Shell Foundation launched as an independent charity with a $256m endowment from Shell, establishing three core programmes: Sustainable Energy; Sustainable Communities; and Youth Enterprise. Kurt Hoffman appointed Director, and a diverse Board of Trustees formed.

Shell Foundation shifts from a traditional charity to an enterprise-based model, focusing on scalable, financially sustainable solutions, marking the beginning of long-term partnerships and market-driven development.

Five branded programmes launched to address global challenges, including Aspire (SMEs), Breathing Space (clean cookstoves), and EMBARQ (urban mobility). These initiatives reflect a sharper focus on innovation and measurable impact.

Shell Foundation publishes Enterprise Solutions to Poverty, its first major report, advocating for enterprise-led development.

Kurt Hoffman leaves Shell Foundation – replaced by Chris West. Chris participated in early discussions around the creation of Shell Foundation and joined soon after its launch in 2000. Chris pioneers an “enterprise-based” approach to philanthropic investment and oversees a period of portfolio building and research output. By the time he leaves in 2015, Shell Foundation’s programmes have created over 30K sustainable jobs in start-up and growing businesses in Africa, positively impacted the lives of over 20m people in the developing world, and achieved a 6m tonne reduction in carbon emissions.

A pilot with Husk Power in India begins, using rice husk gasification for rural electrification. This partnership will span 11 years and become a model for scaling innovation. Husk graduated the portfolio in 2019 after receiving commercial investment for its expansion. 

Shell Foundation introduces formal Key Performance Indicators – Jobs Supported, Lives Improved, Finance Leveraged and CO₂ Reduced.  Enterprise Solutions to Scale published, reflecting on a first decade of learning and impact and presenting successes as well as lessons learned from failure.

M-KOPA receives early-stage support to develop mobile metering for solar energy. Shell Foundation provides first grant funding and co-investment in Research & Development alongside DFID (now FCDO). M-KOPA also pilots PAYG solar lanterns in Kenya, laying the foundation for mobile-enabled energy access.

Shell Foundation signs its first agreement with FCDO and helps establish GOGLA to support the off-grid energy sector. These moves signal a growing role in ecosystem building and policy influence. GOGLA now supports its more than 200 members by serving as a central hub for the off-grid industry, offering vital market data and advocating for supportive policies. Scaling Up Solutions for Sustainable Mobility published, reflecting the issue’s increasing prominence as a major obstacle to sustainable economic development.

Shell Foundation supports d.light by facilitating corporate partnerships and co-funding product expansion. d.light went on to sell over a million solar lights by 2015. Factor[e] Ventures launched to incubate disruptive technologies in sustainable energy. By 2025, its portfolio would impact over 115m lives and leverage over $500m in investment. Social Marketing in India published, capturing experiences, both good and bad, over several years of running social marketing campaigns to drive adoption of improved cookstoves.

Accelerating Access to Energy published, summarising 14 years of work in decentralised energy, highlighting Shell Foundation’s role in shaping inclusive energy markets.

Sam Parker becomes CEO of Shell Foundation, initiating a period of growth and deeper collaboration with global donors. Shell Foundation publishes Enterprise Solutions for 2030, synthesising insights from more than 200 partnerships with public and private social investors over 15 years, exploring different ways in which resources can be deployed to eradicate obstacles to energy access, sustainable urban mobility and job creation.

Shell Foundation signs agreement with FCDO for a five-year, £60m partnership under the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform. The agreement would be extended and expanded in 2021.  Shell Foundation signs six-year partnership with USAID and Power Africa.  Scaling Energy Access Markets in Africa (SEAM) aims to improve the lives of more than 15 million underserved people in Africa.

A new MOU with Dutch development bank FMO signed, focused on access to finance and green investment in Africa and India, and expanding Shell Foundation’s influence in financial inclusion.

Last Mile Solutions published, sharing lessons on building rural value chains for essential services. It reinforces Shell Foundation’s commitment to customer-centric innovation.

Gail Klintworth, former Chief Sustainability Officer for Unilever, joins Shell Foundation’s Board of Trustees, replacing Malcolm Brinded as Chair. Shell Foundation signs a £30m eight-year partnership with FCDO to Catalyse Agriculture by Scaling Energy Ecosystems (CASEE).  Shell Foundation and Calvert Impact Capital jointly publish a Gender-Lens in Investment report, based on evidence that a gender inclusive strategy leads to better performing investments and a more equitable and sustainable world. Shell Foundation and FMO announce the launch of the $120m Energy Entrepreneurs Growth Fund (EEGF), providing catalytic financing to early-growth stage companies in sub-Saharan Africa operating in the access to energy ecosystem.  Husk Power graduate from Shell Foundation portfolio with more than 11K jobs supported and over 171K tonnes CO2 avoided. 

In response to Covid-19, Shell Foundation co-creates the Energy Access Relief Fund, offering low-interest loans to off-grid energy firms contributing to SDG7. It anchors the Fund’s first-loss layer and supports sector-wide coordination.

Sam Parker retires as Shell Foundation CEO, leaving a legacy during his time of $8.96bn leveraged into Shell Foundation partners; 58.18m tonnes of CO2 avoided; more than 730K jobs supported and over 220m livelihoods improved. Richard Gomes steps in as Acting CEO. Shell Foundation and US DFC launch new collaboration to accelerate access to renewable energy and gender inclusion. M-KOPA graduated from Shell Foundation portfolio having provided more than a million people with improved energy access, avoided 2.1m tonnes of CO2 and leveraged $158m.

Jonathan Berman becomes Shell Foundation’s CEO, bringing strong private sector and emerging market expertise. Shell Foundation’s six-year Scaling Energy Access Markets in Africa (SEAM) partnership with USAID and Power Africa meets its objectives and comes to its natural conclusion. Shell Foundation and FMO sign a new MOU to support the just and inclusive energy transition in sub-Saharan Africa and India. The MOU builds on a previous agreement that concluded in 2019. d.light graduated from Shell Foundation portfolio with over $28m leveraged and almost 15m tonnes CO2 avoided.

Shell Foundation launches new strategy to increase incomes with clean energy for three core customer segments: smallholder farmers, transporters, and microentrepreneurs. These segments represent the largest number of people whose income can be significantly increased through clean energy. Portfolio partner S4S Technologies wins a 2023 EarthShot Prize, receiving £1 million to scale their innovative solutions in India and beyond. US DFC and Shell Foundation sign an MOU expansion to support distributed renewable energy solutions in emerging markets. Additionally, British International Investment and Shell Foundation approve a $2.6 million carbon credit pilot investment to scale solar irrigation in Kenya, allowing partner SunCulture to reduce upfront product costs by 25-40% and reach an additional 9K smallholder farmers.

Shell Foundation supports the launch of DayLipa, a solar pump financing venture aiming to reach 150K customers. Keep IT Cool wins the EarthShot Prize for cold chain solutions – Shell Foundation’s second portfolio partner to have done so. 

New partnerships launched with Accion, Advik, Good Machine, Sterling Bank and others which help scale inclusive finance and innovation. Shell Foundation continues to expand its impact through scalable models and catalytic capital.