Philanthropists that Bankroll Social Enterprises

Pierre Omidyar/Wikimedia

On Saturday, Barron's released its list of 'The 25 Best Givers' -- high impact philanthropists who are changing the world through their donations. Many of these consisted of grants to help further educational, health or human rights issues in developing countries. Some of them consisted of funding for social enterprises -- ventures that once lifted off the ground, would be self sustaining.

Here's a look at some notable social enterprises being funded by the men and women who made the list:

Skoll Foundation (Jeff Skoll)

APOPO -- trains rats to detect landmines and tuberculosis. 

Kiva -- online platform for peer to peer microlending

Kickstart -- develops irrigation pumps suitable for steeply sloping land -- they push water uphill as well as pulling it from the source

IDEI-  affordable irrigation products that provide water one drop at a time

Omidyar Network (Pierre and Pam Omidyar) 

Funds D.Light -- solar powered lantern sold between $10-$25 to those who make less than $5 a day.

Gates Foundation (Bill and Melinda Gates)

Through the Grand Challenges Exploration grants program, the Gates Foundation has funded a variety of technologies to address global health problems of all types -- from developing a synthetic lymph node to deliver vaccines to creating a low cost needle-free treatment for post-partum bleeding.

Khosla Ventures/AMAR Foundation (Vinod Khosla)

Through his $1.3 billion fund, Khosla is funding a host of social enterprises in mobile, clean tech, and IT, including Calera -- a technology that transforms carbon emissions from electricity plants into building materials resembling cement.

The Clinton Foundation (Bill Clinton)

Funds social enterprises like TANA, a single women led organization that produces the only organic spices and condiments in Columbia -- basil, cilantro, ginger, and turmeric etc. The Foundation's aim is to turn TANA and other small businesses into self sufficient ventures.