Ashoka is the global association of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs—men and women with system changing solutions for the world’s most urgent social problems. Social entrepreneurs are individuals with innovative solutions to society’s most pressing social problems. Like business entrepreneurs, they are ambitious and persistent, but unlike business entrepreneurs, they tackle major social issues and offer new ideas for wide-scale change. Rather than leaving societal needs to the government or business sectors, social entrepreneurs find what is not working and solve the problem by changing the system.

We believe that the most effective way to promote positive social change is by investing in these social entrepreneurs; to seek them out, support them, and help them spread their idea. Since 1981, Ashoka has elected over 2600 leading social entrepreneurs as Ashoka Fellows, providing them with living stipends, professional support, and access to a global network of peers in more than 60 countries.

Ashoka Fellows inspire others to adopt and spread their innovations—demonstrating to all citizens that they too have the potential to be powerful changemakers and make a positive difference in their communities.