Fighting Poverty Through Social Innovation: SVF’s Commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Raquel Castro
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global blueprint for a better future. At the top of this list is Goal #1: No Poverty—a vision to end extreme poverty in all its forms by 2030. At Social Ventures Foundation (SVF), this mission is at the core of everything we do.
Why Poverty Reduction Is Still the World's Greatest Challenge
More than 700 million people still live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $2.15 a day. Poverty is more than a lack of income—it’s a lack of access to education, healthcare, clean water, and opportunity. It’s a systemic issue that affects generations.
At SVF, we believe the fight against poverty requires bold, entrepreneurial solutions. We focus on Social Development Goal 1 because we’ve seen firsthand how local innovation can break cycles of poverty and build resilient, empowered communities.
Our Approach to SDG 1: Empowering Social Entrepreneurs
SVF works with university students, grassroots leaders, and emerging entrepreneurs across the globe through programs like:
EPIC Labs – where students design and launch social ventures aimed at poverty alleviation.
Social Franchise Lab – helping scale proven, high-impact social business models in underserved communities.
Social Impact Fund Lab – connecting funders with scalable, community-led solutions to poverty.
These initiatives are built on the belief that social entrepreneurship is one of the most effective tools for achieving sustainable development goals—especially in communities where traditional aid has failed.
Local Impact, Global Vision
While the SDGs provide a global framework, we focus on local solutions. SVF supports entrepreneurs who deeply understand the unique challenges of their communities—from rural Haiti to urban areas all around the world—offering not just ideas, but contextualized, actionable change.
How You Can Support SDG 1 with SVF
Whether you're an educator, investor, policymaker, or student, there’s a place for you in this movement. Support SVF by:
Partnering with our university-based programs
Investing in youth-led ventures
Donating to support long-term poverty reduction initiatives
Together, we can build a future where opportunity isn’t a privilege—it’s a right.