News from Civsy, based on generative AI tools and retrieval-augumented real time data searchThe 2025 Skoll World Forum, held from April 1-4 in Oxford, UK, and online, united social innovators, change leaders, and global voices under the theme "Together We Can Mend What is Broken." This year’s forum tackled pressing global challenges while showcasing transformative solutions that demonstrate repair is possible even in fractured systems. From reimagining philanthropy to celebrating groundbreaking social innovations, the forum provided a roadmap for addressing systemic issues and fostering equitable futures.
Reimagining Philanthropy
The forum underscored the evolving role of philanthropy in responding to global challenges amidst shrinking resources and shifting priorities. Jeff Skoll, founder of the Skoll Foundation, announced a $25 million emergency fund to counteract recent "inhumane" spending cuts in the U.S., representing a nearly 30% increase in the foundation's grant spending for the year. This bold move aimed to signal urgency and inspire other funders to expand their efforts during crises. Collaborative philanthropy models were also emphasized, with pooled funds and collective action serving as effective ways to amplify impact. Over the last decade, 20% of the Skoll Foundation’s funding has been allocated to pooled initiatives, reflecting its commitment to mobilizing resources across organizations.
Mission-aligned investing emerged as another key strategy, with the foundation leveraging its balance sheet to complement traditional grants through program-related investments and impact-focused financial models. Leaders at the forum urged foundations to increase their annual spending rates, advocating for a shift from a typical 5% spending rate to 6%, which could unlock an additional $80 billion in funding over four years for social causes. Discussions challenged traditional donor-beneficiary models, calling for radical collaboration and co-ownership between funders and communities. Innovative frameworks such as diaspora-led philanthropic initiatives and AI-integrated strategies were explored. The need for flexible, long-term funding was reinforced, enabling organizations to take risks and scale systemic solutions. Unrestricted funding provided through the Skoll Awards allows recipients to address root causes and sustain their impact over time.
Celebrating Social Innovation
The prestigious Skoll Awards for Social Innovation were a highlight of the forum, providing $2 million in unrestricted funding to each of five exceptional organizations addressing systemic global challenges. The awards ceremony celebrated leaders who are tackling root causes of complex problems with transformative solutions.
Apis & Heritage Capital Partners (A&H) is revolutionizing American capitalism by converting profitable businesses into 100% employee-owned enterprises. Their innovative model has transitioned businesses with a combined value of $65 million to employee ownership, benefiting hundreds of workers and creating pathways to financial prosperity. Community Health Impact Coalition (CHIC), led by Dr. Madeleine Ballard and Margaret Odera, has championed policies that bring professional recognition and accreditation to community health workers in 47 countries. Their efforts ensure quality healthcare for remote populations through properly trained health workers. Healthy Learners has transformed school-based healthcare in Zambia by training teachers as frontline health workers, improving health outcomes for over one million children while connecting schools with public health systems.
Pacto pela Democracia has mobilized more than 200 civil society organizations to safeguard Brazil's democratic institutions against disinformation and election-related violence. In 2022 alone, they deployed over 80 coordinated actions to protect election integrity. EarthEnable is addressing housing crises and environmental concerns by providing eco-friendly, affordable flooring solutions that have improved living conditions for over 200,000 people across Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda while promoting sustainability and local job creation.
Emerging Themes: Paradigm Shifts in Development
A central theme of this year’s forum was the recognition of a new era of austerity in international development funding. Foundations face tough trade-offs between immediate needs like vaccines and feeding children versus investing in longer-term goals such as economic inclusion for poverty alleviation. This funding reality is driving exploration into new models like impact investment, philanthropic venture funds, and blended finance approaches to fill gaps left by traditional sources.
As resources become more constrained, donors are increasingly demanding data-driven evidence of cost-effectiveness and measurable outcomes. Organizations must demonstrate multiple returns on investment while maintaining quality at reduced costs. For example, Trickle Up emphasized the importance of building comprehensive evidence bases connecting their work to broader outcomes in health, education, and empowerment. The forum also highlighted locally led development as a critical paradigm shift. Elevating voices from the Global South reflects growing recognition that those closest to challenges should lead change efforts. This transition requires international NGOs to reconsider their roles—focusing on support rather than direction—and transferring power, resources, and decision-making authority to communities.
Collaboration as a Path Forward
The 2025 Skoll World Forum served as both a celebration of transformative social innovation and a sober acknowledgment of challenges ahead. As funding landscapes shift and global problems intensify, the forum reinforced the importance of collaboration across sectors and geographies alongside evidence-based approaches and locally led solutions. The five award recipients exemplify how targeted social innovation can address complex systemic problems—from democratizing business ownership to safeguarding democratic institutions. Their work demonstrates that even in fractured systems, repair is possible through determined collaborative action across ideologies and regions. In a global context marked by shrinking resources and growing challenges, this year’s forum reaffirmed the power of bringing diverse stakeholders together to reimagine solutions for building resilient and equitable systems for the future.
See: Skoll Foundation
