The Skoll Foundation
The Skoll Foundation is a private foundation based in Palo Alto, California. It supports social entrepreneurs and other social innovators working on bold, equitable solutions to pressing global problems, including global health, deforestation, economic opportunity, and girls’ education.
Key facts about The Skoll Foundation
In short: The Skoll Foundation gave $44.9M across 157 grants in 2024 (avg $286K), top state District of Columbia. 28% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 11-3659133
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $44,853,705
- Grants made (2024)
- 157
- Average grant
- $285,692
- Median grant
- $100,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (34 of 122, 2024)
- Total assets
- $846,865,174
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (18% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation’s filing directs readers to its website for application information. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
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.
Is The Skoll Foundation open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 34 of 122 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $230K; repeat grants $421K. How we count
Medians: $75K first-time, $133K repeat.
- 56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 53% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 189% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to catalyze transformational social change by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators around the world who offer compelling visions, creative solutions, and proven approaches to pressing global problems.
Its website describes priority work on strengthening global health systems through community health, curbing deforestation by securing Indigenous land rights, and expanding economic opportunity, including support for smallholder agriculture and girls’ education. The Skoll Awards for Social Innovation also identify focus areas including health systems, effective governance, inclusive economies, racial justice, and climate action.
The foundation says it seeks leaders who are proximate to the communities they serve and value collaboration. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own stated missions illustrate the range of its grantees: Last Mile Health says it works to develop professionalized community health workers serving remote communities, while Khushi Baby says it empowers community health workers to transform health care delivery at the last mile. Protect Democracy Project says it works to prevent democratic decline and strengthen checks and balances. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 157 grants totaling $44,853,705. Grant amounts ranged from $1,400 to $7,021,950, with a median of $100,000.
Among its largest reported 2024 grants were $7,021,950 to Mayo Clinic for novel bio-therapeutics research; $3,000,000 to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for the Africa Frontline First Catalytic Fund; $2,000,000 to Protect Democracy Project for general operating support; and $1,562,621 to the Chancellor, Masters & Scholars of the University of Oxford for the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship. Other grants included $1,500,000 to Amalgamated Charitable Foundation for the BuildUS Fund and $1,200,000 to 2X Global for the Climate Gender Equity Fund.
The foundation’s website describes the Skoll Awards for Social Innovation as an annual program for a select group of social innovators. The program information provided for the awards states that each awardee receives $2 million in unrestricted funding and that candidates are identified through a multi-year sourcing process. The foundation’s website also invites people to tell it about their work or refer social innovators. Its 2024 filing says application information, including forms and materials, deadlines, and award restrictions, can be found on its website.
How to Apply
The foundation’s filing directs readers to its website for application information. For the Skoll Awards, the program description says candidates are identified through a multi-year sourcing process; the foundation’s website also provides a way to recommend social innovators.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Skoll Foundation
Ready to take the next step with The Skoll Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it has invested in 476 organizations on five continents. Its website describes work with partners around the world. The 2024 filing reports recipient-state grant-dollar shares of 18% for Washington, DC; 16% for Minnesota; 6% for California; and 5% for New York. It also lists a 37% share under “?” without identifying a state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 157 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $44.9M (2024) to $112.8M (2020). In 2024 it made 157 grants totaling $44.9M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Mayo Clinic ($7.0M). Together the top 10 received $22.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,195 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 432 grants of 1,195 (36%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN | Novel Bio-Therapeutics Research | $7,021,950 |
| Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria | Africa Frontline First Catalytic Fund | $3,000,000 |
| Protect Democracy Project Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $2,000,000 |
| Chancellor Masters & Scholars of the University of Oxford | Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship | $1,562,621 |
| Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc Washington, DC | Buildus Fund | $1,500,000 |
| 2X Global Limited | Climate Gender Equity Fund | $1,200,000 |
| Mpedigree Network Limited | Improve traceability and prevent fraudulent supply chain inputs in tanzania. | $1,000,000 |
| University of Arizona Foundation Tucson, AZ | Creation of ending pandemics academy and establishing an ending pandemics endowed chair position | $1,000,000 |
| Freethink Media Inc Washington, DC | "Rethinking Possible" Content Series | $918,750 |
| Avina Americas Inc Washington, DC | Mapbiomas | $800,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $846,865,174 | $47,915,522 | $61,170,243 | $44,853,705 | 157 |
| 2023 | $807,076,748 | $35,298,910 | $72,865,279 | $58,191,684 | 177 |
| 2022 | $785,671,055 | $53,827,585 | $159,266,878 | $109,851,178 | 349 |
| 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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists James GB DeMartini III as chair; Donald Gips as director and CEO; and Marla Blow as president and COO. Other listed directors are Cheryl Dorsey, James Mwangi, and Lindsey Spindle. Bruce Lowry is listed as secretary, and Debbie Santos as treasurer.
The Skoll Foundation is led by Donald Gips, Director & CEO since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 4 of 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Donald Gips
Director & CEO
President & CEO → Director & CEO, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$756K (2020) → $853K (2024)
Marla Blow
President & COO
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$500K (2021) → $640K (2024)
James Gb Demartini III
Chair
Director → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Mwangi
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lindsey Spindle
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cheryl Dorsey
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Lowry
Secretary
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$249K (2020) → $331K (2024)
Debbie Santos
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$216K (2021) → $313K (2024)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Debra Dunn (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Richard Fahey (2020–2021) — Treasurer & COO
- Former: Jeffrey S. Skoll (2020) — Chairman
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $853K, to Donald Gips (Director and CEO). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: App Info Found At Wwwskollorg
Mailing address: 250 University Avenue Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Phone: (650) 331-1031
Email: info@skoll.org
Website: https://skoll.org
Frequently asked questions about The Skoll Foundation
How much does The Skoll Foundation give each year?
The Skoll Foundation gave $44.9M across 157 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $58.2M across 177 grants.
What is The Skoll Foundation's typical grant size?
The Skoll Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $285,692, across 157 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Skoll Foundation that year got $230K on average.
Where does The Skoll Foundation give grants?
The Skoll Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 18% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Minnesota (16%) and California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (29 grants), New York, NY (14 grants), San Francisco, CA (9 grants) and Boston, MA (5 grants).
Does The Skoll Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 46% of The Skoll Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (72 of 157) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Core Support" (5 grants).
Who are The Skoll Foundation's largest grantees?
The Skoll Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Mayo Clinic ($7,021,950), Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria ($3,000,000) and Protect Democracy Project ($2,150,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Skoll Foundation?
The Skoll Foundation reported $846.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $74.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $39.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Skoll Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to catalyze transformational social change by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators around the world who offer compelling visions, creative solutions, and proven approaches to pressing global problems. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Skoll Foundation?
The foundation’s filing directs readers to its website for application information. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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