ASHOKA INVESTS
IN CHANGEMAKERS
“Ashoka has set a high bar for the rest of the philanthropy we get involved with. I can see these are the people who are driving true change. I want to go with the people who are passionate.”
Anne Wojcicki
Our
Values
Belonging
We’re a home for changemakers – a peer network of visionary Ashoka Fellows, 3,800 strong and growing, and of their networks of many millions of changemakers.
Optimism
When you know where to look, you see people solving all sorts of problems, in their communities, schools, workplaces, even entire fields and industries.
Inclusion
We’ve always believed that those closest to a problem are best able to solve it: inclusion is therefore key. We need all hands on deck.
Courage
We welcome unorthodox ideas that tap the wisdom and ability for everyone, of all ages and walks of life, to contribute.
Wisdom
Forty years of pioneering social entrepreneurship has taught us how to listen and spot patterns and deep currents of change.
Our team
Konstanze Frischen
kfrischen@ashoka.org
Michael Zakaras
mzakaras@ashoka.org
Manmeet Mehta
mmehta@ashoka.org
Beeta Ansari
bansari@ashoka.org
Lorena Garcia Duran
lgarciaduran@ashoka.org
Simon Stumpf
sstumpf@ashoka.org
Kennedy Patlan
kpatlan@ashoka.org
Amy Clark
aclark@ashoka.org
Michelle King
mking@ashoka.org
Nadine Freeman
nfreeman@ashoka.org
Alex Vesey
avesey@ashoka.org
Our
BEginnings
Ashoka started searching for social entrepreneurs in our first country, India, in 1981. Nearly 20 years later, Texas entrepreneur Ron “R.J.” Jensen learned of our guiding values and high-leverage approach and reached out right away to explore funding a U.S. launch. We are every day grateful for the Jensen family’s founding investment that has given rise to an entire ecosystem of support for emerging ideas and social entrepreneurs across the country.
Remembering RJ Jensen: A Tribute from the Ashoka Community. Produced by Cory Wilson.
