Skoll Award for Social Innovation Grant

About this grant

The Skoll Foundation presents the Skoll Awards for Social Innovation each year to a select group of social innovators whose work targets the root causes of societal problems that are ripe for transformational social change. The foundation views social innovation as the pursuit of solving a societal problem by applying a novel or reimagined solution that effectively contributes to lasting and systemic social change. The awards aim to highlight social innovators whose work has already had significant impact on pressing problems and who are poised to act as catalysts of transformational social change. By investing in innovations ripe for accelerated, system-level impact, the awards help unleash the potential and reach of social change leaders. Each Awardee organization receives $2 million in unrestricted funding to scale its work and increase impact, and gains access to a global community of visionary leaders and innovators. Candidates are identified through a multi-year sourcing process involving direct engagement, referrals, and nominations from the foundation's network of partners. Fewer than 10 Awardees are selected annually. Selection weighs potential for change, ability to deliver, impact record, inflection point, proximity to the challenge, and Skoll additionality. The awards cannot support individuals, new or concept-stage business plans, programmes promoting religious or ideological doctrine, lobbying beyond legal limits, film financing, endowments or cash reserves, public schools, discriminatory institutions, event sponsorship, political campaigns, or organisations focused on a single municipality, province, or state.

Eligibility

Organisations must be legally incorporated entities. Nonprofits, for-profits, and hybrid structures are all considered. Organisations without 501(c)(3) public charity status, including organisations based in other countries, will be asked for additional documentation at the appropriate time. Organisations must work above the community level, at sub-national, national, regional/multi-country, or global scope. Organisations focused on a single municipality, province, or state are ineligible. Individuals and concept-stage ideas are ineligible. Candidates are generally identified through foundation sourcing and nominations rather than open application.

How it's scored

Organisations are evaluated against six criteria: potential for change (transformational, system-level impact and a plan for long-term growth), ability to deliver (capacity, leadership, governance, financial health, and partnerships), impact record (track record on the targeted system and a learning orientation), inflection point (timeliness of acting on the issue and organisation), proximity (closeness to the challenge being addressed), and Skoll additionality (how uniquely the award would catalyse the organisation's vision). The page does not disclose weightings or panel composition.

Key requirements

• ✓Social entrepreneur or innovator at inflection point toward scale
• ✓Bold and equitable solution to pressing global problem
• ✓Demonstrated traction and readiness to scale
• ✓Alignment with Skoll Foundation's focus areas (health, environment, economic development, education, land rights)

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Skoll Foundation offer?

Skoll Award for Social Innovation offers $2M.

Who can apply for Skoll Award for Social Innovation?

Eligibility covers organisations in GLOBAL; social-enterprise, nonprofit, startup. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.