Inclusion powers innovation.

The GSR Foundation is a global charity and grantmaker working to ensure that no one is excluded from the benefits of technology.

What we fund

We support a wide range of work across the world, and have no geographical restrictions on where we fund. You can see a selection of our partners, and more information on our funding verticals, here:

The Majurity Trust

Education Infrastructure

£150,000 GBP

Organisation: The Majurity Trust

Funding start date:

1 Jul 2024

Focus of funding

We supported TMT to invest in fundraising capcity.

Expected goals

A material increase in income, empowering them to create The Foundry - a pioneering impact space for socially purposed organisations in Singapore.

View partner’s website

UNICEF

Education Infrastructure

£150,000 GBP

Organisation: UNICEF

Funding start date:

2 Jan 2023

Focus of funding

UNICEF has been an Empower partner for 3 years, over which time we've invested in their Venture Fund with a specific focus on the UNICEF CryptoFund, supporting UNICEF’s broader innovation agenda to identify, develop and scale open-source, technology-driven solutions that advance outcomes for children worldwide. Through this partnership, we contribute to a pioneering investment model that provides equity-free capital to early-stage startups in emerging markets, while the CryptoFund enables UNICEF to receive, hold and disburse cryptocurrency with transparency and speed. Together, these mechanisms help accelerate frontier-technology solutions, including blockchain, AI and digital public goods, that strengthen systems, expand opportunities for young people and support UNICEF’s mission to ensure every child can thrive.

Expected goals

Strengthen GSR Foundation’s connection to frontier crypto innovation in global markets, gaining early visibility into emerging technologies, founders and use cases that can inform our strategy and enhance our understanding of where blockchain can drive meaningful impact.

Develop and catalyse real-world use cases for blockchain for good, supporting UNICEF-backed startups and digital public goods that apply decentralised technologies to improve transparency, efficiency and access to essential services for children and communities.

Expand the pipeline of scalable, open-source solutions addressing global challenges, leveraging UNICEF’s Venture Fund and CryptoFund to accelerate early-stage innovators and create pathways for the most promising technologies to grow into impactful, investment-ready ventures.

View partner’s website

Mercy Corps Ventures

Education Infrastructure

£150,000 GBP

Organisation: Mercy Corps Ventures

Funding start date:

2 Jan 2023

Focus of funding

Mercy Corps Ventures has been an Empower partner focused on advancing innovative, tech-enabled solutions that strengthen the resilience of people and communities in frontier markets. Through its early-stage investing and venture-building model, Mercy Corps Ventures identifies and supports entrepreneurs working at the intersection of financial inclusion, climate resilience and emerging technologies, including responsible applications of blockchain. Our partnership enables us to contribute to a pipeline of impactful, market-driven solutions designed to unlock opportunity, build economic resilience and accelerate sustainable development in underserved regions.

Expected goals

Strengthen GSR Foundation’s connection to frontier innovation ecosystems, gaining visibility into early-stage startups and emerging technologies in global markets, particularly those driving climate resilience, financial inclusion and next-generation digital infrastructure.

Develop and catalyse real-world use cases for blockchain for good, supporting Mercy Corps Ventures’ portfolio to responsibly test, validate and scale decentralised technologies that can improve financial access, enhance climate adaptation and increase the resilience of vulnerable communities.

Accelerate a pipeline of scalable, impact-oriented ventures, leveraging Mercy Corps Ventures’ investment and venture-building capabilities to advance solutions that are market-driven, open to collaboration and capable of delivering measurable social and environmental outcomes aligned with GSR Foundation’s mission.

View partner’s website

Blockchain for Good

Harnessing blockchain to drive social impact and transparency.

Education Infrastructure

Supporting access to learning tools and systems that empower communities.

Internet Provision

Expanding connectivity so everyone can participate in the digital economy.

Learn more

How we fund

We are proactive in identifying aligned partners, and do not accept unsolicited applications.

If your organisation aligns closely to one or more of our verticals, you are invited to complete this short eligibility check.

Check Eligibility

Impact Stake and Stablecoin For Impact

GSR is advancing innovative models for social finance through its use of Lido Impact Staking. By directing staking rewards generated from Ethereum through the Lido protocol, the GSR Foundation is helping to fund the Mercy Corps Venture Fund, the UNICEF Venture Fund, and UNICEF Giga. This approach channels on-chain staking yield into real-world impact, supporting ventures and initiatives that drive financial inclusion, digital access, and sustainable development globally. GSR is also pioneering in its use of new stablecoin mechanisms to fund social impact. GSR Foundation are using the Stablecoin For Impact dApp to fund UNICEF Giga helping to connect every school in the world to the internet. Using stablecoin lending yield powered by Aave.

See partner pages to impact stake