About us In partnership with the World Economic Forum, the Schwab Foundation is the foremost global community of pioneering social entrepreneurs and innovators driving systemic change. Established by co-founders Hilde and Klaus Schwab in 1998, the Foundation’s ambition is to support social entrepreneurs and innovators from across the world in tackling complex challenges that drive inequality and exclusion, helping them to create real change for people and the planet. As the Foundation works towards this ambition with its partners and community of social entrepreneurs and innovators, it aims to: –Diffuse, adopt and scale outstanding models of social innovation across sectors, increasing their impact and deepening their value. –Play systemic roles for creating transformative change in novel ways, from unlocking new financing solutions and influencing policy decisions to shaping the mindsets of key stakeholders and working to shift power and resources to the people. –Mobilize and develop the social innovation ecosystem, including diverse actors, to collectively transform society. The Schwab Foundation’s initiatives to support and mainstream social innovation have grown significantly over the past year. In addition to a new cohort of leading and highly impactful social entrepreneurs and innovators, the Foundation team has intensified its engagements with the social innovation ecosystem as well as the private and public sectors. Through the Schwab Foundation’s Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship, it now connects actors representing over 100,000 social entrepreneurs with corporations, investors, philanthropists, governments, researchers, the media and industry. Together with its community and partners, the Schwab Foundation backs sustainable, inclusive solutions that are more likely to be systemic in nature, and empower millions of excluded, vulnerable and low-income groups to address social and environmental challenges, both local and global.The Schwab Foundation focuses on four areas of work: The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship provides a platform for social entrepreneurs and innovators to drive systemic change, and influence policy and stakeholders for transformative solutions. 1Building a community of social innovation leaders: By showcasing leading social innovation models to key decision-makers in both business and government, the Foundation fosters an environment where successful strategies can be scaled and replicated. This recognition not only honours the achievements of these social entrepreneurs and innovators but also amplifies their influence, inspiring others to adopt and support innovative solutions for a better world. 3Collaborating with the public sector: The Schwab Foundation also collaborates with policy-makers and public-sector leaders to reinforce regulatory frameworks that support social innovation. By working closely with these actors, the Foundation helps create an environment where innovative solutions to social challenges can flourish, ensuring that policies are aligned with the needs of communities and the potential of social enterprises. 4Driving collective action on emerging themes: In a complex, rapidly changing world, no single organization can tackle systemic issues. As the field of social innovation evolves, the Schwab Foundation works with its community, its partners and the broader ecosystem to identify emerging themes that are crucial for the sector and society at large. By doing so, the Foundation works collaboratively with key partners to shape the agenda for social innovation, providing a platform for innovators to present their solutions to cutting-edge issues such as artificial intelligence (AI), innovative finance and climate adaptation. This proactive and collective approach ensures that social innovation remains relevant and effective in addressing the most pressing challenges of today.2Engaging with the private sector: The Schwab Foundation’s community of social entrepreneurs and innovators represents a transformative approach to business. They demonstrate that business can be a force for good, creating both social impact and economic value. Recognizing this potential, the Foundation partners with the private sector to foster collaboration and drive meaningful change. By integrating social innovation into their business models, companies can address global challenges more effectively and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world.Credit: NaTakallam Schwab Foundation 2025 Awardees and Impact Report 4

Social Innovation in Action 2025