How 500 Social Entrepreneurs and Innovators have improved the lives of 931 million people worldwide

The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship is advancing social entrepreneurship innovation worldwide.

The world still faces significant challenges in meeting the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the latest United Nations’ report highlighting stalled progress and growing inequities.

Indeed, only 17% of the goals are attainable at the current rate of progress, with minimal or moderate progress on meeting half the goals, and a third stalled or regressed, according to the SDGs progress report.

In these critical times, social entrepreneurs and innovators are essential and serve as lighthouse examples of effective approaches. They are transforming healthcare and education, advancing equity, creating livelihoods for those excluded from markets and economies, and demonstrating climate action hand-in-hand with communities.

They also contribute to shifting away from top-down, single-organizational approaches by facilitating collaboration between key actors and empowering citizens and local groups to effect change in their own communities.

Over these past few decades, social innovation has moved from the margins towards the mainstream, from policies that promote it in over 30 countries, to partnerships with businesses to scale impact.

The Schwab Foundation's milestone report, The State of Social Enterprise 2024, estimates there are 10 million social enterprises worldwide, generating around $2 trillion in revenue annually and creating nearly 200 million jobs. There is also growing evidence that such organizations bridge the gender gap, with women leading 50% of social enterprises worldwide.

This inspiring new wave of leaders' innovative models challenges established methods to create sustainable practices in businesses, social development and environmental initiatives, demonstrating that economic value can coexist with substantial social and environmental progress.

To achieve maximum impact and address the root causes through systemic change, social innovators need greater visibility, credibility, access to finance, favourable policy decisions, and, in some cases, a better perspective and influence on global affairs.

For such leaders to continue to flourish and such models to be adopted into mainstream practices, decision-makers need to rapidly scale up the recognition, infrastructure and investment necessary for them to thrive in their work.

Since 1998, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship has been at the forefront of bringing together the world's leading social innovators across the most diverse sectors and geographical boundaries.

The community comprises almost 500 social entrepreneurs and innovators from 438 organizations that have directly impacted over 931 million lives. While their impact is undeniable, social innovators face significant challenges.

By fostering a vibrant, trust-based community of social innovators, raising awareness of outstanding social innovation models, facilitating opportunities for collaboration and partnership, and providing capacity-building resources and learning opportunities, the Schwab Foundation contributes to advancing social innovation toward systemic change.

The Schwab Foundation's annual review reveals its member organizations have collectively raised $1.25 billion in this past year alone, showcasing their ability to drive change. By collaborating across public, private, civil society, and philanthropy sectors, they amplify their impact and mobilize significant resources.

Every year, the Schwab Foundation identifies and awards a diverse cohort of outstanding social innovators and invites them to join a three-year development journey.

The programme allows them to grow themselves and their organizations before becoming lifelong community members, gaining continued support and access to opportunities through the network.

The awards honour social innovators' achievements and amplify their influence, inspiring others to adopt and support innovative solutions for a better world.

The annual Schwab Foundation Social Innovation Awards recognize outstanding work in the following categories:

The Schwab Foundation announced the 2025 cohort of Social Innovation Awardees at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos, Switzerland.

Our global network of experts, partner institutions and World Economic Forum constituents can nominate outstanding social innovators each year, with information about the award process and selection criteria available on the Schwab Foundation website.

Corporations, investors, governments, intermediaries, academics and media who share our commitment to social entrepreneurship and innovation are welcome to contact us to learn more about how to engage with our private and public sector work, such as the Corporate Leadership Council, Rise Ahead Pledge, Emerging Topics, and the Policy Leadership Council on the Social Economy.