We fund partners who reduce exclusion through technology.

We combine proactive outreach with a short expression-of-interest route. Begin with a quick eligibility check; if you look like a fit, we’ll set up a brief call.

Grantmaking principles

  • Don’t waste time: short intro calls; we only invite strong fits into a simple application.
  • Ask relevant questions: co-created applications and reporting; clarity over polish.
  • Accept risk: learning is an outcome; pilots and small one-off grants often precede multi-year support.
  • Act with urgency: trustees meet regularly; exceptional decisions can be fast-tracked.
  • Be open: clear about where funds come from/go; publish partnerships and learning where appropriate.
  • Enable flexibility: we often fund overheads (esp. salaries) so partners can adapt.
  • Communicate with purpose: share what worked - and what didn’t - across partners and publicly.
  • Be proportionate: light, useful reporting focused on scale and real outcomes.

Grantmaking values

TRUST

We trust our partners to use resources responsibly and act with integrity.
Our relationships are built on reliability, authenticity, and transparency, underpinned by accountability and openness in everything we do.

RELATIONAL

We invest in relationships as much as results. We take time to build connection, foster collaboration, and strengthen community through mutual reciprocity and shared purpose.

INTENTIONAL

We work toward a common vision, learning and adapting together. Our approach is purposeful, disciplined, and strategic - we act with focus, coherence, and a data-driven mindset to achieve lasting impact.

COURAGEOUS

We are ambitious in our vision and bold in our choices. By taking thoughtful risks and maintaining resilience, bravery, and conviction, we stay committed to long-term impact.

CO-CREATIVE

We believe the best solutions come from those closest to the challenge. Through innovation, partnership, and inclusivity, we empower communities to shape change and co-create sustainable outcomes.

Funding priorities

We keep our grantmaking interests broad, but within our verticals generally prioritise the following:

  • Pioneering frontier tech on complex social problems (incl. blockchain).
  • Removing barriers to participation in the tech world.
  • Tech for excluded populations, designed/co-designed with communities.
  • Investable overheads that unlock scale (people, capacity, governance).
  • Strong learning partnership and credible track record or theory of change. (Broad on geography and cause; budget set annually by trustees.)

Eligibility checker

The GSR Foundation supports organisations using technology to create a more equitable world.

We fund projects aligned with one of our three focus areas:

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.

About your organisation

About your organisation

Check Eligibility

You look like you might be eligible

Your organisation appears to meet the initial eligibility criteria for GSR Foundation funding.

You may be eligible to apply under our [selected vertical name].

We invite you to get in touch to confirm alignment with our current funding priorities.

Get in touch

Eligibility here is indicative only, we will get in touch if we want to know more.

It doesn’t look like you’re eligible (yet)

The GSR Foundation only funds organisations, not individuals or academic scholarships.

Check out our thinking

Criteria change as our programs evolve. You can try again later and explore our resources.

What we look for

Impact on exclusion

clear problem, clear beneficiaries, measurable change.

Co-creation

communities involved in design, delivery, and learning.

Right-sized tech

practical, safe, and appropriate to context.

Learning we can share

honest measurement and open dissemination.

Delivery basics

capable team, responsible governance, realistic budget.

Featured projects

A few examples across our three verticals.

Education Infrastructure

Silverleaf Academy

The funding is focused on enabling Silverleaf Academy (SLA) to unlock a $200,000 matching grant and deploy it across four priority areas that strengthen its schools and accelerate its innovation strategy. These include bringing two newly opened schools to full enrolment and financial sustainability, upgrading to advanced AI-driven EdTech systems (PowerSchool and PowerBuddy), expanding classroom digital infrastructure through tech hubs, and establishing a teacher digital literacy competency framework. Collectively, these investments are designed to scale SLA’s model, improve educational quality, and position the organisation as a regional leader in AI-supported learning.

Read more

Silverleaf Academy

Education Infrastructure

150,000 USD

Organisation: Silverleaf Academy

Funding start date:

Focus of funding

The funding is focused on enabling Silverleaf Academy (SLA) to unlock a $200,000 matching grant and deploy it across four priority areas that strengthen its schools and accelerate its innovation strategy. These include bringing two newly opened schools to full enrolment and financial sustainability, upgrading to advanced AI-driven EdTech systems (PowerSchool and PowerBuddy), expanding classroom digital infrastructure through tech hubs, and establishing a teacher digital literacy competency framework. Collectively, these investments are designed to scale SLA’s model, improve educational quality, and position the organisation as a regional leader in AI-supported learning.

Expected goals

The expected goals centre on driving sustainability, improving learning outcomes, and expanding equitable access. SLA aims to achieve 90% enrolment and full financial self-sufficiency for its two newest schools; successfully pilot and roll out AI-driven systems to improve academic performance and reduce teacher workload; equip all classrooms with digital tools and achieve a 1:1 student-to-device ratio in labs; and ensure all teachers reach a high level of digital competency. Additional goals include increasing student engagement and retention, scaling SLA’s impact through accreditation and support to partner schools, and expanding access for underserved learners through scholarships and flexible payment plans. Together, these outcomes will cement SLA as a model for innovative, sustainable, tech-enabled education in Tanzania.

View partner’s website

Blockchain for Good

Mercy Corps Ventures

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.

Read more

Mercy Corps Ventures

Education Infrastructure

750,000 USD

Organisation: Mercy Corps Ventures

Funding start date:

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

UNICEF

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.

Read more

UNICEF

Education Infrastructure

750,000 USD

Organisation: UNICEF

Funding start date:

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
Learn more

Image credits:

1) Tiny Totos