Save the Children Global Ventures

Acumen is a venture philanthropy organization that invests in visionary entrepreneurs building transformational companies from seed to scale. They focus on funding bold entrepreneurs who are creating inclusive solutions across sectors like sustainable agriculture, quality education, renewable energy, healthy communities, dignified jobs, and gender equality. Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty through patient capital investments in high-innovation, high-impact enterprises. They operate by deploying philanthropic capital to shape markets and support entrepreneurs who are addressing the world's toughest poverty-related challenges, investing where traditional funders won't. Acumen Ventures has established itself as a significant force in the impact investing ecosystem since 2001, with an A to Z directory of portfolio companies spanning over two decades. They matter because they've reinvented the rules of return, prioritizing impact alongside financial sustainability and helping to demonstrate that venture philanthropy can drive meaningful systemic change in underserved communities globally.

Airbnb.org is an independent U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity that pays for free, short-term housing for people affected by disasters and other crises. The organization launched in 2020 after eight years of crisis-housing work through Airbnb's Open Homes program, which began when a host named Shell offered her home at no charge after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Airbnb.org is legally separate from Airbnb, Inc.; Airbnb covers the charity's operating costs, supplies access to its technology platform and services, and says it does not earn money from Airbnb.org-supported stays. The operating model is housing assistance rather than conventional grantmaking. Airbnb.org works with vetted local nonprofit partners that identify and refer eligible people, volunteers, first responders, refugees, and families traveling for medical care. Airbnb.org then funds bookings on Airbnb's platform. Hosts are generally paid as they would be for an ordinary stay and receive AirCover and specialized support; some separately choose to discount a stay, offer it free, or donate a portion of their payout. An Airbnb.org emergency-stay host should therefore not be described as synonymous with Airbnb's broader commercial-host community. Airbnb.org organizes its work around emergency-response stays, medical stays, and resettlement stays. Its official site says more than 60,000 hosts have helped provide housing to more than 250,000 people since the 2012 origin of the program. It separately reports 1.6 million nights of free emergency housing since Airbnb.org launched in 2020. Those are facilitated stays and nights, not a count of unique guests, grants, or dollars deployed. For January through June 2026, Airbnb.org reported 87 disaster responses, more than 28,000 nights provided, and 5,776 hosts who donated. It also reported that an Airbnb.org booking cost an average of US$110 per night globally over the preceding five years. These organization-reported operating measures show delivery capacity, but they are not assets under management, audited grant expenditures, or a committed funding pool.

AlphaLab is a nationally recognized startup accelerator based in Pittsburgh, supporting early-stage companies across software, hardware, life sciences, and robotics. Founded in 2008 and powered by Innovation Works, AlphaLab provides founders with capital, mentorship, and a structured program to accelerate growth. The platform operates multiple specialized tracks, including AlphaLab (software), AlphaLab Gear (hardware), AlphaLab Health (life sciences), and Robotics Factory, offering tailored support depending on the company’s sector. AlphaLab has played a key role in building Pittsburgh into a leading innovation hub, helping startups move from idea to scalable venture.

The American Heart Association Social Impact Funds are investment vehicles managed by American Heart Association, focused on advancing health equity and improving cardiovascular outcomes. The funds invest in companies addressing social determinants of health, access to care, and innovations that reduce disparities in underserved communities. By combining mission-driven capital with strategic partnerships, the platform supports startups and growth-stage companies working across healthcare, digital health, and community-based solutions that improve long-term health outcomes.

Angelini Ventures is the venture capital arm of Angelini Industries, investing in innovative startups across biotech and digital health. The firm focuses on advancing healthcare through breakthrough therapies, medical technologies, and data-driven solutions. With a global investment strategy, Angelini Ventures backs early and growth-stage companies working to improve patient outcomes and transform how diseases are treated and managed. The firm combines capital with deep industry expertise and strategic support from its parent organization.

Ashoka is one of the world’s leading organizations supporting social entrepreneurs. Founded in 1980, Ashoka pioneered the concept of social entrepreneurship and has built a global network of changemakers working to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Through its flagship Ashoka Fellows program, the organization identifies and supports high-impact entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and a powerful global network. Ashoka’s broader mission is to create a world where everyone is a changemaker, embedding social innovation across education, business, and civil society.

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.