H&M Foundation joins Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship

The H&M Foundation has joined the Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship, an initiative by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship in partnership with the World Economic Forum.

With more than 120 members – from social entrepreneurs and impact investors to policy shapers – the Alliance is a leading multistakeholder coalition that supports social innovation and serves as a global platform to accelerate sustainable and inclusive systems change.

As pressure mounts on the textile industry to decarbonise without leaving workers behind, the need for collaboration has never been greater.

“Solving the climate crisis will take more than just cutting emissions, we need solutions that help communities adapt and thrive in the new economy,” says Anna Gedda, CEO of the H&M Foundation. “Through this alliance, we’re keen to collaborate with others pushing forward circular, regenerative and climate-resilient models, especially where social equity is at stake. What makes this network so powerful is the mix of actors around the table: social innovators, funders, researchers and corporates all bringing different strengths. As a philanthropic foundation, we can take early risks, connect unlikely partners, and help scale what works. That’s what we hope to contribute, and gain, as part of this global alliance.”

The H&M Foundation is a privately funded non-profit focused on transforming the textile sector. Its mission is to support the industry in halving its greenhouse gas emissions every decade until 2050, while promoting a just transition for both people and planet. As one of few philanthropic actors working exclusively in this space, the Foundation brings risk-tolerant funding, systems thinking and deep field experience – from backing early-stage innovation through the Global Change Award, to equipping waste pickers to be integrated in emerging circular value chains through Saamuhika Shakti.

Gedda added: “We see this as more than a network – it’s an engine for collective action. If we’re serious about solving complex challenges, we need spaces that foster trust, experimentation and shared accountability. That’s what the Schwab Foundation’s Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship is designed to do.”