Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship

Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship is a major international honor presented by the Skoll Foundation to recognize and support outstanding social entrepreneurs. The award provides significant financial support and connects recipients to a global network of leaders to accelerate their impact on pressing global issues. Since its inception, it has become one of the most prestigious accolades in the field of social entrepreneurship.

Overview

The Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship is a core program of the Skoll Foundation, established by philanthropist Jeff Skoll. It is designed to identify and invest in innovative leaders and organizations that are tackling some of the world's most critical challenges. Awardees are typically at an inflection point where strategic funding and connections can help scale their proven solutions. The award is closely associated with the annual Skoll World Forum held at the University of Oxford, where recipients are celebrated and engage with a community of peers, investors, and influencers from around the globe. This gathering fosters collaboration among organizations like Ashoka and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.

Selection and criteria

The selection process for the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship is highly competitive and rigorous, managed by the Skoll Foundation's investment team. Candidates are evaluated on several key criteria, including the potential for large-scale, sustainable impact on critical issues such as climate change, public health, economic inequality, and human rights. The organization must demonstrate a proven model that is ready for significant growth and replication. The process often involves in-depth due diligence, site visits, and interviews, similar to practices at venture capital firms like Sequoia Capital or philanthropic entities like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Final selections are made by the foundation's board and leadership.

Recipients and impact

Recipients of the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship represent a diverse array of geographies and focus areas, each demonstrating transformative work. Notable awardees include Katherine Lucey of Solar Sister, which empowers women in Africa through clean energy, and Andrew Youn of the One Acre Fund, which supports smallholder farmers in East Africa. Other distinguished recipients are Rebecca Onie of Health Leads, Wendy Kopp of Teach For All, and Michele Sullivan of the Caterpillar Foundation. The financial award, coupled with access to the Skoll World Forum network, has enabled these organizations to expand their reach, influence policy, and attract further investment from groups like USAID and the Rockefeller Foundation.

History and background

The Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship was launched in 2005 by the Skoll Foundation, which was founded in 1999 by Jeff Skoll, the first president of eBay. Inspired by his belief in the power of entrepreneurship to drive social change, Skoll modeled the foundation and its flagship award on principles of strategic, venture philanthropy. The award's creation coincided with the growing recognition of social entrepreneurship as a distinct field, alongside the work of pioneers like Muhammad Yunus of the Grameen Bank. The inaugural awards were presented at the Skoll World Forum, establishing a tradition of celebrating social innovation at the University of Oxford.

Related initiatives

The Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship is part of a broader ecosystem of initiatives run by the Skoll Foundation aimed at supporting social change. Key related programs include the Skoll World Forum, a major annual conference on social entrepreneurship, and the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School. The foundation also manages the Skoll Global Threats Fund, which addresses issues like climate change and water security. These efforts align with and complement the work of other global institutions such as the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Omidyar Network.

Category:Awards established in 2005 Category:Social entrepreneurship Category:Philanthropy awards