Skoll World Forum

What Skoll World Forum does

The Skoll World Forum is the flagship annual convening of the Skoll Foundation, a private philanthropic foundation established by Jeff Skoll (former eBay president) in 1999 and headquartered in Palo Alto, with a headquarters transition underway to Washington, D.C. The Foundation's mission is to drive transformational social change by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs advancing bold and equitable solutions to global problems. Core products include the Skoll World Forum itself (the 23rd annual edition held April 21-24, 2026 in Oxford, U.K. and online with 1,500+ curated delegates), the $2 million Skoll Award for Social Innovation (122 social entrepreneurs and 100 organizations supported across five continents), the Skoll Fellowship for emerging social entrepreneurs, the Africa Frontline First cross-sector initiative (scaling community health worker programs across 15+ African countries and unlocking $240M in public/private investment), and the Pivot Fund ($28.1M in emergency grants disbursed in response to USAID-related funding disruptions).

The Foundation operates as a philanthropy rather than a commercial enterprise: its capital base is anchored by an endowment managed by Capricorn Investment Group (over $12B in assets), with approximately 80% of the endowment aligned with impact objectives across climate, economic opportunity, health, and responsible stewardship. Tiered delegate fees for the Forum generate supplementary operating revenue, while virtual participation is provided free of charge via livestream, mobile app, and AI-powered translation (Wordly). The Foundation employs 11-50 staff and has made 54 mission-aligned investments in 2024, including the first-ever direct endowment deployment (into Apis & Heritage Capital Partners' Legacy Fund I). The Forum's reach extends globally across the U.S., U.K., Kenya, Nigeria, Indonesia, Philippines, Brazil, Rwanda, South Africa, Pakistan, and India, with no proprietary technology platform beyond commodity event infrastructure (Cvent, PayPal, Wordly).

Name

Skoll World Forum

Legal name

Skoll Foundation

Website

https://skoll.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Skoll World Forum is the flagship annual convening of the Skoll Foundation, a private philanthropy founded by Jeff Skoll in 1999 that invests in, connects, and champions 122 social entrepreneurs across five continents via the Oxford-hosted Forum, $2M Skoll Awards, and catalytic grant funds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Impact Philanthropy and Convening

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Global Health Advocacy, Policy & Rights Organizations (HLAJAKAO)

Keywords

• Social entrepreneurship convening
• Philanthropy grantmaking
• Social innovation awards
• Global development funding
• Impact investing community

Headquarters

HQ city

Palo Alto

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Foundation Model: The Skoll Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established by Jeff Skoll in 1999. It generates revenue through investment returns on its endowment managed by Capricorn Investment Group. The Foundation deploys capital through strategic grantmaking, program-related investments, and the annual Skoll Award for Social Innovation ($2 million per award). Approximately 80% of Foundation funding supported social entrepreneurship in 2025.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Skoll World Forum is an annual curated global convening organized by the Skoll Foundation, held in Oxford, U.K., bringing together 1,500+ social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, government officials, and private-sector leaders. The Foundation also delivers the $2 million Skoll Award for Social Innovation (unrestricted grants to proven social entrepreneurs), the Skoll Fellowship program for emerging leaders, ecosystem partner events (Marmalade Festival and The Sidebar), the Pivot Fund for emergency grants, and the Africa Frontline First initiative scaling community health worker programs across 15+ African countries.

Product overview

The Skoll Foundation operates primarily as a philanthropy organization supporting social entrepreneurs through multiple interconnected programs. The core product is the annual Skoll World Forum (a global convening in Oxford, U.K. and online), complemented by the flagship $2 million Skoll Award for Social Innovation which recognizes exceptional social entrepreneurs. Additional offerings include the Skoll World Forum Fellowship for emerging leaders, the Pivot Fund ($28.1M emergency/pivot funding initiative), and Africa Frontline First initiative for community health workers. Virtual participation is available via free livestreaming of plenaries and sessions. The Foundation also supports ecosystem events like the Marmalade Festival and The Sidebar that run alongside the main Forum. A mobile app is provided for registered delegates to access schedules and networking features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Skoll World Forum Annual invitation-based global gathering of social entrepreneurs, innovators, funders, storytellers, government and business leaders held in Oxford, U.K. and online. Features plenaries, panels, workshops, networking sessions, and the Skoll Awards Ceremony.
• Skoll Award for Social Innovation $2 million award providing unrestricted support to nonprofit organizations with proven track records of advancing transformational social change on intractable global issues. Includes 122 social entrepreneurs and 100 organizations supported to date on five continents.
• Virtual Skoll World Forum Free virtual participation option offering livestreams and replays of plenaries and select sessions, plus opportunities to connect with fellow virtual attendees. Open to everyone globally with AI-powered Wordly translation.
• Skoll World Forum Fellowship Fellowship program for emerging social entrepreneurs to participate in the annual Skoll World Forum, providing access to the Forum community and networking opportunities.
• Ecosystem Events (Marmalade Festival and The Sidebar) Partner-led community events running alongside the main Forum, including the Marmalade Festival (hosted by Old Fire Station since 2012) and The Sidebar (debuted 2024), offering workshops, film screenings, and crowd-sourced discussions.
• Pivot Fund Emergency grants and 'pivot' funding initiative disbursing $28.1 million to support social entrepreneur partners in adapting their operating models to funding disruptions and strategic challenges.
• Africa Frontline First (AFF) Collaborative cross-sector initiative to scale community health worker programs across more than 15 African countries, unlocking $240 million in private and public investments in CHW programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 122 social entrepreneurs and 100 organizations supported across five continents
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Africa Frontline First (AFF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025A collaborative, cross-sector initiative to scale community health worker (CHW) programs across more than 15 African countries. The fund has unlocked $240 million in private and public investments. The Foundation announced an additional $6 million investment in the AFF Sustainability and Resilience Fund.
• 34 Governments and Philanthropies (Land Rights Pledge)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025The Skoll Foundation joined 34 governments and philanthropies in collectively pledging $1.8 billion to help secure and enforce Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' land rights, recognizing their essential role in stewarding climate-critical ecosystems.
• The SidebarcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Community-led platform that debuted in Oxford in 2024, adding a fresh layer of creativity and inclusion to Forum Week. Features crowd-sourced discussion groups and digital People and Event Maps to increase visibility and participation.
• Marmalade Festival (Old Fire Station)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2012Hosted since 2012 by the Old Fire Station, the Marmalade Festival runs alongside the Forum and is accessible to everyone. Features independently organized sessions, workshops, and film screenings that connect global and local perspectives. Registration is free and open to all.
• Skoll Global Threats FundminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009A private foundation supported by the Skoll Foundation that operated from 2009-2017, addressing climate change, pandemics, water security, nuclear proliferation, and conflict in the Middle East. After spending down its $100 million gift, it sunset in 2017, spinning off Ending Pandemics and Climate Advocacy Lab.
• Participant MediacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004For two decades until its closing in 2024, Participant was a leading media company founded by Jeff Skoll dedicated to entertainment that inspired audiences to engage in positive social change. Produced more than 100 films earning 82 Academy Award nominations and 19 wins.
• Ending PandemicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization spun off from the Skoll Global Threats Fund that continues work on pandemic prevention and preparedness.
• Climate Advocacy LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization spun off from the Skoll Global Threats Fund that continues climate advocacy work.
• Jeff Skoll GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelps oversee, connect, and drive strategic initiatives across the family of Jeff Skoll's organizations, which include Capricorn Investment Group, Participant (until 2024), and the Skoll Foundation.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• TED (TED Foundation): Runs highly curated, mission-driven conferences (TED, TEDGlobal) centered on idea propagation via storytelling — shared storytelling-for-change ethos and curated-ticket format with the Skoll World Forum.

Direct peers

• Ashoka: Global network investing in and convening leading social entrepreneurs via fellowships and country programs. Closest analog to the Skoll Foundation's invest-connect-celebrate model, with an even larger community footprint (3,500+ Ashoka Fellows).
• Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship: Co-founded with the World Economic Forum, this foundation convenes social entrepreneurs annually at Davos and runs a fellowship network highly comparable to the Skoll World Forum's awardee community.
• Acumen: Nonprofit impact-investing fund backing social entrepreneurs in Africa, South Asia, and Latin America with patient capital and advisory — directly comparable to Skoll's invest-at-inflection model.

Emerging players

• Omidyar Network: Philanthropic venture established by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, investing in social enterprises and impact ventures. Closely analogous funder profile to Skoll given its eBay-founder origin and impact mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Rockefeller Foundation: Co-investor with Skoll in Apis & Heritage Legacy Fund I and parallel participant in land-rights and global-health funding pools. Comparable scale of grantmaking and convening in social impact.
• Ford Foundation: Major U.S. private foundation ($16B+ endowment) and explicit co-investor in Skoll initiatives (e.g., Apis & Heritage Legacy Fund I). Overlapping mission in social innovation, economic opportunity, and inclusive growth.
• Clinton Global Initiative: Runs a flagship annual multi-day convening (CGI) bringing world leaders, philanthropists, and social entrepreneurs together to commit to initiatives — directly comparable business-model and audience to the Skoll World Forum.
• World Economic Forum: Hosts Davos and other curated global convenings of political, business, and civil-society leaders — comparable convening format and exclusivity model to the Skoll World Forum, though broader in scope.
• Tata Trusts: One of the world's largest philanthropic foundations (~ $60B assets under management for Tata Sons/Trusts combined) running multi-sector grantmaking and convening in India and beyond — adjacent scale and mission to Skoll.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SkollWorldForum
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/skollfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/337234232975325
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skoll-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/skoll.foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Skoll World Forum