Win 2 Million Dollars for Global Impact: Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship Guide 2024

If you are running a social enterprise that is actually moving the needle, this is one of the biggest, most prestigious prizes you can aim for.

The Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship is not your average grant. It is a $2,000,000 award spread over four years, aimed at social entrepreneurs who are not just doing good projects, but changing how entire systems work. Think: how healthcare is delivered in rural regions, how smallholder farmers access markets, how justice systems treat marginalized communities.

If your work has already proven its impact and you are wrestling with the question, “How do we scale this without losing our soul?” — you are exactly the kind of person this award was built for.

The Skoll Foundation is known for backing people who bend history a few degrees. Winners do not just get money; they join a high-profile global community of peers, funders, and partners, plus visibility that can accelerate everything else you do. The award is notoriously competitive, but if you are a fit, it can completely change the trajectory of your organization.

Below, you will find a practical, candid guide to what the award offers, who should seriously consider applying, and how to give yourself a real shot.

Skoll Award at a Glance

Why This Opportunity Matters So Much

Two million dollars over four years is serious fuel. It is the type of capital that can fund leadership, technology, and infrastructure — the unglamorous backbone work that most restricted grants do not touch.

For many social entrepreneurs, the biggest constraint is not ideas. It is oxygen. You are stuck choosing between short-term project grants that keep the lights on, or long-term bets that might actually transform your sector. The Skoll Award leans strongly toward the latter.

Just as important as the money is the signal. Being named a Skoll Awardee puts your organization on the radar of major philanthropies, impact investors, and corporate partners. People who ignored your emails last year might now ask for a meeting.

The award also aligns with a specific philosophy: systemic change. Skoll is not trying to fund “nice programs that help a few thousand people.” They want organizations that are changing rules, norms, incentives, or markets so that millions can benefit — even people they will never directly serve.

If that sounds like where your work is headed, this award is worth serious consideration.

What This Opportunity Actually Offers

Let us unpack what you are really getting beyond the headline number.

First, the $2,000,000 in funding over four years gives you rare breathing room. Multi-year funding means you can think in terms of strategy, not survival. You can invest in:

• Strengthening your leadership team (COO, CTO, head of impact).
• Building or upgrading tech platforms that support scale.
• Expanding to new regions where you already see traction.
• Policy, advocacy, and coalition-building work that does not fit neatly in a project budget.

This is typically flexible, organization-level support, not just a narrow program grant. It is meant to help you move from “promising model” to “durable system shift.”

Second, Skoll brings credibility and visibility. Awardees are highlighted through Skoll’s platforms, media partners, and especially the Skoll World Forum, where global leaders from philanthropy, government, and business gather. A five-minute conversation there can lead to partnerships that would normally take years to build.

Third, you gain access to a community of fellow awardees. These are people who deeply understand the grind of scaling social change. The informal value here is huge: comparing notes on growing teams, managing funder expectations, surviving crises, and building models that outlast charismatic founders.

Fourth, the Skoll team itself can be a strategic ally. While they are not your consultants, they often connect awardees to:

• Other funders aligned with your approach.
• Policy influencers in your thematic area.
• Researchers, storytellers, or media partners who can help document your model.

In short, this is not a one-off prize. It is a four-year partnership with money, megaphone, and a high-impact network.

Who Should Seriously Consider Applying

This award is not for early prototypes or brand-new organizations. It is for social entrepreneurs who can already prove that their model works and is ready for broader influence.

You are a strong fit if:

• You lead an organization with at least three years of verifiable impact data. That means you can show numbers, not just anecdotes: people reached, outcomes improved, costs reduced, behaviors changed, laws influenced.
• Your work clearly addresses a major social or environmental problem, and your intervention is more than charity. You are changing how something fundamentally works.
• Your model has systemic change potential. Maybe you are:
  • Shaping government policy through evidence and pilots.
  • Building a market where none existed before (e.g., affordable solar, fair trade, inclusive finance).
  • Shifting norms (for example, around gender, incarceration, climate resilience).
• You are a recognized leader within your organization and your field. The award is for social entrepreneurs, not anonymous institutions. Skoll typically backs a person + organization combination.

A few practical examples:

• A health enterprise that has worked with multiple ministries to adopt its community health worker model nationally, backed by strong data from several regions.
• An ed-tech nonprofit that has demonstrated learning gains at scale and is now influencing national curriculum and digital learning policy.
• A climate organization that created a replicable model for community-based adaptation, now being adopted by international agencies and governments.

If your organization is still trying to prove that its core idea works with a few hundred beneficiaries, this is probably premature. But if you are feeling the strain of scaling — lots of demand, limited infrastructure, policy barriers — you might be right on time.

Eligibility in Plain Language

Based on the limited formal criteria plus Skoll’s track record, here is what “eligible” really looks like:

• You are a social entrepreneur: You are not just a program manager. You are the driving force behind a social venture — nonprofit, hybrid, or mission-driven business — that exists to address a pressing global problem.

• Your organization has proven impact: You are beyond pilot. For at least three years, you have been tracking your results in a disciplined way. You can show trends, not just single-year spikes. You know what works, what does not, and how you adapted.

• You can demonstrate systemic change potential: Reviewers should be able to see a clear pathway from what you are doing now to broader system shifts. Maybe you are already:

  • Working with governments.
  • Setting new industry standards.
  • Building open-source tools others now use.
  • Leading or anchoring a wider movement.

• You operate globally or in a way that can translate globally: The award is open worldwide. You do not have to work in multiple countries yet, but your model should have relevance or adaptability beyond one narrow context.

If you tick these boxes and can articulate your path to scale, you are in the right ballpark.

Insider Tips for a Winning Skoll Application

This is a very competitive award. Here are practical ways to improve your odds.

1. Lead with the system, not just the program

Do not just describe what your organization does. Explain what is broken in the system you are trying to change — and how your approach shifts the rules, incentives, or norms.

For example, “We train youth in coding” is not a systems story. “We are changing how vocational training is financed and certified so that unemployed youth can access industry-recognized skills at scale” is.

2. Show a clear before-and-after picture

Reviewers want to see evidence, not aspiration. Paint a clear contrast:

• What did the situation look like before your intervention?
• What does it look like now, for specific communities or institutions?
• How can you prove that your work contributed to that change?

Use real numbers, not vague claims. “Household incomes increased by 27 percent over three years across 8,000 farmers, compared with a control group” sticks in the mind far more than “We significantly improved livelihoods.”

3. Explain your path to scale like a strategist

Scaling is not just “we will expand to five more regions.” It is about how scale happens: via government adoption, franchise models, open-source replication, partnerships with industry, or policy change.

Spell out your theory of scale in simple terms. For instance:

“Over the next five years, our direct operations will remain focused on two countries. Our main scaling engine will be helping governments adapt our model, supported by our data, training materials, and policy advisory work.”

That sounds deliberate and credible.

4. Be candid about risks and constraints

Skoll’s reviewers have seen a lot. They know no model is perfect. If you pretend everything is smooth, you will sound naïve.

Instead, be direct about the hardest challenges you face — political risk, talent constraints, data gaps, new competitors — and what you are doing about them. This signals maturity and leadership, not weakness.

5. Show that your leadership team can handle growth

The award is a big bet. Reviewers will ask, “Can this team handle going from here to there without burning out or breaking the culture?”

Highlight:

• The strength and diversity of your leadership team.
• Governance structures (board, advisory groups).
• How you develop talent internally.
• Any succession planning or shared leadership structures.

If your model depends entirely on you never sleeping, that is a red flag.

6. Connect your story to the global conversation

Position your work in the larger global context: SDGs, climate commitments, education gaps, health equity, whatever is relevant. Reviewers are thinking about how your impact fits with other major efforts.

You do not need jargon. Just demonstrate that you know who else is working in your space and how you complement or challenge the dominant approaches.

7. Let your narrative breathe

This is a prestigious award, but do not bury your story in dense, academic language. Reviewers are humans. They respond to clear, direct writing with vivid examples.

Explain complex concepts like you would to a smart friend: no dumbing down, just no fluff and no posturing.

Application Timeline: Work Backward from December 1, 2024

If the deadline is December 1, 2024, you cannot treat this like a quick form. Think of it as a major strategic proposal and give it time.

Here is a realistic backward plan:

• By early August 2024
  Decide whether you are applying this cycle. Do a quick self-assessment: impact data ready? Team on board? Time available? If yes, assign a small core team for the application (founder/CEO, impact lead, maybe a comms or fundraising lead).

• August–September 2024
  Gather your impact data and key documents. Pull together your best evidence: evaluation reports, monitoring data, case studies, press coverage, policy wins. Start rough outlines of your narrative: problem, solution, evidence, systems change, scale.

• October 2024
  Draft the full application. Expect to go through at least two full drafts. Circulate to trusted advisors, board members, or peers who know your work but are not in the weeds. Ask: “Does this read like us at our best? Is anything confusing or unbelievable?”

• Early to mid-November 2024
  Revise, tighten, and fact-check everything. Make sure your numbers are consistent across sections. Clarify your systems-change story. Refine your path to scale. If references or endorsements are needed, confirm them now.

• Late November 2024
  Aim to submit by November 27–28, not December 1. Leaving a few days for technical issues or last-minute corrections is just good risk management.

Treat this as a strategic reflection process, not just a transaction. Even if you are not selected, the clarity you gain can strengthen other fundraising and partnerships.

Required Materials and How to Prepare Them

The exact application form is on Skoll’s site, but you can safely expect to need several core pieces of content. Prepare these well in advance:

• Organizational summary: A crisp description of who you are, what you do, and where you work. Aim for clarity over cleverness.

• Problem and solution narrative: A thorough yet readable account of the issue you address and your approach. Use data to describe the problem, then show exactly how your model intervenes.

• Impact evidence: This is the heart of your case. Compile:

  • Outcome metrics over several years.
  • Any external evaluations or research.
  • Stories or case examples that bring the numbers to life.

• Systems-change and scale plan: A clear explanation of how your work is changing (or will change) systems, and your strategy for scaling that impact.

• Leadership biography and team overview: Highlight relevant experience, unique strengths, and how your team is structured to support growth.

• Financial information: Revenue history, major funders, and a sense of how the Skoll funds would be used. You do not need a line-item budget in public materials yet, but you should be internally clear on your priorities.

Organize all this in a shared folder so your team is not scrambling as the deadline approaches.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Based on what Skoll typically celebrates, strong applications tend to excel in a few areas.

1. Clear evidence of real-world impact
You are not just busy; you are effective. Reviewers can see a link from your activities to meaningful changes in people’s lives or in how institutions behave. Ideally, you have independent validation, not only self-reported stories.

2. A credible systems-change narrative
You convincingly show how your work reaches beyond direct beneficiaries. Maybe your pilots led to policy adoption. Maybe your model is being replicated independently in other regions. Maybe you are shifting industry norms or accountability structures.

3. Scalability without dilution
You show that as you grow, your quality and mission will not evaporate. This might include training-of-trainers models, strong partnerships, standardization where it matters, and clear boundaries about what you will and will not do.

4. Strong, values-driven leadership
Your leadership style matters. Skoll cares about integrity, humility, collaboration, and courage. If you are known for bulldozing partners or owning credit, that is a problem. If you are known for sharing credit and building coalitions, that is a plus.

5. Strategic use of the award funds
You can articulate how $2,000,000 over four years will change your trajectory, not just pad your budget. For example: “This funding will let us build the policy, data, and technical backbone required to support national adoptions, not just expand one more site.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even excellent organizations can undermine themselves in the application. Watch out for these traps:

1. Vague claims without proof
Saying you “impact millions” without explaining how you count or what “impact” means is a red flag. Be specific. If your reach is indirect or estimated, say so and explain the method.

2. Confusing activity with impact
“We ran 500 workshops” is activity. “After our workshops, 72 percent of participants reported X behavior change, up from 18 percent” is impact. Reviewers need to see the latter.

3. Overpromising on scale
Claiming you will “transform the whole world in five years” sounds unserious. Ambition is good; fantasy is not. Show stretch goals that are still grounded in your current capacity and experience.

4. Hiding the hard parts
If your work is in a politically volatile or high-risk context, say so. Explain how you manage those risks. Saying nothing implies you either do not see the risks or you are avoiding them.

5. Submitting a founder-only application
If the application feels like a solo performance by the founder, reviewers may question your organizational resilience. Show the depth of your team and your governance. Change at this scale is a team sport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we have to be a nonprofit to apply?
No. Skoll historically supports both nonprofits and mission-driven businesses. What matters is the social impact at scale, not your tax status. That said, if you are a for-profit, you should be very clear about how social value sits at the core of your model, not as an afterthought.

Is there a minimum or maximum organizational size?
There is no formal size requirement, but in practice, winners are typically beyond the tiny start-up stage. You should have enough operational maturity, staff, and systems to absorb multi-year growth funding without collapsing.

We only operate in one country. Are we still eligible?
Yes, as long as your model has relevance beyond that one setting or has the potential to influence global practice. Many awardees began in one country and then shaped policy, markets, or practice across others.

We do not have a randomized controlled trial. Are we out?
Not necessarily. While rigorous evidence is always a plus, Skoll does not only fund organizations with RCTs. You do need credible, consistent evidence of outcomes over time. That can include quasi-experimental studies, strong monitoring systems, or third-party evaluations.

Can we apply if we have less than three years of data but strong early results?
The stated expectation is at least three years of impact data. If you are below that, your chances are significantly lower. It might be smarter to treat this cycle as preparation: build your evidence base, refine your systems-change story, and come back stronger in a later round.

Can we apply more than once?
Policies can shift, but major awards like this typically allow re-application in future cycles if you were not selected before. If you do reapply, your new application should clearly show what has changed: stronger evidence, clearer scale strategy, new partnerships, or deeper systems change.

Will Skoll cover indirect or overhead costs?
The award is usually designed as flexible, organization-level support, which typically can cover core costs. Exact rules will be on the official site, but you should approach this as funding that can support the backbone of your work, not just projects.

How to Apply and Next Steps

Before you do anything, pause and ask: Are we truly at the right stage for this? If the honest answer is “almost, but not yet,” keep the award on your radar and use the next year to sharpen your impact data and systems-change strategy.

If you are ready, here is a simple action plan:

1. Study the official guidelines carefully.
   Go to the Skoll Award page and read every section: eligibility, process, and any FAQ they provide.

2. Align your internal team.
   Decide who will lead the application and who will contribute (impact, finance, leadership). Block time in their calendars between now and November.

3. Build your evidence pack.
   Gather your strongest data, reports, and stories in one place. Make sure everyone is working from consistent numbers and definitions.

4. Draft your core narrative early.
   Write — and rewrite — your explanation of the problem, your solution, your impact, and your systems-change path. This will feed every section of the application, plus future fundraising efforts.

5. Get outside eyes on your draft.
   Ask a few thoughtful people who know your field but are not deeply embedded in your organization to read your draft. If they struggle to understand your unique value, reviewers will too.

6. Submit early and breathe.
   Do not race the deadline. Aim to submit a few days before December 1, 2024.

Ready to explore the official details and start the process?

Get Started

Visit the official Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship page for full eligibility rules, current application instructions, and access to the submission portal:

Official opportunity page:
https://skoll.org/award/

Use this guide as your strategic companion, but treat the Skoll site as the final word on requirements and process. And if you are the kind of social entrepreneur this award is built for, do not talk yourself out of applying — your work might be exactly what they are looking for.