Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
A Swiss not-for-profit organization that identifies, supports, and connects social entrepreneurs internationally.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship is an independent Swiss not-for-profit organization established in 1998 by Klaus Schwab and Hilde Schwab to advance social innovation and social entrepreneurship. It operates as a platform rather than as a conventional commercial brand, bringing social entrepreneurs into contact with political, business, academic, and philanthropic institutions at national, regional, and global levels. The foundation is headquartered in Geneva and operates under the legal supervision of the Swiss Federal Government. The foundation was created as a complementary initiative to the World Economic Forum, which Klaus Schwab founded in 1971, but it is a separate organization. Its focus is on people and organizations seeking to address social, environmental, and economic problems through entrepreneurial approaches. Activities include identifying emerging social entrepreneurs, recognizing established innovators, building peer networks, developing case studies for educational use, and helping participants access potential institutional, corporate, university, and philanthropic support. A central recognition mechanism is its annual global Social Entrepreneur of the Year competition. The foundation generally selects approximately 20 to 25 social entrepreneurs each year. It also identifies younger social innovators, including candidates under 40, through connections with the Forum of Young Global Leaders. Recognized entrepreneurs have been encouraged to collaborate, exchange operating experience, participate in global discussions, and contribute to wider debates on inclusive and sustainable development. The foundation’s network has included hundreds of social entrepreneurs working across sectors and geographies. Reference material associated with the organization states that more than 500 supported social entrepreneurs collectively affect over 950 million people in 190 countries each year. This is an aggregate impact claim relating to the network and its members rather than a direct measure of the foundation’s own operations. The organization has historically been financed through an initial endowment provided by the Schwabs, together with grants and fees for services provided to individuals, foundations, or companies. Its work includes convening, recognition, knowledge dissemination, and relationship-building rather than the sale of a standardized product. The foundation’s public identity is therefore centered on social entrepreneurship, global collaboration, and the scaling of practical solutions to societal challenges.
History
Klaus Schwab and Hilde Schwab established the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship in 1998 as an independent Swiss not-for-profit organization devoted to social innovation. The foundation was designed to complement the World Economic Forum, founded by Klaus Schwab in 1971, while maintaining a separate organizational identity and purpose. Its headquarters are in Geneva, and it operates under the legal supervision of the Swiss Federal Government. Pamela Hartigan became the foundation’s first managing director in October 2000 and held the position until 2008. During its development, the organization built a model based on identifying social entrepreneurs, giving them international visibility, and connecting them with one another and with potential supporters. Rather than functioning primarily as a grant-making institution or a commercial service provider, it developed platforms for recognition, collaboration, education, and access to influential networks. The foundation’s activities include selecting social entrepreneurs through an annual global Social Entrepreneur of the Year competition. It generally recognizes between 20 and 25 people each year. It has also worked with younger social entrepreneurs, including individuals under 40 identified through links with the Forum of Young Global Leaders. Participants have been encouraged to collaborate as a community, share ideas, and seek possible support from companies, universities, political leaders, academic institutions, and organizations such as INSEAD. Another part of the foundation’s work has been the preparation and circulation of case studies about social entrepreneurs. These materials can be used by undergraduate and graduate institutions to incorporate practical examples of social innovation into teaching. Recognized entrepreneurs have also participated in broader global discussions, including work associated with the Forum’s Global Agenda Councils. Reference material records a network of 260 activists in 2013 and later describes more than 500 supported social entrepreneurs whose combined work reaches over 950 million people in 190 countries each year. The foundation’s financing has been described as coming from the original endowment supplied by the Schwabs, grants, and fees for services provided to individuals, foundations, or companies. Its long-term role has been to strengthen the legitimacy and reach of social entrepreneurship by elevating practitioners, facilitating peer exchange, and linking social innovation with institutional decision-makers. The foundation should not be conflated with the World Economic Forum. In June 2024, reporting by The Wall Street Journal concerned allegations involving former World Economic Forum employees and Klaus Schwab. The referenced material explicitly distinguishes the Schwab Foundation as a separate organization and states that it was neither the subject of that report nor mentioned as the organization involved.
- 2024
Board composition documented
[1]The organization’s board, as documented in September 2024, included Hilde Schwab, Pascale Bruderer, Mirai Chatterjee, Ernest Darkoh, Charly Kleissner, Johanna Mair, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Subi Rangan, Nicole Schwab, and Helle Thorning-Schmidt.
- 2013
Network reaches 260 activists
[1]Reference material described 260 recognized activists participating in the foundation’s wider global agenda network.
- 2008
End of Pamela Hartigan’s managing-director tenure
[1]Pamela Hartigan’s recorded tenure as managing director ended in 2008.
- 2000
Pamela Hartigan joins as managing director
[1]Pamela Hartigan became the foundation’s first managing director in October 2000.
- 1998
Foundation established
[1]Klaus Schwab and Hilde Schwab founded the independent Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship to promote social innovation.
Products and positioning
A globally connected platform and recognition institution for social entrepreneurs, positioned between a philanthropic network, an international convening body, and a source of educational knowledge on social innovation.
Recognition program
Social Entrepreneur of the Year
The foundation’s annual global competition recognizes social entrepreneurs whose work demonstrates entrepreneurial approaches to social or environmental challenges. The program generally selects approximately 20 to 25 entrepreneurs each year and provides visibility, peer connections, and access to broader institutional networks.
Professional network · 1998
Social entrepreneur network
A global community of recognized social entrepreneurs intended to encourage collaboration, exchange of ideas, and connections with corporate, political, academic, philanthropic, and university partners. The network spans multiple regions and social-impact sectors.
Educational resource
Social entrepreneurship case studies
Written cases about social entrepreneurs and their organizations support teaching and discussion in undergraduate and graduate education. The materials help institutions examine practical approaches to social innovation, organizational development, and impact creation.
Convening and support platform · 1998
Social innovation platforms
Regional, national, and global platforms connect social entrepreneurs with peers and with potential supporters from business, government, academia, and philanthropy. The foundation’s role includes convening and relationship-building rather than the delivery of a standardized commercial product.
Marketing campaigns
- Social Entrepreneur of the Year competition
Global
An annual international recognition initiative that identifies approximately 20 to 25 social entrepreneurs and gives them a platform for peer exchange, public recognition, and engagement with potential institutional supporters.
Outcome. The program has produced a recurring global cohort of recognized social entrepreneurs, including innovators working in areas such as indigenous education technology.
Brand decisions
1998
Create an independent platform complementary to the World Economic ForumStrategyBackground
The founders sought to advance social innovation through an organization focused specifically on social entrepreneurship while remaining distinct from the World Economic Forum.
Action taken
Klaus and Hilde Schwab established the Schwab Foundation as an independent Swiss not-for-profit organization with regional, national, and global activities.
Aftermath
The foundation developed recognition programs, entrepreneur networks, educational materials, and international convening activities.
- Adopt a network-and-recognition modelStrategy
Background
Social entrepreneurs often need visibility, peer relationships, institutional partners, and knowledge exchange in addition to financial support.
Action taken
The foundation emphasized annual recognition, community-building, case-study development, and introductions to corporate, political, academic, and philanthropic stakeholders.
Aftermath
Its activities positioned the organization as a connector and amplifier for social entrepreneurs rather than solely as a direct funder.
Sources2 sources
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