Skoll Foundation
ActivePhilanthropy & VoluntarismMakes PRIsFunds Individuals
About Skoll Foundation
The Skoll Foundation focuses on systems-change philanthropy that blends global public health, epidemic preparedness, and social innovation with climate and civic resilience. It funds both high-profile research and delivery partners (e.g., biomedical research at Mayo Clinic; community health delivery like Last Mile Health) and intermediary organizations that scale movements and networks (e.g., New Venture Fund, Panorama Global, TED). Grants frequently support catalytic, general operating, and ecosystem-building work aimed at accelerating social entrepreneurs and pandemic/climate resilience worldwide.
Focus Areas
Pandemic preparedness and global health systems strengthening (e.g., epidemic prevention, frontline health delivery)Social entrepreneurship ecosystem building and storytelling platforms (e.g., Skoll Centre, TED, Upstart co-lab)Catalytic climate action and clean-technology advocacy (e.g., climate campaigns, methane/market initiatives)Democracy, civic resilience and policy infrastructure (e.g., election security, Protect Democracy, policy research funds)Capacity and network-building intermediaries that scale impact (e.g., New Venture Fund, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Windward Fund)
Who They Fund
About Skoll Foundation
The Skoll Foundation’s recent grantmaking is defined by large-scale support for systems change: a $11.4 million grant to Mayo Clinic for novel bio-therapeutics research, $3 million to Resolve to Save Lives Inc for the Prevent Epidemics Initiative, and $3 million to The One Campaign for core support. The foundation backs both delivery organizations and field builders, pairing health-system work with climate, democracy, and social-innovation infrastructure. It also funds intermediaries that move money and ideas across entire networks, including New Venture Fund, TED Foundation Inc, and the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment. That pattern shows up in the types of organizations it supports. The Skoll Foundation has given seven-figure grants to community health implementers such as Last Mile Health and Living Goods, while also supporting ecosystem actors like the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford and the Wellbeing Project through King Baudouin Foundation United States Inc. Its portfolio includes funders, research institutions, advocacy groups, and conveners, with repeated emphasis on catalytic support at an inflection point rather than narrow project funding.
What Skoll Foundation Funds
In global health and epidemic preparedness, the foundation gave $7,021,950 to Mayo Clinic for novel bio-therapeutics research and $3,000,000 to Resolve to Save Lives Inc for the Prevent Epidemics Initiative. It also funded the Global Fund to Fight Aids Tuberculosis and Malaria with $3,000,000 for the Africa Frontline First Catalytic Fund, reinforcing a public-health strategy that links research, prevention, and frontline delivery. Its climate-related giving includes $4,000,000 to The Alliance for Climate Protection for general operating support and $1,200,000 to 2x Global Limited for the Climate Gender Equity Fund. On democracy and civic resilience, the foundation gave $2,000,000 to Protect Democracy Project for general operating support and $2,000,000 to New Venture Fund for the Center for Secure and Modern Elections. The foundation also invests in social-innovation infrastructure. It supported Chancellor Masters & Scholars of the University of Oxford for the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and TED Foundation Inc for the Audacious Project, both tied to networks that elevate entrepreneurs and ideas.
How Skoll Foundation Gives
The Skoll Foundation’s typical grant size is $9,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $300,000 at the 75th percentile, showing a wide spread from smaller awards to large catalytic grants. The recent record also includes repeated support across years for some recipients, including Mayo Clinic and Chancellor Masters & Scholars of the University of Oxford, which suggests multi-year relationships rather than one-off awards. It is classified as a regular funder, makes program-related investments, and funds individuals. Several listed grants are general operating or core support, alongside program-specific awards.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$29M
Total Assets
$846.9M
Total Revenue
$47.9M
Total Expenses
$61.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $9K and $300K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$300K
Geographic Reach
National27 states funded
About 34% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Where Skoll Foundation Funds
Top 10 recipient countries by grant volume for Skoll Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 401 | $118.8M | 79.3% |
| 2 | United Kingdom | 21 | $10.3M |
Unlock Deep Analysis
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeExplore related grant guides
Want a Personalized Pitch for Skoll Foundation?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime