Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship

Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship
Name	Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship
Formation	2003
Founder	Jeff Skoll
Type	Research centre
Location	Oxford, United Kingdom
Parent organisation	Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship The Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship is a research and teaching hub established in 2003 at Saïd Business School within the University of Oxford. It was founded through an endowment by Jeff Skoll, the first president of eBay, and operates at the nexus of practice and scholarship on social innovation, social enterprise, and impact investing. The Centre convenes scholars, practitioners, funders, and policymakers including participants from Oxfam, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ashoka, Acumen, and Schwab Foundation to advance systemic solutions to global challenges.

History

The Centre was created in 2003 following a gift from Jeff Skoll and formal alignment with Saïd Business School and the University of Oxford. Early collaborations linked the Skoll Centre to initiatives at Harvard Kennedy School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, INSEAD, and Hult International Business School. Over time, the Centre hosted events with speakers from Muhammad Yunus, Bill Drayton, Jacqueline Novogratz, and representatives from United Nations agencies such as UNICEF and UNDP. Major milestones include the launch of the Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship in partnership with Oxford Martin School and the expansion of postgraduate offerings coordinated with Said Business School faculty and visiting scholars from London School of Economics and Columbia Business School.

Mission and Activities

The Centre’s stated mission emphasizes accelerating social impact through research, education, and convening. It designs programming to support practitioners from Ashoka, Echoing Green, Nesta, and The Rockefeller Foundation and to influence policy conversations involving officials from European Commission, UK Parliament, US Congress, and World Bank. Activities include hosting the annual Skoll World Forum, running fellowship programs linked to Clinton Global Initiative alumni, and producing practitioner-oriented resources co-authored with members of McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and Deloitte. The Centre also curates content in collaboration with academic networks such as Global Social Venture Competition and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.

Programs and Education

Academic programs are integrated with Saïd Business School degree offerings including the MBA, MSc Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and executive education modules. The Centre administers the Skoll Scholarship and partners with organizations like Schwarzman Scholars, Knight Foundation, and Ford Foundation to fund students and practitioners. Practical learning includes internships with NGOs such as CARE International, Save the Children, and BRAC, and experiential projects with social enterprises like Grameen Bank and One Acre Fund. Executive programs feature faculty and practitioners drawn from Harvard Business School, Yale School of Management, MIT Sloan School of Management, and Columbia Business School.

Research and Impact

Research themes span impact investing, systems change, measurement and evaluation, and business models for social enterprises. Faculty affiliates and visiting researchers publish with outlets including Journal of Business Ethics, Harvard Business Review, and Stanford Social Innovation Review. Collaborative studies have involved partners such as ImpactAlpha, Global Impact Investing Network, and Bain & Company. The Centre tracks impact through case studies of organizations like Grameen Bank, Aravind Eye Care System, and d.light and contributes to policy briefs used by United Nations Development Programme and OECD. Its research labs have hosted projects on blended finance with participation by IFC, European Investment Bank, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Partnerships and Funding

Primary funding originated from Jeff Skoll and the Skoll Foundation, complemented by grants and donations from foundations including Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and corporate partners such as Mastercard Foundation and HSBC. Academic partnerships extend to Oxford Martin School, Said Business School, and cross-university initiatives with Imperial College London and University College London. Operational collaborations involve non-governmental organizations like Oxfam, Save the Children, and CARE International and financial partners such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Morgan Stanley through impact investing alliances. The Skoll World Forum is co-supported by media partners including BBC, The Guardian, and Financial Times.

Notable Alumni and Fellows

Alumni and fellows include social entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors who have led organizations such as Acumen Fund, Ashoka, Echoing Green, One Acre Fund, d.light, Grameen Bank, and Aravind Eye Care System. Notable affiliated individuals have included Jacqueline Novogratz, Muhammad Yunus, Bill Drayton, Jeff Skoll (founder), and leaders from Schwab Foundation and Clinton Global Initiative. Fellows have been drawn from institutions including Harvard Kennedy School, Stanford University, London School of Economics, and INSEAD, and many alumni have gone on to roles at World Bank, United Nations, and major philanthropic organizations.

Category:Social entrepreneurship