The Skoll Foundation ( http://www.skollfoundation.org/ ) now accepts applications and grants awards on a year-round basis, with new award winners celebrated once each year in March at the annual Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship. The Skoll Foundation’s mission is “to advance systemic change to benefit communities around the world by investing in, connecting, and celebrating social entrepreneurs.” The foundation’s Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship support social entrepreneurs whose work has the potential for large-scale influence on critical challenges of our time: environmental sustainability, health, tolerance and human rights, institutional responsibility, economic and social equity, and peace and security. Skoll social entrepreneurs are innovators who have tested and proved their approach and are poised to replicate or scale up their work.

The Skoll Awards provide later-stage, or mezzanine, funding, which is generally structured as a $1 million award paid out over three years. In most cases, the grant is provided for core support to help organizations expand their programs and capacity to deliver long-term, sustainable change. The awards are not intended for new or early-stage programs or initiatives. Programs submitted for consideration should have a track record of no less than three years. In addition to core support, the foundation supports the participation of award recipients in the annual Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship.

To be considered for funding in advance of the 2008 Skoll World Forum, applicants must submit their online application no later than September 24, 2007. Applications submitted after that date will continue to be reviewed and funded throughout the year, with awards publicly celebrated at the subsequent Skoll World Forum. For an in-depth description of the foundation’s eligibility criteria, the application process, application instructions, and an FAQ, visit the Skoll Foundation Web site. This is an open deadline award.