Why the Skoll World Forum is a worthy quest for Australian funders  

I’ve been wanting to go to the Skoll World Forum for years now, but tickets are like hen’s teeth. Fortunately, this year the Australian International Development Network (AIDN) ran one of its study tours to the event. Solution! 

So, what is the Skoll World Forum (Skoll for short)? Named after the founder of the Skol Foundation, tech billionaire and philanthropist Jeff Skoll, it is an annual conference at Oxford University each April, hosted by SAID Business School. It is part intellectual examination of best practice philanthropy and social enterprise, part practical meeting point for practitioners who like to go deep on what works and why. 

Skoll is also the coming together of hundreds of grant-makers and grant-seekers who are out to solve some of the world’s biggest problems, often using new models of philanthropy and social entrepreneurship. As an entrepreneur myself I found it absolutely fascinating to see loads of very bright people coming together with innovative solutions to intractable issues in education, health, climate and poverty alleviation.  The focus is very much on scalable solutions in the global south.  

Over the years Skol has grown well beyond a traditional conference.  It now takes over much of Oxford for the week with hundreds of different venues being meeting points for gatherings, lectures, meetings and workshops. Apart from the “official” programme, there are now also two fringe festivals – Marmalade and Sidebar – that operate in parallel and appear to attract larger numbers than the eponymous conference itself. Many people now attend Skoll without even going to the official conference, especially given tickets are so hard to come by. 

Managing Skoll is a little tricky and somewhat confusing for first timers. With three separate programs, hundreds of experts to meet with and countless venues scattered across Oxford, it will push your calendar and map planning skills. Everything is walkable, and that’s no bad thing given Oxford’s wonderful architecture. Preparation is essential. 

Why should anyone invest in going to Skoll?  

As philanthropists, we know that there is no shortage of worthy causes to allocate our funding to.  Most of us apply some kind of filter to help us decide where and how to give. My family private ancillary fund (PAF) focuses on education, environment and international development.  For me, equity and efficiency are critical factors.  I start from the premise that every human life or tonne of carbon is equal, so it doesn’t matter where the dollars are directed, provided I have confidence in the organisation delivering the impact. 

And this is where Skoll shines. Not only are there not-for-profit partners of all shapes and sizes, but there are also experienced practitioners to help advise and guide as to how effective different programmes may or may not be. Every Sustainable Development Goal is covered, in lectures, discussions and opportunities to meet the implementers.  

From educating girls in India to improving access to contraception in northern Nigeria, from carbon sequestration in Kenya to conversations about democracy in Colombia, there is a discussion that will speak to the ins and outs of philanthropy at its most effective.  

You could travel the world in this quest, or you could go to Skoll. 

AIDN are already talking of running another trip next April. Give them a call if you’re interested.  

About the Author
A backpacker with a vision, Darrell Wade co-founded Intrepid with Geoff ‘Manch’ Manchester in 1989, pioneering a new style of low-impact travel that connects travellers with communities. Today, he is Chair of Philanthropy Australia, the Intrepid Foundation and the Dawn Wade Foundation, and a leading voice on sustainability through his activism and philanthropy.