Workforce Development

The Atlassian Foundation brings together funding, people, and products from Atlassian to unleash the potential of social impact teams, with a particular focus on organizations changing lives through education. They contribute 1% of Atlassian's equity, profit, tools, and employee time to support nonprofits and social enterprises, offering 50-100% discounts on Atlassian apps and free support to qualifying organizations. Their mission is to unleash the potential of social impact teams, especially those focused on educational transformation, by taking a partner-centric approach that combines resources to drive impact. The Foundation operates on principles of building long-term partnerships, planning for scale, making fewer but bolder moves, and openly sharing their learnings with the broader impact community. The Foundation has made significant impact in the nonprofit ecosystem, having donated over $85 million and empowered more than 12,500 nonprofits worldwide with free or discounted tools. They co-founded the Pledge 1% movement, which encourages other businesses to commit resources to social good, amplifying their influence beyond their direct contributions and helping to establish a new approach to corporate philanthropy.

Backstage Capital is a venture capital firm that invests exclusively in startup founders who identify as women, people of color, and/or LGBTQ. The firm addresses the stark reality that less than 10% of all venture capital deals go to these underrepresented groups, viewing this disparity as a significant investment opportunity rather than a pipeline problem. The organization operates through direct investments and has expanded to include the Backstage Accelerator program, which provides $100,000 in capital for 5% equity along with a three-month program featuring mentorship, community building, and co-working space. Their mission centers on the belief that underrepresented founders are underestimated and have the greatest potential for unlocking innovation and creating valuable businesses. Backstage Capital has made a measurable impact in the venture ecosystem by democratizing access to capital for historically excluded founders. Led by Managing Partner Arlan Hamilton, who personally identifies as a woman, person of color, and LGBTQ, the firm has created pathways for diverse entrepreneurs while building a global community of local accelerator programs. Their work challenges traditional venture capital practices and demonstrates that diversity drives stronger business outcomes and more innovative ideas.

Doris Duke Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation dedicated to building a more creative, equitable, and sustainable future. Established through the legacy of philanthropist Doris Duke, the foundation supports initiatives across arts and culture, environmental conservation, child well-being, medical research, and cross-cultural understanding. The foundation invests in artists, researchers, nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and institutions working to advance creativity, strengthen communities, improve health outcomes, protect natural ecosystems, and foster social progress.

The Global Good Fund is a nonprofit social enterprise that identifies high-potential social impact leaders and accelerates their success through executive mentorship, professional leadership coaching, and capital. They focus on entrepreneurs tackling five key social issues: economic mobility, education, environment, financial inclusion, and health. Built by social entrepreneurs for social entrepreneurs, the organization operates through multiple channels including nonprofit programs, consulting services, and an impact fund, with proceeds from their consultancy and fund donated back to support more programs. Their proprietary development methods are designed to grow leaders who can achieve greater social impact. The Global Good Fund serves as a social impact accelerator that believes growing leaders is the most effective strategy for solving complex social problems and achieving global good. Their impact ecosystem creates a sustainable model where successful entrepreneurs can pay it forward, creating a ripple effect of sustainable community impact across their global network of change-makers.

GreenLight Fund is a national nonprofit network that matches local communities' unmet needs with evidence-based social innovations. They actively engage with local communities to identify gaps not being addressed and invite best-in-class nonprofits uniquely suited to tackle these challenges. Their mission centers on investing in community-driven change by partnering with local communities to tackle barriers that prevent individuals and families from achieving inclusive prosperity. They operate through a network of sites across multiple cities, working directly with communities to understand their specific needs before bringing in proven solutions. As a national network spanning over a decade of operations, GreenLight Fund has established itself as a significant player in the social innovation ecosystem. Their approach of centering racial equity and focusing on inclusive prosperity positions them as an important bridge between evidence-based interventions and community-identified needs, helping to scale effective solutions across diverse urban markets.

New Age Capital is a thesis-driven seed stage venture capital firm that invests in tech and tech-enabled startups founded and led by Black and Latino entrepreneurs. They focus on companies at the seed stage with products in market, early customer traction, and some revenue, leading seed rounds up to $3M with an emphasis on capital efficiency. The firm operates with a mission to address the historical underrepresentation in venture capital funding by supporting underinvested, bootstrapped founders from their communities. They are industry agnostic and seek the best software or technology-enabled solutions across various markets, though they exclude fashion/fashion tech, media, crypto/web3, and medical device companies from their investment scope. New Age Capital plays a crucial role in the venture ecosystem by filling gaps in funding for Black and Latino entrepreneurs who have historically struggled to access capital. Founded by Ivan Alo and LaDante McMillon after their own experiences building a fintech company and witnessing peers struggle to raise money, they represent a response to the lack of diversity in traditional VC firms and work to ensure that entire demographics of innovators are no longer ignored in the startup funding landscape.

REDF invests in businesses that reveal and reinforce the talent of people breaking through barriers to employment. They focus specifically on employment social enterprises - businesses that create jobs and opportunities for individuals who face significant challenges in accessing traditional employment pathways. The organization operates through a comprehensive approach that combines capital, capacity building, and community support to help their portfolio enterprises grow further and faster. Their mission centers on building a thriving and inclusive society where all people have the jobs and support they need to realize their full potential, guided by the vision of creating an economy that works for everyone. REDF plays a critical role in the social enterprise ecosystem by not only providing direct investment and support to employment-focused businesses, but also by evaluating what works and sharing their learnings to drive broader policy and systems change. Their multi-faceted approach spans from early-stage accelerator programs to growth-stage investments and advocacy partnerships with government entities, positioning them as both an investor and a thought leader in advancing employment opportunities for underserved populations.