The Palo Alto-based Skoll Foundation has announced four grants totaling nearly $7.4 million to entrepreneurs and other innovators working to drive large-scale social change around the globe.

The Peace Dividend Trust, a nonprofit that works to make peace and humanitarian operations more effective, efficient, and equitable, was awarded the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, which includes a $765,000 grant. In addition, the foundation awarded $3.6 million to the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford University in support of its efforts to become a global hub for social entrepreneurship; $2.5 million to the new Middle East Venture Capital Fund, which will invest in high-growth, export-oriented information and communications technology companies in the Palestinian territories; and $500,000 to the Elders, a group of experienced global leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela to promote peace building, address major causes of human suffering, and publicize the shared interests of humanity.

"As the foundation enters its second decade, we are increasingly focused on entrepreneurial approaches that hold the greatest promise for significant impact on pressing global issues," said Skoll Foundation president and CEO Sally Osberg. "The investments we're announcing today are highly leveraged ways to both tackle tough issues, such as local economic empowerment in conflict zones, and to build out a stronger ecosystem to support innovators tackling these tough issues. We're excited to begin working with this diverse group of innovative leaders and social change organizations."