stability at times when individual funding models are disrupted. Innovators seek to underpin all these efforts with deeper local ownership, strategic adaptability and leadership renewal – which in many cases includes a shift to the next generation of leaders. The Schwab Foundation’s role in this transformation goes beyond simply recognizing outstanding social innovators. We work to strengthen the ecosystem around them at a time when resources have become more scarce and the boundaries between social entrepreneurship and mainstream business are fading. Across sectors, there is growing recognition that no single organization can solve complex challenges alone – progress requires collective action. Through the Global Alliance and Corporate Leadership Council, we hope to provide the necessary platform, as many private and public sector actors, as well as ecosystem organizations, continue to learn how to fully collaborate beyond the limited horizons of individual or organizational priorities. Social enterprises offer a living example of how shared purpose, accountability and trust can drive change across systems, yet they still face important structural barriers: financial markets remain driven by short-term returns, policies for social innovation remain uncommon and data on the sector is fragmented. Our work brings together those ready to change this reality and build the foundations for a more resilient, impact-driven mainstream economy with social innovation at its heart. Our call to action remains clear: the path forward requires all actors – governments, businesses, investors, civil society and innovators – to work together, combining the impact of social innovators with the scale and influence of mainstream systems. Only through this greater collaboration can we build economies that serve both people and planet sustainably. The coming years of social innovation must move decisively from the margins to the mainstream, transforming not only the markets but the mindsets that drive them. In doing so, these actors will help shape a more human, regenerative future that is shared by all. Credit: VEJA Schwab Foundation 2026 Awardees and Impact Report 41

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