DRK Foundation is a global venture philanthropy firm supporting early stage, high impact social enterprises. We believe that with early funding and rigorous support, exceptional leaders, tackling some of society’s most complex problems, can make the world a better place. We find, fund and support exceptional leaders with innovative and highly impactful ideas that have the potential to scale. We provide unrestricted capital, and, most importantly, we provide rigorous, ongoing support by joining the board of directors and partnering with the leader to help build capacity in the organization and scale their impact. Since we started in 2002 we have invested in over 200 organizations, which have impact a combined 220 million lives. With the support of 50 donor partners, we are currently deploying our fourth fund: ~$85 million dedicated to supporting the next generation of 100 social entrepreneurs who will change the world.
Invest Appalachia (IA) is a regional impact investment platform designed by and for the people of Central Appalachia. IA provides blended investment capital to strengthen business opportunities, build equitable local wealth, advance critical sectors, and increase quality of life for everyone in Central Appalachia. IA was initiated through the Appalachia Funders Network and developed by a collaborative group of regional leaders representing CDFIs, public and private philanthropic entities, local institutions, and community organizations. Invest Appalachia will provide flexible capital to intermediaries, community projects, social enterprise businesses, critical infrastructure, and other efforts that that support healthy & resilient communities, wealth-building jobs, and inclusive market development. As a blended capital fund, IA is able to bring both investment and catalytic capital to support mission-aligned projects. IA’s capital is designed to advance key sectors and community infrastructure within the Central Appalachia region in partnership with – and frequently subordinate to – existing financial intermediaries. IA will partner with other sources of investment, including community lenders, commercial lenders, public financing, and philanthropy, to create the capital blend or “stack” of different forms of capital tailored to each project.
Established in 2012, Open Road Alliance is a philanthropic initiative that serves the social sector by keeping impact on track in an unpredictable world. Open Road provides short-term solutions by disbursing fast grants and loans to nonprofits and social enterprises facing discrete, unexpected roadblocks during project implementation. It also conducts research and advocates for the adoption of long-term, system-wide risk management practices across the social sector.
