Deadline: Unspecified
The Draper Richards Kaplan (DRK) Foundation supports exceptional early-stage social impact organisations working to solve pressing social and environmental challenges with innovative, scalable solutions. Through its venture philanthropy model, the foundation provides both catalytic funding and long-term strategic support to help organisations grow sustainably and expand their reach to underserved populations worldwide.
About the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation is a global venture philanthropy organisation dedicated to backing high-impact leaders and organisations tackling critical issues across sectors such as education, health, livelihoods, climate, food security, water and sanitation, and social equity.
DRK partners with early-stage organisations that demonstrate strong leadership, clear evidence of impact, and the potential to scale solutions that significantly improve lives.
Funding and Support Package
Financial Support
Selected organisations may receive:
- Up to USD $300,000 distributed over a three-year period.
- Funding provided as:
- Unrestricted grants for nonprofit organisations.
- Investment capital for mission-driven for-profit social enterprises.
- Multi-year financial support designed to help organisations strengthen operations and scale impact.
Technical and Operational Support
Beyond funding, DRK offers substantial hands-on support, including:
- Strategic guidance on organisational growth, sustainability, and fundraising.
- Leadership coaching and management support.
- Financial planning and operational strengthening.
- A dedicated DRK team member who works closely with the organisation, often serving in a board or advisory capacity for up to three years.
This partnership model includes significant in-kind technical assistance that can be valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Network and Community Benefits
Organisations supported by DRK gain:
- Access to a global network of portfolio organisations and partners.
- Opportunities to participate in convenings, peer-learning sessions, and collaborative initiatives.
- Long-term strategic relationships that strengthen organisational growth and sustainability.
What the Foundation Looks For
The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation prioritises organisations that demonstrate:
- A strong commitment to solving urgent social or environmental challenges.
- Innovative, systems-oriented and scalable solutions.
- Potential to reach at least 10,000 people within five years.
- Early evidence that the model is effective and producing measurable outcomes.
- A credible pathway toward long-term financial sustainability.
- Dedicated leadership with deep expertise in the problem area.
Eligible Organisations
The opportunity is open to:
- Early-stage organisations that are post-pilot and pre-scale.
- Nonprofits and their international equivalents.
- Mission-driven for-profit social enterprises (including hybrid models).
- Fiscally sponsored initiatives preparing to spin out independently.
- Organisations with at least one full-time founder or leader actively driving implementation.
Geographic Focus
Priority regions include:
- Africa
- Europe
- India
- United States
- Select organisations in other regions with clear evidence of scalable impact
Ineligible Organisations and Activities
The foundation generally does not support:
- Idea-stage or pre-pilot initiatives.
- Organisations without credible scaling potential.
- Companies that are beyond Series A stage.
- Primarily advocacy, awareness, or research-only initiatives without direct service delivery impact.
- Programmes that do not directly benefit underserved populations.
Application Requirements
Applicants are expected to submit information outlining:
- The problem being addressed and the proposed solution.
- Evidence of impact and outcomes achieved to date.
- Plans for scaling and long-term sustainability.
- Leadership team experience and organisational structure.
Additional supporting documentation such as financials or impact reports may be requested during due diligence.
Application Timeline and Selection Process
- Applications are accepted year-round with no fixed submission deadline.
- The selection process includes application review, interviews, and due-diligence discussions.
- DRK reviews thousands of applications annually and selects a limited number of high-potential organisations each year.
Why This Opportunity Matters
The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation Funding Opportunities for Early-Stage Social Impact Organizations Worldwide provide far more than financial resources. Selected organisations benefit from a long-term partnership that includes mentorship, strategic advisory support, and access to a powerful global network—positioning them to scale proven solutions and achieve lasting impact.
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