We invest in strategies and interventions that have a high return on investment as measured by our North Star. More about our definition of return on investment can be found here.
We assess grants using an impact modeling approach, seeking to support opportunities with a high potential to increase lifetime earnings for low income individuals. In our first two years of operating we have made more than 100 grants to achieve these outcomes, but also to test and refine the strategies listed below.
GitLab Foundation operates on an invite-only basis, and does not accept unsolicited proposals except through a small number of topical open RFPs announced each year.
Taking a Thesis-Driven Approach: To maximize cycles of learning that improve our strategy and outcomes, we have developed an initial investment “thesis” structure. We believe that by concentrating our grantmaking around certain areas of inquiry, or theses, we will learn more and become more effective over time.
Our initial theses include a targeted geographic focus on three countries (i.e., locations where, due to economic, social, and political factors, we feel we have the potential to deliver outsized North Star outcomes) and thematic areas within those geographies. We plan to add population-specific strategies in each market in 2025.
The GitLab Foundation supports evidence-building activities in two ways, which we will begin piloting in late FY24:
Learn more about our approach to evidence building here.
We will conduct research and seek out grantees across these strategic areas; in some cases, we may issue requests for proposals (RFPs) in these areas of interest.