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Skoll Foundation

The Skoll Foundation presents itself as a philanthropic organization focused on catalyzing transformational, systems-level social change. It supports social entrepreneurs, movement builders, system orchestrators, and global coalitions advancing equitable solutions to global problems. The foundation operates through strategic grantmaking—most notably its unrestricted $2 million Skoll Award for Social Innovation—and by investing a significant portion of its endowment in impact-aligned causes. It also convenes leaders annually at the Skoll World Forum. The foundation's strategic priorities center on strengthening global health systems (particularly community health workers), climate action and environmental sustainability (including preventing deforestation and securing Indigenous land rights), reimagining inclusive economies (such as supporting smallholder agriculture, employee ownership, and girls' education), promoting effective governance, and advancing racial justice. Its approach emphasizes cross-sector collaboration, centering equity, and empowering leaders with lived experience proximate to the challenges they address.

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Monday brief · week of 26 October 2026

Skoll Foundation sharpens focus on locally led, immersive solutions for climate and economic power.

Written each Monday from this funder's own recent publications. Every point links to the sentence it rests on.

What they're leaning into

  • The foundation is leaning into 'immersive empathy' and locally led development, emphasizing humility and deep listening as starting points for durable solutions (3, 4).

    “For funders, she says, that means approaching the work with humility and investing in the people and communities closest to the challenge to shape durable solutions.”“If I could change one thing today, it’s to move from keynote speakers to keynote listeners.” · 2026-10-20 ↗“In a moment of deep uncertainty, she said, progress starts with listening and with what she calls immersive empathy.”“If I could change one thing today, it’s to move from keynote speakers to keynote listeners.” · 2026-10-20 ↗

  • New or surging themes include women’s economic power, food system resilience, Indigenous land stewardship, and community-led climate solutions, signaling a shift toward systemic, place-based approaches (6, 8, 9, 10).

    “building women's economic power”Congratulations to Shabana Basij-Rasikh on being named to the 2026 #TIME100Next list. Shabana and the team at School of · 2026-10-08 ↗“food security and food system resilience are largely absent from the official UNGA agenda”“The other requirement for good collaboration is commitment.” · 2026-09-24 ↗

  • Early childhood education is gaining traction, particularly in community-based models that center love, play, and talk as core principles (18).

    “In the thousands of community-based early childhood education centers that SmartStart South Africa supports across South Africa, three principles are at the center: love, play, and talk.”In the thousands of community-based early childhood education centers that SmartStart South Africa supports across South · 2026-09-17 ↗

Framing to consider

  • Grantseekers might frame their work as 'collaborative systems change' led by social entrepreneurs, positioning their efforts as part of a broader movement to accelerate progress toward shared goals (1, 2).

    “a movement of social entrepreneurs/innovators (SEs) and their supporters, who are attempting to accelerate progress towards SDG achievement by catalyzing “collaborative systems change”.”Skoll | Catalyst 2030 · 2030-01-01 ↗“a movement of social entrepreneurs/innovators (SEs) and their supporters”Skoll | Catalyst 2030 · 2030-01-01 ↗

  • Highlight how your initiative centers 'immersive empathy' and community leadership, demonstrating a commitment to listening and co-creating solutions with those closest to the challenge (3, 4).

    “For funders, she says, that means approaching the work with humility and investing in the people and communities closest to the challenge to shape durable solutions.”“If I could change one thing today, it’s to move from keynote speakers to keynote listeners.” · 2026-10-20 ↗“In a moment of deep uncertainty, she said, progress starts with listening and with what she calls immersive empathy.”“If I could change one thing today, it’s to move from keynote speakers to keynote listeners.” · 2026-10-20 ↗

Past briefs