The global non-profit building an “Everyone A Changemaker” world
[EN] Ashoka is the global non-profit organization that has pioneered the social entrepreneurship sector since the 1980s - building the first and largest community of outstanding, systems-changing social entrepreneurs. Now, we’re on an ambitious mission: to change whole mindsets and systems towards an “Everyone a Changemaker”-world. What kind of world is that? Find out below.
Ashoka's global programs - a selection
The E2 Network - social & business entrepreneurs meet here
The Entrepreneur-to-Entrepreneur — or E2 — Network is a growing yet exclusive network of world-class founders and CEOs. Its members have built businesses that transformed the world around them. Now, they support select Ashoka Fellows as mentors and thought partners. They catalyze our Fellows’ impact by deploying their network, influence, and financial capital. Co-creating solutions through Ashoka's lense of systems thinking and collaborative leadership.
Ashoka Globalizer - accelerating systemic change of changemakers
The Ashoka Globalizer has been helping changemakers identify and address systemic root causes of social and environmental problems since 2010. Its Systems Change Strategy Accelerator has helped 350+ social entrepreneurs around the world develop clear and robust systems change strategies. Added in 2018, the Systems Change Research Lab has produced online courses, podcasts and reports. Additionally, the Globalizer co-creates a supportive environment for changemakers working to improve systems through its Ecosystem Inititiatives.
Ashoka Changemakers - materials to grow your impact
Ashoka Changemakers creates opportunities for companies, foundations, and impact-sector organizations to co-create large-scale social change. Their tools: online challenges, social innovation mappings, course-activated communities, changemaker bootcamps and network mappings. The community of action at changemakers.com is a place for stories of changemakers, how-to-guides and beginners' courses cause anyone, anywhere can be a changemaker.
Ashoka Youth Years - equipping youth with skills for change
Youth Years programs are co-created with schools/educators, youth, universities, parents, and companies and include: LeadYoung collects a series of stories about young people changing their worlds and successful adults who started things in their teens. Your Kids [In development] working with corporations to foster employee/parent support for their kids becoming changemakers while building a changemaker culture within these corporations. Ashoka Young Changemakers selecting young people aged from 12 to 18 in East Africa.
Ashoka U - innovating education for millions of students
Ashoka U collaborate with colleges and universities to break down barriers to institutional change and foster a campus-wide culture of social innovation. By recognizing innovative colleges and universities, convening educators and innovators from higher education, and producing free publications.
The Ashoka Support Network community of committed leaders
The global community of Ashoka Support Network Members strengthens the impact of Ashoka Fellows by supporting Ashoka financially, with their network, experiences and ideas. According to the study behind The Unlonely Report 2022, ASNs helped most Fellows receive strategic guidance, recognize the importance of changing collective mindsets on the social issue they work on, see themselves as a leader and acquire new partnerships.
Next Now - a collection of solutions on 4 global topics
From a bird’s eye perspective, Next Now sees patterns and frontiers of innovation that show a way to a better future. We weave a community of innovators committed to building it and share our findings and insights with the world – helping people and institutions see and build a radically new future in the fields of new longevity, gender, planet & climate and tech & humanity.
WISE - Women's Initiative for Social Entrepreneurship
A global initiative led from the global South that aims to elevate the number, knowledge, and power of women in social entrepreneurship by redefining success from a gendered lens and celebrating the unique ways in which women successfully lead and make impact. WISE believes that there are 3 types of scaling: scaling up (laws and policies), scaling out (large areas or populations), scaling deep (mindsets and cultural norms).
With 40+ years of experience, Ashoka Fellows from 95+ countries & a 300+ team Ashoka has been facilitating impact across the world
Beginning in India in 1981, Ashoka started identifying and supporting the world’s leading social entrepreneurs who have ideas for far-reaching social change. It started by first distilling their unique qualities and pioneering a rigorous global system for vetting and electing them to the Ashoka Fellowship. Ashoka began expanding rapidly in 1986 with the election of Ashoka Fellows in Brazil and then Mexico, Bangladesh, and Nepal in 1987. It continued to add countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Central and Eastern Europe during the 1990s. By the late 1990s, the network stood at 1,000 social entrepreneurs and Ashoka started to work on a new big vision: "Everyone a Changemaker™".
Now, Ashoka has country and regional offices around the world that work closely together to design and implement many programs. In this way, we can access experiences and trends from different cultural and regional contexts, involve and network changemakers internationally — in short: use the power of a global network. And we ensure financial sustainability by accepting donations from a strong base of individuals, funding foundations and companies (more in our FAQs, in German).
But wait, why did it need Ashoka in the first place?
Social entrepreneurs, whether they see themselves as such or not, don’t have it easy. These are some of the challenges they've faced, be it now or a century ago:
1) Being lonely: Many social entrepreneurs find themselves answering key strategic questions alone. They often have no peer community or “home” that would allow for continual support and exchange. This can negatively affect their emotional and personal wellbeing.
2) Lacking time: Some social entrepreneurs cannot fully devote themselves to their solutions, as they must earn their living at day jobs not related to their ideas. They see too few opportunities for early-stage, trust-based funding.
3) Missing tools and strategic advice on the way to systems change: Social entrepreneurship is a relatively new field. Quality tools that help increase efficiency and effectiveness are hard to find. Outsourcing tasks is rarely affordable. This can be an obstacle for reaching a certain level of professionalism and building eye-level partnerships with savvy business partners. In many cases, social entrepreneurs also have no partner at their side who can challenge and help refine their strategy towards systems change.
4) Being disconnected: Busy with maintaining operations, social entrepreneurs are often not connected to the key players in business, philanthropy or public sector who are tackling the same social issues and interested in joining resources.
Learn more in the impact book of Ashoka Central and Eastern Europe, now Austria. So how could a non-profit like Ashoka help them? Read on to find out.
The solution through Ashoka's Fellowship – the organisation's core work and community
To increase impact without necessarily increasing the size of organisations, requires new, unconventional know-how and expertise, new business and organizational models, peer and cross-sectoral support. The business infrastructure supporting business entrepreneurs is not enough. In short: we need to build new instruments of support to help social entrepreneurship become mainstream.
We support them to achieve their goals. Social entrepreneurs strive to increase the impact of their solutions. Their main driver is to improve the life quality of more people in wider geographies and anchor these improvements for the future via systems change and mindset shift.
Seasoned social entrepreneurs find that increasing social impact is best achieved by opening up the solution and influencing others to adopt and promote it - through dissemination, replication, public policy. Ashoka directs its efforts to support social entrepreneurs in multiplying their impact without necessarily expanding the size of their organization. In other words, we help our Fellows embark on the pathway of indirect impact and trigger the “ripple effect”.
For decades, we've been electing social entrepreneurs as “Ashoka Fellows”, most of whom receive a 3-year stipend, pro-bono support, access to an international network of social entrepreneurs and a boost for their scaling & internationalisation. You can read more about Ashoka's process and the stories of recently elected Ashoka Fellows in the resources linked.
But this is only a part of what we do.
How Ashoka Fellows build a world of changemakers — global data in one report
Every three years, Ashoka conducts a study to understand how its Fellows are driving lasting social change. In 2021, we quantified how Ashoka Fellows shift mindsets, change policies, and activate others as changemakers in their communities - drawing out their 11 "how-tos". Through the survey underlying the report, a vast majority (above 80%) of the 800+ Ashoka Fellows who participated report that Ashoka changed how they see themselves as a leader, helped them to understand how their work can contribute to generating systems change, allowed them to focus full-time on their idea thanks to the stipend.
The findings on the impact of Ashoka and the social entrepreneurs in its network have been published in The Unlonely Planet 2022 - How Ashoka Fellows Accelerate an Everyone a Changemaker™ World.
of Ashoka Fellows create opportunities for employment
of Fellows are putting young people in charge
of Ashoka social entrepreneurs have had their innovations replicated in other geographies
of Ashoka Fellows changed or influenced government policy
This is what it feels like, when changemakers from Ashoka's world come together in one place
Every year, we bring together more than 300 systems-changing social entrepreneurs, young leaders, corporate partners and philanthropists to multiply their social impact. Ashoka’s most important global milestone, the Ashoka Changemaker Summit, is the space for these pioneering changemakers to connect, learn and work together to build a world where everyone is a changemaker and therefore, a world where everyone can thrive. See some impressions from #ACMS2022 in Brussels and watch out for the next one.
Partnerships that help society
Ashoka works with companies and organizations that are just as committed to creating a just world. We work closely with our partners to develop initiatives with local and global impact.
The Lego Foundation
LEGO Foundation and Ashoka believe that playful learning can change the world. Together, Ashoka and Lego have begun to identify play-based learning innovations around the world and to re-imagine learning for the 21st century.
Ashoka Deutschland ist Partner der Google Impact Challenge, bei der Projekte gesucht, ausgewählt und gefördert werden, im Rahmen derer mit Technologie das Gemeinwohl gefördert wird.
Boehringer Ingelheim
Die globale Kooperation zwischen Ashoka und Boehringer Ingelheim hat seit 10 Jahren zum Ziel, innovative Lösungen im Bereich Gesundheit zu finden und zu fördern. Als Teil der Zusammenarbeitet hat BI die Stipendien zweier thematisch passender Ashoka Fellows aus Österreich übernommen.
Wir bringen Social Entrepreneurship, betriebliche Talententwicklung und bestehende Netzwerke im Bereich Gesundheit zusammen: Das erlaubt uns auf besondere Weise die Förderung vielversprechender Ansätze für globale Gesundheitsherausforderungen. Mehr erfahren unter www.makingmorehealth.org
Boehringer Ingelheim
Die globale Kooperation zwischen Ashoka und Boehringer Ingelheim hat seit 10 Jahren zum Ziel, innovative Lösungen im Bereich Gesundheit zu finden und zu fördern. Als Teil der Zusammenarbeitet hat BI die Stipendien zweier thematisch passender Ashoka Fellows aus Österreich übernommen.
Wir bringen Social Entrepreneurship, betriebliche Talententwicklung und bestehende Netzwerke im Bereich Gesundheit zusammen: Das erlaubt uns auf besondere Weise die Förderung vielversprechender Ansätze für globale Gesundheitsherausforderungen. Mehr erfahren unter www.makingmorehealth.org
American Express
American Express’s vision is to bring to life the American Express value of good corporate citizenship by supporting diverse communities in ways that enhance the company's reputation with employees, customers, merchants, business partners and other stakeholders.
J. P. Morgan
J. P. Morgan works with community partners to create pathways to opportunity by supporting workforce development, financial capability, small business development and community development in the regions where they do business. They use their strength, global reach, expertise, relationships, and access to capital to make a positive impact in cities around the world. The foundation is supporting Ashoka Switzerland's Impact programme.
J. P. Morgan
J. P. Morgan works with community partners to create pathways to opportunity by supporting workforce development, financial capability, small business development and community development in the regions where they do business. They use their strength, global reach, expertise, relationships, and access to capital to make a positive impact in cities around the world. The foundation is supporting Ashoka Switzerland's Impact programme.
Accenture
Accenture, a consultancy firm specialised in management, technology and outsourcing, supports since 2012 initiatives improving access to employment and skills development through its "Skills To Succeed 'approach.
DIRECTV
DirecTV apoya a Ashoka en la construcción de un mundo de líderes de cambio, para promover, especialmente, una educación transformadora
Forbes
Forbes and Ashoka have a long-standing media partnership in North, Central, and Latin America. Ashoka publishes business-related stories from an Ashoka lens on its own Forbes’ channel, promoting Ashoka Fellows and other social entrepreneurs in our network.
How to engage with Ashoka
Whether you want to stay connected to the stories of social entrepreneurs driving change in their communities, get the tools and opportunities you need for your own changemaker journey, nominate an innovator in your circles for their next big adventure, offer your support or bring in your organisation to amplify its impact — we have you covered.
Stay in touch
Want to dive into stories of changemakers on our website? Read up today. And did you know that the new Ashoka Community website is up now - with opportunities for learning, connection and collaboration? The good news: it has a newsletter featuring successes and opportunities from the world of Ashoka! With a focus on Europe — more below. You can also follow us on our international LinkedIn. Or subscribe to any other communications by navigating through Ashoka's websites, just like Ashoka Austria's newsletter (in German).
Nominate a Fellow
Did you know that you can recommend a social entrepreneur as a Ashoka Fellow? We can't source the world’s leading social entrepreneurs on our own, so we need you. Ideal candidates are characterised by possessing a new idea, creativity, entrepreneurial quality, social impact of the idea and ethical fiber. Also, keep an eye out for any of Ashoka's calls for social entrepreneurs, young changemakers & Co. and help us reach more doers and dreamers with these opportunities. Thank you!
Become a supporter
Are you here because you share the vision of Ashoka? You can become part of the Ashoka Support Network (ASN) today! ASN members provide Ashoka with financial support while lending Fellows their time and expertise. These committed leaders join to give back to, learn from and co-create with our community of changemakers. Are you one of them? Do you want to instead provide resources or collaborate on projects as a partner organisation? Discover the partners of Ashoka Austria, or those of your local branch.
Ashoka is in Austria – since 2011
The Austrian branch of Ashoka was founded in 2011, formerly as Central and Eastern Europe in collaboration with neighboring countries. Besides selecting Ashoka Fellows in Austria, the team has been involved in both local and international projects and collaborating with a variety of partners, based in the House of Philanthropy in the heart of Vienna. More on our country page [DE].
Wait, are you based in Europe and want to see what the community has to offer?
Then don't leave yet. The new Ashoka Community website ? features resources for everyone passionate about social impact to connect, learn, collaborate and explore. Participate in events and a network with like-minded people. Learn how to make a difference with resources in multiple formats and for all skill levels. Dive deep into our changemaking platform with toolkits, articles, podcasts or reports created by and for our community. Develop new initiatives together with others.
Ashoka X TED: Want more inspiration? Get it from Ashoka Fellows
The Invisible Code: Closing the Digital Gender Gap | Anne Kjaer Bathel | TEDxBerlin Women
An Israeli and a Palestinian Talk Peace, Dignity and Safety | Ali Abu Awwad and Ami Dar | TED
A Reframing of Masculinity, Rooted in Empathy | Gary Barker | TED
How to Build Democracy — in an Authoritarian Country | Tessza Udvarhelyi | TED
Why Are We Making Pizza Boxes Out of Endangered Trees? | Nicole Rycroft | TED
Why Is It So Hard to Get Effective Birth Control in the US? | Mark Edwards | TED
A Foster Care System Where Every Child Has a Loving Home | Sixto Cancel | TED
How to Participate in Your Own Legal Defense | Lam Ho | TED
How to Revitalize a Neighborhood -- Without Gentrification | Bree Jones | TED
Mental Health Care That Disrupts Cycles of Violence | Celina de Sola | TED
The Most Powerful Untapped Resource in Health Care | Edith Elliott and Shahed Alam | TED
How to meaningfully reconnect with those who have dementia
Technology can't fix inequality -- but training and opportunities could | 'Gbenga Sesan
Why are drug prices so high? Investigating the outdated US patent system | Priti Krishtel
Community-powered criminal justice reform | Raj Jayadev
The trauma of systematic racism is killing Black women. A first step toward change...
Science didn't understand my kids' rare disease until I decided to study it | Sharon Terry
What Islam really says about women | Alaa Murabit
The reporting system that sexual assault survivors want | Jessica Ladd
Roberto D'Angelo + Francesca Fedeli: In our baby's illness, a life lesson
Tristram Stuart: The global food waste scandal
Amory Lovins: A 40-year plan for energy
Jennifer Pahlka: Coding a better government
Caroline Casey: Looking past limits
The economic injustice of plastic | Van Jones
Saving Money to Save the Planet | Neil McCabe | TEDxHa'pennyBridge
Can the Catholic Church solve the climate crisis? | Molly Burhans | TEDxBoston
Accelerating Science Learning in Africa | Solomon King Benge | TEDxBYU
ChangeMaker: Tutti possono essere attori del cambiamento | Alessandro Valera | TEDxBologna
Time to use your superpower | Agata Stafiej-Bartosik | TEDxWarsaw
Healthcare: humanity above bureaucracy | Jos de Blok | TEDxGeneva
Ashoka Fellow | Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka | TEDxAshokaAfrica
Un dolor que no se ve | Aldana Di Costanzo | TEDxUCA
Fairphone -- changing the way products are made: Bas van Abel at TEDxAmsterdam
The challenge of Islamic fundamentalism in Nigeria | Femi Fani-Kayode | TEDxJabi
Unusual Suspects in Energy Transition | Aart van Veller | TEDxAUCollege
Forget the money, conservation is all about people | Wietse van der Werf | TEDxAUCollege
Ashoka Fellow | Dr. Priscilla M Achakpa | TEDxAshokaAfrica
Elderhood rising -- the dawn of a new world age | Bill Thomas | TEDxSF
Youth sports as a development zone: Jim Thompson at TEDxFargo
Otra forma de enseñar a leer y escribir | Beatriz Diuk | TEDxRiodelaPlata
Ashoka Fellow | Haron Wachira | TEDxAshokaAfrica
New solutions for dyslexia: Luz Rello at TEDxMadrid
TEDxABQ - Jill Vialet - What Play Can Teach Us
Recuperar el rol de las mujeres en la tecnología | Melina Masnatta | TEDxRiodelaPlata
Salir de la cárcel | Andrea Casamento | TEDxRiodelaPlata
Mudar dói, mas não mudar mata o futuro das crianças | Celmira Macedo | TEDxPorto
Caso Tadeo: Redefiniendo el autogobierno en México | Saskia Niño de Rivera | TEDxTecdeMty
Ashoka Fellow | Jennifer Uchendu | TEDxAshokaAfrica
|LO QUE TÚ PUEDES HACER POR LA DEMOCRACIA| | Mariana Niembro | TEDxCiudadDeMéxico