Honoring the Legacy of Bill Clapp
We are saddened to share that Global Partnerships co-founder and Seattle philanthropist Bill Clapp passed away on May 29. Bill leaves behind a legacy of generosity, service, and innovation.
Bill and his wife, Paula Clapp, started Global Partnerships in 1994 after witnessing poverty in El Salvador. Motivated by a belief that business could help address poverty, they rallied a community to invest in microcredit as a pathway for entrepreneurs, particularly women, to build a better life.
In 2021, Bill and Paula stepped down from the Global Partnerships board, passing the baton to the next generation of leaders they had helped foster to carry the work forward.
“Bill’s impact has been felt around the world. Through Global Partnerships alone, he helped over 40 million people living on dollars a day improve their lives. We are here today because of Bill and Paula’s vision and their generosity in entrusting us with it.” – Mike Galgon, CEO, Global Partnerships
To honor Bill’s memory and impact, we invite you to view and contribute messages to a virtual memorial wall here.
Below are some photos featuring Bill at Global Partnerships over the years, along with one of our favorite news clippings from the archive.