Draper Richards

Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation is a Menlo Park, California-based global venture philanthropy firm that finds, funds and supports early-stage social enterprises and mission-driven organisations addressing complex social and environmental challenges, typically through unrestricted grants and capacity-building support. Founded in 2002 by William H. Draper III and Robin Richards Donohoe, with Robert S. Kaplan joining as co-chair in 2010, the foundation applies a venture-inspired model to back high-impact leaders and teams tackling issues in health, education, economic opportunity, food security, justice, water and shelter. It often serves as the first institutional investor and board partner, helping nascent organisations develop governance, strategic planning and scaling capacity. DRK’s portfolio spans domestic and international organisations, emphasising scalable solutions and systems change in underserved communities. The foundation has made hundreds of early investments and is known for its hands-on support and long-term engagement with social innovators rather than traditional commercial returns.