A Message From Our CEO
We Were Made For This Moment
These six words are the title of our latest Annual Report, and they say everything that needs to be said.
With more than two decades behind us and nearly 280 investments in portfolio organizations making a difference in the lives of others, to say we have seen a thing or two is the understatement of the century. Our team and our portfolio have lived through seemingly endless macro and micro challenges, and yet over this same period of time, both have flourished.
The numbers speak for themselves — our portfolio organizations, in the aggregate, reached an additional 100 million people this past year, bringing the total number of lives impacted to 610 million — a remarkable milestone that reflects not just scale, but deep, meaningful change in people’s lives. And we can now predict confidently that by the end of 2029, if not before, our portfolio will reach a billion people. That’s more than 10% of the world’s population.
What we see time and time again is the sheer power of one human being to make a difference in another’s life. We see it demonstrated across sector after sector of human need and in diverse geographies from North America to Africa and across Europe. We see it because the leaders and organizations we invest in are on the front lines of the safety net — providing food to those who need it; housing for those without shelter; access to critical healthcare, quality education, and employment opportunities; and above all else, the opportunity to live life to its fullest potential.
What does this look like in real life? It looks like this:
- More children receiving meals at school so they can learn.
- Parents gaining the skills and jobs they need to support their families.
- Access to doctors, medicines, and care that make healthy lives possible.
- Clean water, safe homes, and opportunities to be lifted out of poverty.
- Families reunited, dignity restored, and futures reimagined.
In our 2025 Annual Report, you will hear about some of our portfolio organizations’ impact around the globe — entrepreneurs who have harnessed their hope into action. In Spring 2026, I will publish a book, A Matter of Hope, that shares the stories of entrepreneurs turning hope into action, making a difference in the lives of more than 610 million people. I can’t wait for you to read their stories.
Your support and belief in this work — and in us — means the world to us. We could not do this without you. On behalf of all of us at DRK, thank you for believing in the possible.
-Jim Bildner
A Matter of Hope
