Together through nonprofit programs, consulting, and investments, we accelerate the people and organizations that relentlessly tackle the most pressing social issues, creating a more sustainable and just future for all.
We envision a future where every leader and organization have what they need to drive lasting and equitable social change in their communities and around the world.
These five core values embody our culture, spirit and dedication to doing what’s right.
They keep us aligned and help us make decisions about everything from the leaders we serve to the staff we hire.
Change begins with one person, one donation or one idea. Together, we create a ripple effect of sustainable company and community impact.
Act with integrity, humility and compassion, especially when no one is watching.
Be the change you want to see in the world; empower others to do the same.
We break the rules, change perspective and get creative; resistance never led to innovation.
Purpose drives our decision making and guides our storytelling.
On Carrie Rich’s 26th birthday, her boss, Knox Singleton, then CEO of Inova Health Systems, gifted her a birthday card with $100. A few weeks prior, Carrie shared an idea with Knox about pairing emerging young leaders, like herself, with seasoned executives, like him, and backing the combination with targeted funding to serve as a catalyst for social good.
Carrie set out to demonstrate that small donations could have enormous impact. She emailed anyone and everyone to grow the $100, which eventually became $2 million used to found The Global Good Fund. Nine years later, GGF’s 200+ Fellows have collectively impacted more than 10 million people around the world. This ripple effect started with Carrie and Knox, and today, it is our collective story.
Knox’s card contained a message that read, “Here is the money I would have spent taking you and your colleagues to lunch for your birthday. Now you can start to live your dream.”
The dream Knox mentioned was an idea I’d shared two months earlier. I was grateful to have a mentor who challenged me to think big, a sponsor who coached me and pulled me up. Knox’s actions conveyed that he believed in me. What if we could pair emerging young leaders like me with executives like him — those with top-tier experience and hearts of gold? What if we backed this pairing with targeted financial capital to serve as a catalyst for social good? 10 years later, we are even more confident in the answer: We could unleash limitless human potential.
We refer to donors as our partners, and we treat them like investors because we take return on investment so seriously. Our partners are individuals and institutions who believe that we can create a better world by empowering innovators. Working together we are providing transformational opportunities to empower the people around the world who are igniting impact at scale.
