Skoll Foundation - Grant Information & Application Details

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $96-100 million
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (highly competitive, invitation-only)
Decision Time: Multi-month sourcing and due diligence process
Grant Range: $2,000,000 (awarded over multiple years)
Geographic Focus: Global

Contact Details

Phone: 650-331-1031

Address: 250 University Ave Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Note: The Skoll Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and only works through referrals and nominations from their network of partners.

Overview

The Skoll Foundation was established in 1999 by Jeffrey Skoll, eBay's first president, with approximately $1 billion in eBay stock. Now holding over $1.5 billion in assets, the foundation has invested more than $1.2 billion worldwide in 476 organizations across five continents. The foundation's mission is to catalyze transformational social change by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and innovators who advance bold and equitable solutions to the world's most pressing problems. In 2019, the foundation evolved its strategy to center equity in all its work and broaden its investment approach beyond individual social entrepreneurs to include movement builders, system orchestrators, and global coalitions driving collective action. Under CEO Marla Blow's leadership (as of June 2025), the foundation continues to emphasize collaborative ecosystems and unrestricted funding to amplify impact. The foundation co-hosts the annual Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship in Oxford, UK, convening nearly 1,000 influential changemakers annually.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Skoll Awards for Social Innovation

Amount: $2,000,000 per awardee (unrestricted funding; previously $1.5 million over three years)
Number of Awards: 4-6 organizations annually
Application Method: Invitation-only through referrals and nominations from the Skoll network
Eligibility: Organizations must have a minimum three-year track record with documented results and proven impact; organizations at an inflection point where additional resources would enable transformational social change

The foundation notes that organizations with annual revenues below $2.5 million in high-income countries and below $1 million in low- and middle-income countries tend to be at a disadvantage in the selection process, as the foundation seeks organizations ready to scale significantly.

Priority Areas

The Skoll Foundation focuses on five interconnected strategic priorities:

Strengthening Health Systems and Preventing Pandemics - Supporting community health workers, health system innovations, and pandemic preparedness
Mobilizing Climate Action - Focusing on preventing deforestation, climate resilience, and sustainable environmental solutions
Reimagining Inclusive and Sustainable Economies - Supporting smallholder agriculture, economic opportunity, worker ownership models, and financial prosperity
Promoting Effective Governance - Advancing democratic rule of law, civic engagement, and institutional strengthening
Advancing Racial Justice - Centering equity and supporting organizations led by and serving communities of color

The foundation prioritizes funding movement builders, system orchestrators, and organizations driving collective action rather than isolated interventions.

What They Don't Fund

Individuals - The foundation only funds organizations, not individual applicants
New or Early-Stage Programs - The Skoll Awards are not intended for new or early-stage business plans or ideas
Organizations Without Track Records - Applicants must have a minimum three-year track record with documented results
Unsolicited Applications - The foundation does not accept open applications; all grantees are identified through referrals and nominations

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Marla Blow, CEO (effective June 1, 2025)

Previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer since 2021
Over 25 years of experience in social impact, entrepreneurship, capital allocation, and financial services
Quote: "Social innovation and entrepreneurship have never been more essential to solving the world's most complex and pressing problems, and the Skoll community is at the forefront of finding and accelerating solutions."

Don Gips, CEO Emeritus and Senior Counselor (transitioned May 31, 2025)

Former CEO who led the foundation's strategic evolution
Quote: "When crisis strikes, social innovators run toward the problem to step in with solutions that address root causes."
On impact evaluation: "We're really trying to lean into shifting power to those who we fund."

Board of Directors

Jeff Skoll - Founder
Jim DeMartini - Vice Chair; retired Chairman of Seiler LLP
James Irungu Mwangi - Independent Director; founder and CEO of Africa Climate Ventures
Cheryl L. Dorsey - President of Echoing Green
Lindsey Spindle - President of the Samueli Family Philanthropies
Shashi Buluswar - Board Member
Marla Blow - CEO

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Skoll Foundation applies a multi-year sourcing process and does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. All potential grantees are identified through referrals and nominations from the foundation's network of partners.

Selection Process:

Sourcing and Nomination - Organizations are identified through the Skoll network of partners and previous awardees
Eligibility Assessment - An eligibility quiz helps assess competitiveness (available on the Skoll website)
Due Diligence - Includes interviews, site visits, reference checks, follow-up questions, in-depth financial review, and discussion of grant objectives
Award Announcement - Typically announced in spring and celebrated at the Skoll World Forum in Oxford

Key Advice for Interested Organizations: Deep networking may be the best way to get onto Skoll's radar. Building relationships with current Skoll awardees, attending the Skoll World Forum, and engaging with the broader social entrepreneurship ecosystem can increase visibility.

Decision Timeline

The foundation uses a multi-year sourcing process, meaning organizations are often on the foundation's radar for extended periods before receiving an award. The due diligence process itself takes several months once an organization enters serious consideration.

Awards are typically announced in spring (March-April) and celebrated at the annual Skoll World Forum in Oxford, UK.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation is described as "not a particularly accessible funder" and "highly competitive," awarding only 4-6 organizations annually from a global pool of social entrepreneurs. The invitation-only nature and extensive due diligence process make it one of the most selective philanthropic awards.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations are eligible once every application cycle, even if they have previously applied and not received the Award. There are no waiting periods or restrictions on reapplying after an unsuccessful nomination, though the invitation-only nature means organizations cannot directly reapply but must be re-nominated through the network.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

Demonstrated Impact at Scale: The foundation seeks organizations that have already proven their model works and are ready to scale dramatically. The eligibility criteria emphasize organizations "at an inflection point where additional resources would enable them to catalyze transformational social change."

Systems-Level Thinking: The foundation increasingly values "movement builders, system orchestrators, and dynamic changemakers" over organizations working in isolation. Collaborative approaches that drive collective action are prioritized.

Equity-Centered Approach: Since 2019, the foundation has committed to centering equity in all its work. Organizations led by and serving communities directly affected by the issues they address are favored. As selection criteria note: "Has lived experience with the issue they seek to address or has meaningfully engaged with the issue through long-term work, research, or collaboration with those directly affected."

Organizational Maturity: The foundation prefers organizations with annual revenues above $2.5 million (in high-income countries) or $1 million (in low- and middle-income countries), indicating readiness to absorb and deploy significant funding effectively.

Strategic Alignment: Organizations must align closely with one or more of the foundation's five strategic priorities: health systems/pandemics, climate action, inclusive economies, effective governance, and racial justice.

Recent Awardees as Examples

2025 Awardees ($2 million each):

Apis & Heritage Capital Partners - Restoring the American Dream by helping low- and middle-income employees become business owners when sellers retire
Community Health Impact Coalition (CHIC) - Championed policies bringing professional recognition and accreditation to community health workers in 47 countries

2024 Awardees ($2 million each):

IllumiNative (U.S.) - Building power for Native Americans through media representation and movement-building
Food for Education (Kenya) - Combating childhood hunger by providing meals to over 300,000 children daily
Meedan - Countering misinformation through technology and collaborative journalism
SaveLIFE Foundation (India) - Working on road safety and emergency response systems

Language and Terminology

The foundation uses language emphasizing:

"Transformational social change"
"Catalyzing" solutions
"Systems change" and "collective action"
"Equity-centered" approaches
"Social innovation" and "social entrepreneurship"
"Movement builders" and "system orchestrators"

Common Selection Factors

Organizations less likely to be selected:

Early-stage ventures without proven track records
Smaller organizations not ready for significant scaling
Organizations working in isolation without broader ecosystem connections
Those focused on localized rather than systems-level change
Organizations without clear pathways to transformational impact

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Network strategically - Since Skoll doesn't accept unsolicited applications, building relationships with current awardees, attending the Skoll World Forum, and engaging with the social entrepreneurship community is essential for visibility
Demonstrate scale-readiness - The foundation seeks organizations at an inflection point, not early-stage ventures; show proven impact, strong infrastructure, and capacity to absorb and deploy $2 million effectively
Think systems-level change - Frame your work in terms of transformational, systemic impact rather than isolated interventions; emphasize how you're building movements or orchestrating ecosystem-level change
Center equity explicitly - The foundation has committed to equity-centered grantmaking; demonstrate how your leadership, governance, and approach center those directly affected by the issues you address
Align with strategic priorities - Ensure clear alignment with one or more of the five strategic priorities: health systems/pandemics, climate action, inclusive economies, effective governance, or racial justice
Emphasize collaboration - The foundation increasingly values collaborative approaches; highlight partnerships, coalitions, and how your work contributes to collective action
Be patient and persistent - The multi-year sourcing process means organizations may be on Skoll's radar for years before receiving awards; consistent high-quality work and sustained engagement with the ecosystem are key

References

Skoll Foundation Official Website - https://skoll.org - Accessed November 2025
Skoll Foundation FAQs - https://skoll.org/about/faq/ - Information on application process and eligibility
Skoll Foundation Board of Directors - https://skoll.org/about/board/ - Leadership and governance information
Skoll Foundation Programs - https://skoll.org/about/programs/ - Grant programs and priorities
Skoll Foundation Financials - https://skoll.org/about/financials/ - Financial information and giving data
"Skoll Foundation Announces Leadership Transition" - Skoll.org, March 7, 2025 - https://skoll.org/2025/03/07/skoll-foundation-announces-leadership-transition/
"Skoll Foundation Announces Winners of the 2025 Skoll Award for Social Innovation" - Business Wire, March 24, 2025 - https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250324416962/en/
"Skoll Foundation Announces the Winners of 2024 Skoll Award for Social Innovation" - Business Wire, April 2, 2024 - https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240402352809/en/
Inside Philanthropy - Skoll Foundation Profile - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-s/skoll-foundation - Grant analysis and funder intelligence
"How the Skoll Foundation Is Evolving Philanthropy for Collective Action" - Stanford Social Innovation Review - https://ssir.org/articles/entry/philanthropy-collective-action-skoll
"From the 'Who' to the 'What': the Skoll Foundation Clarifies Its Priorities" - Inside Philanthropy, April 26, 2021 - Strategy evolution information
"To Make Philanthropy More Equitable, Take a No-Strings Approach" - Skoll.org, February 2, 2024 - https://skoll.org/2024/02/02/to-make-philanthropy-more-equitable-take-a-no-strings-approach/
Skoll Foundation Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skoll_Foundation - Historical information and context
Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship - https://skoll.org/skoll-world-forum/ - Information about annual convening
Foundation Directory/Candid - Skoll Foundation Profile - https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=SKOL004 - Financial and operational data