Fellowship Investors in Community Development

Access Ventures is an innovative impact multiplier that leverages catalytic capital to drive economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental sustainability in communities. They operate as dreamers, doers, and risk-takers who use blended finance approaches to create lasting transformative change, guided by the belief that people are at the heart of any true community transformation. Their mission is to revolutionize the global investment landscape through a blended finance approach and a "one-pocket mindset," proving that financial return and social impact can coexist while improving access and agency for all. They meet complex challenges with creativity, high tolerance for risk, and willingness to be catalytic with capital, emphasizing the development of the next generation of change-makers. Access Ventures serves as a catalyst for change in the impact investing ecosystem, bridging gaps between traditional finance and social impact through their deep understanding of catalytic and blended finance strategies. With 10 years of experience empowering change, they have established themselves as community-focused impact multipliers who teach, advise, and invest in ways that yield both high financial returns and significant community impact, fostering a resilient and dynamic economy where every person can thrive.

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.

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.

Echoing Green is a leading incubator for social impact startups that discovers emerging social entrepreneurs and invests deeply in the growth of their ideas and leadership. They work at the intersection of social justice and social innovation, connecting their expertise and global networks to emerging leaders creating long-lasting social change. Their mission centers on supporting bold ideas and extraordinary leaders through an intensive 18-month fellowship program that provides seed funding and leadership development. They have designed a world-class global search process that elevates better indicators of potential beyond just business plans, prioritizing diversity of experience and perspective while offering a learning experience for all applicants. For over 35 years, Echoing Green has been on the front lines of solving the world's biggest problems by building a broad, dynamic ecosystem to support transformational leaders. Their impact in the social entrepreneurship ecosystem is significant, having supported notable success stories like Teach For America's Wendy Kopp and Last Mile Health's Raj Panjabi, demonstrating their ability to identify and nurture ideas that become international game-changers.

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.