Ben Binswanger to Lead Skoll Foundation's Program and Impact Group

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Skoll Foundation today announced that Ben Binswanger will join the Foundation as Vice President, Program and Impact. A long time senior executive with experience in philanthropy, business and government, Binswanger will lead the Foundation's strategic grantmaking program, identifying and supporting the work of the top social entrepreneurs worldwide who are driving large-scale change on pressing social and environmental issues. As part of the executive team, he will help shape the Foundation's overall strategy to maximize the leverage of its philanthropic capital.

"Ben's diverse leadership experience will be a great benefit to the Skoll Foundation as we move into our second decade," said Sally Osberg, president and CEO of the Skoll Foundation. "Ben is a great strategic thinker, understands the complexities around social change, and has deep knowledge on what makes organizations effective. Just as important, he brings genuine passion for our mission, a keen sense of excitement for the opportunities ahead, and the entrepreneurial drive to make good things happen."

Binswanger has held a range of senior positions across the business, government and social change sectors. Most recently, he served as chief operating officer of the Case Foundation, working directly with Jean and Steve Case to develop the programs, initiatives, and support systems for the foundation. Prior to that, he held senior posts in communications and civic engagement at AOL and Time Warner. Ben launched his career as campaign director for Senator Edward Kennedy and subsequently served for five years as his political director.

"Social entrepreneurship is hitting its stride, moving from a concept not widely understood five years ago to a recognized and compelling model for driving lasting social change," said Binswanger. "The Skoll Foundation, by providing critical growth capital, networking and marketing support to the world's leading social entrepreneurs, has been a key player in this process. I'm looking forward to helping drive social entrepreneurship to the next level, delivering scalable solutions to the world's most pressing problems."

Binswanger will join the Foundation effective November 16, 2009.

About the Skoll Foundation
The Skoll Foundation was created in 1999 by eBay's first president, Jeff Skoll, to promote his vision of a more peaceful and prosperous world. Today the Skoll Foundation drives large-scale change by investing in, connecting and celebrating social entrepreneurs and other innovators dedicated to solving the world's most pressing problems. Social entrepreneurs are individuals dedicated to innovative, bottom-up solutions that transform unequal and unjust social, environmental and economic systems.

The Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship is the foundation's flagship program. There are currently 60 organizations represented by 73 remarkable social entrepreneurs in the program, working individually and together across regions, countries and continents to deliver solutions to the world's most challenging economic and social problems. The Skoll Foundation connects social entrepreneurs and other partners in the field via an online community at www.socialedge.org, and through the annual Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship. The foundation also celebrates social entrepreneurs through the work of flagship organizations such as the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and the Sundance Institute, which help drive large-scale public awareness of social entrepreneurship and its potential to address the critical issues of our time. For more information, visit www.skollfoundation.org.