The Skoll Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2002 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Founded by Jeff Skoll, the first employee and president of eBay, the foundation catalyzes transformational social change by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators dedicated to solving the world's most pressing problems.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$846.9M
+4.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$44.9M
-22.9% YoY
Grant Count
157
-11.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$286K
-13.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Skoll Foundation reported a distributable amount of $39.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Skoll Foundation catalyzes transformational social change by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators who together advance bold and equitable solutions to the world's most pressing problems.
The foundation's current strategic priorities focus on three areas:
- Climate: Preventing deforestation
- Global Public Health: Community health workers
- Economic Opportunity: Smallholder agriculture and girls' education
Grantmaking
The foundation's primary grantmaking vehicle is the Skoll Awards for Social Innovation program, which provides substantial multi-year funding to social entrepreneurs at critical inflection points.
Grant Range
$2,000 to $2 million
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds globally across five continents. Over the past 25 years, it has invested in 165 organizations of social entrepreneurs and other social innovators across five continents.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of December 2024):
- Total assets: $847 million
- Total revenue: $47.9 million
- Total expenses: $61.2 million
- Total liabilities: $36.6 million
Combined Assets (Skoll Foundation and Skoll Fund):
- Combined assets: $1.779 billion (as of December 2024)
Historical Impact:
- Total awarded worldwide: More than $935 million over the past 25 years
- Total invested: More than $1.2 billion worldwide across 425 organizations
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $846,865,174 | $807,076,748 | $785,671,055 |
| Revenue | $47,915,522 | $35,298,910 | $53,827,585 |
| Expenses | $61,170,243 | $72,865,279 | $159,266,878 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $73,996,475 | $82,955,518 | $132,888,444 |
| Net Investment Income | $45,558,728 | $34,710,071 | $93,772,600 |
| Distributable Amount | $39,218,953 | $39,395,512 | $42,850,657 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Skoll Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chancellor Masters & Scholars of the University of Oxford ($1,562,621), Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc ($1,500,000), 2x Global Limited ($1,200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2X GLOBAL LIMITED | CLIMATE GENDER EQUITY FUND | $1,200,000 |
| 2X GLOBAL LIMITED | 2024-2026 2X GLOBAL MEMBERSHIP | $73,750 |
| 2X GLOBAL LIMITED | CLIMATE GENDER EQUITY FUND | $300,000 |
| AAPI CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FUND LOS ANGELES, CA | AAPI CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FUND GATHERING DINNER | $4,700 |
| AFRICAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY NPC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC WASHINGTON, DC | DECOLONIZING WEALTH PROJECT | $250,000 |
| AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC WASHINGTON, DC | BUILDUS FUND | $1,500,000 |
| AMANI GLOBAL WORKS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $300,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE PARENTS CIRCLE - FAMILIES FORUM NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS INSTITUTE INC WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Executive Leadership:
| Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| James GB DeMartini III | Chair | $0 |
| Donald Gips | Director and CEO | $853,000 |
| Marla Blow | President and Chief Operating Officer | $640,000 |
| Bruce Lowry | Secretary | $331,000 |
| Debbie Santos | Treasurer | $313,000 |
| Annalisa Adams-Qualtiere | Chief People Officer | $401,000 |
| Shivani Garg-Patel | Chief Strategy Officer | $374,000 |
| Alice Rhee | Chief Communications & Partnerships | $356,000 |
| Jessica Goldstein | Managing Director, Grantmaking | $283,000 |
| Suzana Grego | Vice President | $256,000 |
Board Directors:
- Cheryl Dorsey
- James Mwangi
- Lindsey Spindle
The foundation employs 58 full-time staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES GB DEMARTINI III | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| CHERYL DORSEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JAMES MWANGI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LINDSEY SPINDLE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DONALD GIPS | DIRECTOR AND CEO | 40 | $853,155 |
| MARLA BLOW | PRESIDENT AND COO | 40 | $639,541 |
| BRUCE LOWRY | SECRETARY | 40 | $331,283 |
| DEBBIE SANTOS | TREASURER | 40 | $313,063 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced the winners of the 2025 Skoll Award for Social Innovation in March 2025. The foundation also announced the winners of the 2024 Skoll Award for Social Innovation in April 2024.
Skoll | Skoll Foundation Announces the Winners of 2024 Skoll Award for SocialSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Skoll Foundation fund?
The Skoll Foundation catalyzes transformational social change by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators who together advance bold and equitable solutions to the world's most pressing problems. The foundation's current strategic priorities focus on three areas: • **Climate**: Preventing deforestation • **Global Public Health**: Community health workers • **Economic Opportunity**: Smallholder agriculture and girls' education
How do I apply for a grant from The Skoll Foundation?
The foundation's primary grantmaking vehicle is the Skoll Awards for Social Innovation program, which provides substantial multi-year funding to social entrepreneurs at critical inflection points. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award amount: $2 million per awardee (unrestricted) • Grant range: $2,000 to $2 million • Median grant size: $100,000 • Success rate: Estimated at less than 5% (approximately 4-6 awards from hundreds of candidates) • Decision timeline: Multi-year sourcing process (…
Where does The Skoll Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds globally across five continents. Over the past 25 years, it has invested in 165 organizations of social entrepreneurs and other social innovators across five continents.
What size grants does The Skoll Foundation award?
In 2024, The Skoll Foundation awarded 157 grants totaling $44.9M — an average of about $286K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Skoll Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Skoll Foundation reported a distributable amount of $39.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Skoll Foundation's EIN?
The Skoll Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-3659133. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Skoll Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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