SF
LP profile
Skoll Foundation
Foundation · Founded 1999 · Palo Alto, United States
85
VC firms backed
$2.0B
AUM
~$100M
Allocated to VC (est. 5%)
01 · Background
Who Skoll Foundation is.
- Historical Background
- The Skoll Foundation was established in 1999 by Jeff Skoll, the first president of eBay, to support social entrepreneurs. In 2004, the foundation integrated the Skoll Community Fund, which is a supporting organization associated with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
- Source of Capital
- The foundation's capital is derived from the personal wealth of its founder, Jeff Skoll, who has committed to The Giving Pledge. It operates as a private foundation, managing its endowment through the Skoll Foundation and the Skoll Fund, which have distinct governing bodies but shared staff.
- Allocation Strategy
- The foundation's strategy centers on providing capital to social entrepreneurs and innovators who are addressing significant global challenges. It makes grants and program-related investments (PRIs), such as loans to financial institutions that serve impoverished communities in developing nations. The foundation identifies and supports organizations with scalable innovations, presenting the Skoll Awards for Social Innovation to social entrepreneurs with proven models for change.
02 · Fund commitments
The funds Skoll Foundation backs.
Skoll Foundation is a limited partner in 85 funds. 11 of them place in the Power Law Investor Ranking; those lead, best-ranked first.
Index Ventures
#11 Power Law
Bessemer Venture Partners
#17 Power Law
Kleiner Perkins
#18 Power Law
Benchmark
#47 Power Law
Balderton Capital
#59 Power Law
Nexus Venture Partners
#114 Power Law
True Ventures
#137 Power Law
SAIF Partners
#159 Power Law
CDH Investments
#320 Power Law
Vivo Capital
#376 Power Law
DN Capital
#481 Power Law
Abraaj Group
Actis
Acumen
Advent International
Affinity Equity Partners
Alpine Grove Partners
Alta Partners
Angaza
Apis & Heritage
Avestus Capital Partners
BlueOrchard Finance
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland - CCI
Cevian Capital
Chrys Capital
CITIC Capital
Detong Capital
Doughty Hanson Technology Ventures
GroFin
Helion Venture Partners
KfW
MarocInvest-Tuninvest Private Equity
Middle East Venture Partners
Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)
Norfund
Sadara Ventures
TDF Capital
Tsing Capital
03 · Allocation
How Skoll Foundation’s fund book is spread.
The 85 funds Skoll Foundation backs, by where the manager is headquartered and how many funds that manager has raised.
Where those managers are based
By fund headquarters.
- North America 5666%
- Europe 1518%
- Rest of world 1416%
United States 55 · United Kingdom 8 · China 4 · Hong Kong 3
How established those managers are
Managers grouped by how many funds they have raised — across the 43 of 85 with a fund history on record.
Emerging funds · 24
Established funds · 19
12
1
5
2
7
3
6
4
2
5-6
3
7-9
5
10-14
3
15+
Funds raised by the manager
04 · Direct investments
The companies Skoll Foundation backs directly.
Skoll Foundation holds 6 companies directly, separate from the funds it commits to as a limited partner.
Root Capital
IllumiNative
Food 4 education
Savelifefoundation
MPedigree Network
Wazi
$400K valuation
05 · Portfolio market map
Inside Skoll Foundation’s portfolio.
The 6 highest-funded portfolio companies, of 6 tracked.
RoRoot Capital
IlIllumiNative
FoFood 4 education
SaSavelifefoundation
MPMPedigree Network
WaWazi
$400K
06 · Other LPs
Other LPs.
Other foundations in the Power Law LP ranking, closest to Skoll Foundation by combined power-law score — North America first, then the nearest worldwide.
🇺🇸
The Schmidt Family Foundation
$1.5B AUM
16 VC funds backed
🇺🇸
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
$3.7B AUM
22 VC funds backed
🇺🇸
The James Irvine Foundation
$3.8B AUM
41 VC funds backed
🇺🇸
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
$9.0B AUM
25 VC funds backed
🇺🇸
Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
$2.0B AUM
30 VC funds backed
🇺🇸
Surdna Foundation
$1.5B AUM
66 VC funds backed
🇺🇸
The Ford Family Foundation
$1.3B AUM
32 VC funds backed
🇺🇸
Jane and Daniel Och Family Foundation
8 VC funds backed