Gratitude Network | Our Approach

Our Approach

The Gratitude Network is on the look-out for paradigm-changing organizations (both for-profit and not-for-profit) that are applying innovation to making a lasting change to an existing system that will benefit children.

How We Operate

We conduct an annual, careful search for the world’s greatest “social entrepreneurs” – particularly those serving the “base of the pyramid” or “Majority World“– people who are marginalized by society today and live in fear, poverty, or unhealthy conditions. To find “game-changing” entrepreneurs, we partner with other firms in venture philanthropy, large humanitarian organizations (who already have the reach into most countries) and universities (who are turning up some of the most innovative new entrepreneurs).

Once we find the entrepreneurs we want to work with, the Gratitude then works closely with its portfolio companies, investing time into these areas:

Deep guidance from the knowledgeable Strategic Coaches;

Match-ups to our extensive Mentor Network providing access to global expertise in a wide variety of start-up areas for building/scaling the business, hiring the right team and funding the entity; and

Connections and introductions to funding sources and sometimes in the form of a Gratitude grant, award, loan or direct investment;

Membership into a structured peer group that meets regularly

Where Do We Focus?

We look for entrepreneurs who demonstrate an innovative business model, products/services, or dynamic leadership to create a compelling vision for sustainable social change.

The Gratitude Network focuses on serving not-for-profit and for-profit entrepreneurs who:

Are in a scaling stage (beyond seed/concept stage)

Have a shipping product/service which has been proven in one key instance/account/locale

Are led by a “change-maker” individual or team

Beginning in the fall of 2016, we have refined our focus to CHILDREN and YOUTH (pre K-12) globally, with these award categories:

Education such as school systems, training of teachers, education technology, and early childhood programs as well as how/ what children learn at school or outside of the classroom (e.g. after-school or summer programs)

Health and Wellbeing such as addressing children’s basic needs, including poverty alleviation, nutrition, water, safe shelter, disease prevention, mental health, and social-emotional health

Children’s Rights such as protecting children and families from abuse, exploitation, trafficking, incarceration, and other harm, as well as other advocacy

Our Approach

How We Operate

Growth stage companies

In the areas of:

Unique & outstanding

Ideas and companies

Innovation

Where Do We Focus?