funders, and institutional actors to collaborate and share knowledge.

This network-driven model reflects an understanding that complex challenges require coordinated responses. By connecting diverse actors, the Foundation strengthens the ecosystem needed to deliver sustainable and large-scale solutions.

Its partnerships span academia, civil society, and global institutions. Collaborations with entities such as the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford University, Ashoka, and the Social Progress Imperative highlight its commitment to integrating research, practice, and policy.

Skoll World Forum 2026: Health, Planet, and Shared Prosperity

At this year’s Skoll World Forum, the Foundation is sharpening its focus on one of the most urgent global realities: the interdependence between human health and planetary health.

Under the theme that collective flourishing depends on caring for both people and the planet, the Forum convenes social entrepreneurs and innovators advancing integrated solutions across ecosystems, public health, and community resilience.

Key sessions explore how to safeguard both environmental systems and human wellbeing. Discussions include integrated forest protection strategies, One Health approaches linking human, animal, and environmental health, and the role of trust as a foundational element in global health systems. Contributors include leaders such as Emily Jacobi of Awana Digital, Fabiola Zerbini of Conexsus, Kasmita Widodo of BRWA Foundation, Vivek Maru of Namati, and Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka of Conservation Through Public Health, among others.

The Forum also places strong emphasis on economic inclusion, examining how social innovators are building pathways to shared prosperity. Sessions address the realities of a just green transition, regenerative food systems led by women, and the role of education in strengthening women’s economic participation. Speakers include representatives from organisations such as SELCO Foundation, One Acre Fund, the African Women’s Collaborative for Healthy Food Systems, and CAMFED.

Virtual participation remains open to the public, reinforcing the Foundation’s commitment to accessibility and global engagement.

 

Storytelling as a Strategic Tool

A distinctive element of the Foundation’s work is its investment in storytelling as a tool for influence. Partnerships with global media organisations, including the BBC, NPR, and PBS NewsHour, allow the Foundation to amplify the work of social innovators to international audiences.

These initiatives are designed to do more than inform. They aim to shift narratives, attract funding, and mobilise broader engagement around solutions to global challenges.

Programmes such as “Stories of Change,” developed in collaboration with the Sundance Institute, demonstrate how storytelling can connect grassroots innovation with global visibility, creating momentum for systemic impact.

Targeting Systems, Not Symptoms

The Foundation’s interventions are explicitly focused on addressing root causes rather than isolated issues. Its work spans disrupting unjust systems, influencing policy and behaviour, and strengthening institutions and service delivery.

This systems-oriented approach ensures that supported organisations are not only addressing immediate needs but also contributing to long-term structural change.

Partnerships and Strategic Alignment

The Skoll Foundation places strong emphasis on alignment in its partnerships. It works with institutions across sectors that share its commitment to driving transformational change.

Through funder alliances and strategic collaborations, the Foundation coordinates financial, intellectual, and social capital to maximise impact. This approach avoids duplication and ensures that resources are directed towards initiatives with the highest potential for systemic change.

Africa, Innovation, and Opportunity

For African social innovators, the Skoll Foundation provides both a platform and a pathway to scale. Its emphasis on proximity and systems-level impact aligns with the continent’s growing ecosystem of locally driven innovation.

As African organisations continue to address challenges in health, climate, education, and governance, engagement with global platforms such as Skoll offers opportunities for funding, visibility, and strategic partnerships.

A Forward-Looking Perspective

The Skoll Foundation’s work underscores a critical shift in global development: from isolated interventions to coordinated systems change. By investing in people, connecting ecosystems, and amplifying impact through storytelling, it continues to redefine how social innovation operates at scale.

For Africa, where innovation is increasingly driven by local actors with global ambition, the opportunity is clear. Platforms like Skoll are not only opening doors but also reshaping who gets to lead global conversations on development. The continent’s role is no longer peripheral. It is central to designing solutions that are grounded, scalable, and globally relevant.

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