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Impact Funders Directory (Page 7)

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Interledger Foundation logo
Interledger Foundation
Foundation, Grantmaker, Accelerator, Fellowship
The Interledger Foundation is a U.S. nonprofit working to make digital payments more open, affordable, and accessible. It supports open payment technology and funds the developers, researchers, educators, and organizations building on it. Its work began with the Interledger Protocol, created in 2015 by Stefan Thomas and Evan Schwartz. The goal was to help money move between different banks, wallets, currencies, and payment networks as easily as information moves across the internet. The foundation became a nonprofit in 2019 and began operating publicly in 2021. Briana Marbury serves as president and CEO. Stefan Thomas chairs the board, and Evan Schwartz remains a director. The organization is based in San Francisco but has a distributed international team. The foundation supports three main technologies. The Interledger Protocol moves value between different financial systems. Open Payments gives developers a standard way to add payment features to their products. Rafiki provides open-source software that banks, wallets, and other regulated financial institutions can use to connect. The foundation does not charge a fee for using the protocol and has no investors. Grantmaking is also a major part of its work. The foundation reports awarding more than $21 million to over 300 projects across more than 45 countries. Its programs support payment infrastructure, education, research, leadership, public policy, and creative work exploring how financial systems are built. Grants range from small campus awards of up to $5,000 to larger fellowships and accelerator programs offering between $50,000 and $92,000. The foundation reported $96.4 million in net assets and $10.6 million in charitable distributions for the year ending December 2024. This financial base allows it to fund open payment technology and expand access to financial services without relying on protocol fees or outside investors.
AI & TechnologyArts, Culture & MediaCommunity DevelopmentCalifornia, United States
LeapFrog Investments logo
LeapFrog Investments
Impact Fund
LeapFrog Investments is a private equity firm that focuses on scaling purpose-driven businesses across Asia and Africa to achieve sustainable growth, profitability, and measurable social impact. The firm invests in companies operating primarily in three key sectors: financial services, healthcare, and climate solutions, targeting businesses that serve emerging consumers and low-income populations. LeapFrog operates on a "profit with purpose" model, partnering with business leaders to drive integrated returns that combine financial performance with social impact. Their approach is grounded in a clear theory of change aimed at empowering low-income consumers to become agents of their own transformation, providing them with tools and services to make entrepreneurial leaps out of poverty. The firm provides not just capital but also resources and expertise to help portfolio companies reach emerging consumers at scale with relevant, affordable, and essential services. LeapFrog has established itself as a significant player in the impact investing ecosystem, demonstrating that commercial returns and social impact can be successfully integrated. Their rigorous approach to impact measurement, aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, sets industry standards for transparency and accountability in impact investing. The firm's scale of operation, reaching 559 million people through their portfolio companies and supporting 33 million jobs, positions them as a major force in driving inclusive economic growth in emerging markets.
Community DevelopmentHealth & WellnessImpact FinanceUnited Kingdom