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Wangari Maathai. Photo by Antônio Cruz/ABr.

15 Most Famous Social Entrepreneurs

Historically, many entrepreneurs chose to amass wealth in the private sector before becoming philanthropists later in life. However, entrepreneurs can now use their businesses to help improve social issues.

Globally, a new business model that integrates businesses with governmental and social organizations has emerged. Nonprofits and for-profit corporations can collaborate to form a hybrid business model led by a new generation of social entrepreneurs. These leaders successfully address social issues while making a profit for their shareholders.

The widespread adoption of ethical practices such as impact investing, conscious consumerism, and corporate social responsibility programs aided the success of the 15 social entrepreneurs listed below.

1. Muhammad Yunus 

Muhammad Yunus. Photo by Ed Schipul.

Muhammad Yunus is a social entrepreneur and economist from Bangladesh. He is best known as the founder of Grameen Bank, a pioneering microfinance organization that provides small loans to poor people in developing countries, particularly women.

Yunus is widely regarded as the “Father of Microfinance,” and is credited with helping to launch the microfinance movement, which has assisted millions of people worldwide in escaping poverty and improving their lives. In recognition of his work and the impact of Grameen Bank on poverty alleviation and economic development, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

Yunus has been a vocal proponent of using business and entrepreneurship to address social and economic issues, and he is a well-known figure in the fields of social business, microfinance, and entrepreneurship.

2. Blake Mycoskie 

Blake Mycoskie. Photo by Ed Schipul.

Blake Mycoskie is a philanthropist and entrepreneur from the United States. He is best known for founding TOMS Shoes, a socially responsible footwear company that follows the One for One business model.

TOMS donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased. This simple, yet powerful concept has aided the company’s rise to the forefront of socially responsible business and corporate giving. Mycoskie has been a vocal advocate for the power of business to effect positive change in the world, inspiring many other businesses to follow suit and incorporate social and environmental concerns into their operations.

In addition to his work with TOMS, Mycoskie is a sought-after speaker and advisor on social entrepreneurship, and his contributions to business and philanthropy have been recognized.

3. Bill Drayton

Bill Drayton and J Nathan Matias. Photo by Joi.

Bill Drayton is an American social entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Ashoka, a global organization that helps social entrepreneurs create positive change in their communities and around the world.

Ashoka offers a variety of resources and support to social entrepreneurs, such as financial backing, mentorship, and networking opportunities, and has assisted in the launch and sustainability of thousands of innovative and impactful initiatives around the world. Drayton is widely regarded as a pioneer in the fields of social entrepreneurship and innovation, and she is a strong believer in the ability of individuals to effect positive change and address the world’s most pressing social and environmental issues.

Under his leadership, Ashoka has become a leading voice in the global social change movement, and it continues to support and empower social entrepreneurs working to make the world a more just and equitable place.

4. Wangari Maathai 

Wangari Maathai. Photo by Antônio Cruz/ABr.

Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan political and environmental activist who founded the Green Belt Movement. Maathai was a trailblazer in environmental conservation and women’s rights, and she was a tireless advocate for the role of women in sustainable development and peacebuilding.

The Green Belt Movement is a grassroots organization that works to empower women while also promoting environmental conservation through tree planting and sustainable agriculture and land use practices. Under Maathai’s leadership, the organization has planted more than 50 million trees in Kenya, assisting in the protection and conservation of vast areas of valuable forests and wildlife habitat. Maathai’s work has had a significant impact on Kenya’s environmental, social, and political landscape, and has inspired similar initiatives around the world.

In 2004, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her contributions to sustainable development, peacebuilding, and women’s empowerment through the Green Belt Movement. Maathai died in 2011, but her legacy inspires and motivates people all over the world to take action to protect the environment and promote sustainable development.

5. John Wood 

John Wood is a philanthropist from the United States who founded Room to Read, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting education and literacy in developing countries. Wood founded Room to Read in 2000 after leaving a corporate career in the technology industry in order to make a positive impact on the world.

The mission of Room to Read is to provide children in low-income communities with access to quality education, including books, schools, and trained teachers, as well as to support girls in their educational pursuits through a variety of programs and initiatives. Room to Read has grown into a globally recognized organization under Wood’s leadership, operating in over ten countries and impacting the lives of millions of children and young people.

Wood is widely recognized as a leading voice in the fields of education and global development, and he has received numerous awards and recognition for his contributions to these causes. Today, Room to Read continues to grow and evolve, broadening its reach and impact while striving to create a world in which every child has access to a high-quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potential.

6. Amy Rao

Amy Rao is an American entrepreneur and the founder of Integrated Archive Systems (IAS), a company that provides data management solutions to social impact organizations. Rao founded IAS in the early 1990s, and it has since grown to become a leading provider of data management and technology solutions to organizations in a variety of industries, including healthcare, education, and non-profits.

IAS is well-known for its innovative and user-friendly technology solutions that assist organizations in collecting, storing, and analysing data in ways that support their goals and objectives.

Rao is widely recognized as a pioneer in the field of technology for social impact, and she has received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions to this cause.

Today, IAS continues to grow and evolve, offering cutting-edge technology solutions to organizations all over the world, assisting them in better understanding and tracking their impact, improving their operations, and achieving their objectives.

7. Jacqueline Novogratz

Jacqueline Novogratz. Photo by AcumenComms.

Jacqueline Novogratz is a philanthropist from the United States and the founder of Acumen, a non-profit global venture fund. Acumen was founded in 2001 with the goal of addressing global poverty through market-based approaches and developing sustainable, scalable solutions to some of the world’s most pressing social and economic challenges.

Acumen provides critical support and resources to entrepreneurs working to create positive change in areas such as healthcare, education, clean energy, and water and sanitation through its investments in social enterprises. Not only that, but Acumen has become a leading voice in the field of impact investing under Novogratz’s leadership, and has helped to pioneer new models for creating social impact through investments in for-profit businesses.

Novogratz is widely recognized as a visionary leader and a pioneer in the field of social impact, and she has received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions to this cause. Acumen is still growing and evolving today, investing in new social enterprises and building a global community of leaders and practitioners dedicated to using market-based approaches to effect positive change.

8. Kyle Zimmer

Kyle Zimmer. Photo by Foundations World Economic Forum.

Kyle Zimmer is a philanthropist from the United States and the co-founder of First Book, a non-profit organization that provides books and educational materials to children in need. First Book was founded in 1992 to address the lack of resources available to children from low-income families, who frequently lack access to books and other educational materials.

First Book, through its innovative programs and initiatives, provides new books and educational resources to children in need, thereby supporting their learning and closing the opportunity gap. It has grown into a leading voice in the field of education and literacy under Zimmer’s leadership, impacting the lives of millions of children worldwide. Zimmer is widely recognized as a visionary leader and a champion for education and literacy, and she has received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions to these causes.

Today, First Book is still growing and evolving, broadening its reach and impact while working to ensure that every child has access to the books and resources they need to succeed.

9. Jessica Jackley

Jessica Jackley. Photo by Michael Dayah.

Jessica Jackley is a co-founder of Kiva, a non-profit organization that connects lenders with low-income entrepreneurs in need of capital. Kiva was founded in 2005 with the goal of developing a new microfinance model that would leverage the power of the internet to connect people from all over the world with entrepreneurs in need of capital.

Kiva’s online platform allows individuals to make loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries, thereby supporting their businesses and creating economic opportunities for underserved communities.

Kiva has grown into a leading voice in the field of impact investing and has impacted the lives of millions of people worldwide under Jackley’s leadership. Jackley is widely recognized as a visionary leader and a pioneer in the field of social impact, and she has received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions to these causes.

It’s still growing and evolving today, expanding its reach and impact while working to connect people with the resources they need to build a better future for themselves and their communities.

10. Neil Blumenthal

Neil Blumenthal. Photo by The Next Web.

Neil Blumenthal is an entrepreneur from the United States and the co-founder of Warby Parker, a socially responsible eyewear company. Warby Parker was founded in 2010 with the goal of providing fashionable, affordable eyewear while also addressing the issue of underserved communities’ lack of access to vision care and eyeglasses.

Warby Parker provides affordable eyewear while also donating a portion of its profits to organizations working to improve access to vision care and eyeglasses through its innovative business model. Warby Parker has grown into a leading player in the eyewear industry under Blumenthal’s leadership, known for its stylish products, innovative marketing, and commitment to social responsibility.

Blumenthal is widely regarded as a visionary leader and a pioneer in the field of socially responsible business, and he has received numerous awards and recognition for his contributions to these causes. Today, Warby Parker is still growing and evolving, broadening its reach and impact while working to ensure that everyone has access to the eyewear they need to see clearly and live their best lives.

11. Wendy Kopp

Wendy Kopp. Photo by World Economic Forum.

Wendy Kopp is an education activist in the United States and the founder of Teach For America (TFA), a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating educational inequity. Kopp proposed the idea for TFA in her thesis as a senior at Princeton University in 1989, envisioning a national corps of recent college graduates who would commit to teaching in low-income communities for two years.

TFA is now one of the largest and most prestigious teacher corps programs in the United States, having placed tens of thousands of people in classrooms across the country and around the world. TFA has grown into a powerful force for educational change under Kopp’s leadership, working to ensure that all children, regardless of background or zip code, have access to an excellent education.

Kopp is widely recognized as a leader in the field of education reform, and she has received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions to these causes. She is still an advocate for educational equity and a strong voice in the ongoing effort to close the achievement gap and ensure that all children have access to the education they require to reach their full potential.

12. Linda Rottenberg

Linda Rottenberg is an entrepreneur from the United States and the co-founder and CEO of Endeavor, a global non-profit organization that assists high-impact entrepreneurs. Endeavor offers its entrepreneur members a variety of services, including mentorship, strategic advice, and access to capital and other resources.

In 1997, Rottenberg co-founded Endeavor with the goal of fostering a new generation of high-impact entrepreneurs who would create jobs and drive economic growth in their communities. Endeavor has since grown into a global network with a presence in over 35 countries, supporting over 1,500 entrepreneurs who have created over 2 million jobs.

Rottenberg is widely regarded as a pioneer in the field of entrepreneurship, and she has received numerous awards and honors for her efforts. She is also the author of “Crazy is a Compliment: The Power of Zigging When Everyone Else Zags,” a book in which she shares her experiences as a social entrepreneur and offers advice and inspiration to others who are pursuing their own entrepreneurial dreams.

13. Shiza Shahid

Shiza Shahid is a social entrepreneur, activist, and investor from Pakistan. She is best known for co-founding the Malala Fund, which advocates for girls’ education and provides resources and support to help girls attend and finish school. Shahid is also a founding partner of Now Ventures, an investment firm that invests in startups with a positive social and environmental impact.

14. Scott Harrison

Scott Harrison is a humanitarian and entrepreneur from the United States. He is the founder and CEO of charity: water, a non-profit organization that provides people in developing countries with clean and safe drinking water. Harrison worked as a nightclub promoter in New York City prior to founding charity: water.

He eventually left that career to volunteer on a hospital ship in West Africa for two years, which inspired him to found charity: water. Charity: water has become one of the most innovative and effective non-profit organizations under his leadership, utilizing technology and storytelling to engage the public and raise awareness about the global water crisis.

15. Jeffrey Hollender

Jeffrey Hollender. Photo by Cmsustain.

Jeffrey Hollender is a businessman and social entrepreneur from the United States. He is best known for co-founding Seventh Generation, an eco-friendly consumer products company that manufactures environmentally responsible household and personal care items.

For many years, Hollender has been a prominent figure in the sustainability and corporate responsibility movements, and he is a strong proponent of using business as a force for good. He has authored several books on environmental and social responsibility, and he has received recognition for his contributions to the field of sustainable business.