Philanthropy at an Inflection Point: A Conversation with Cari Tuna
Philanthropy is operating in a moment of profound transition. The challenges it seeks to address, from artificial intelligence and biosecurity to climate change and democratic resilience, are not only global in scope, but increasingly complex, uncertain, and fast-moving. At the same time, questions about the role, legitimacy, and effectiveness of...
Global Philanthropy for Local Resilience: A New Paradigm
On March 11, Stanford PACS convened a group of philanthropy leaders and ecosystem builders to examine the structural, financial, and ethical questions shaping the future of global aid. The discussion revealed a sector in transition, confronting declining public funding alongside rising global needs, and increasingly recognizing that traditional models of...
Women, Wealth, and the Future of Philanthropy
Women’s History Month invites us to look back at how far we’ve come. I find myself equally drawn to what’s coming, and what it will ask of us. Something remarkable is underway. Over the next two decades, an estimated $90 trillion will change hands in the largest wealth transfer to...
Reckoning, Reflecting, and Calling to Action
When I was asked to write a piece to commemorate Black History Month for Stanford PACS’ Philanthropy Innovation Summit blog, I wanted to take the opportunity to share the history that we must reckon with as a sector, and also what is possible when we undertake that reckoning. I hope...
Investing in Civil Society: The Foundation of Democracy
I’ve spent most of my career working in some of the world’s most challenging, conflict-ridden, and repressive places. Each place was defined by its local context, but all were fragile states, meaning there was an absence or a breakdown of a social contract between people and their governments. When countries...
Navigating Challenges with Unity: Human Rights Day Reflections with Caitlin Heising
On December 10 each year, a global community of human rights defenders observes the principles articulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, first ratified by the UN General Assembly in 1948. International Human Rights Day celebrates the fundamental rights and freedoms that connect us all as human beings with...
Community Makes All the Difference: Reflections on National Philanthropy Day
National Philanthropy Day is a time to honor the ways we give our time, talent, treasure, and ties. As we celebrate together today, we’re reminded of the power of community in advancing social impact. Since 2006, Stanford PACS has shown how philanthropy and social innovation thrive when practitioners come together...
Beyond the Summit: Reimagining Democracy
Last month Stanford PACS convened over 70 leading philanthropists, leaders, and scholars, to reimagine the structures, systems, and norms that govern US democracy. The day was rich with reflections on the many challenges facing liberal democracy in the US, the cultural forces and institutional constraints that have led to this...
Shifting the Poverty Paradigm: Piramal Foundation
A Journey of Purpose Eighteen years ago, I began the journey of building the Piramal Foundation with a simple belief: if we can instill compassion and empathy in rigid systems, especially among government middle managers who deliver critical services, we can change outcomes for millions. What began as a small...
Our Imperative: Commit and Invest
Nonprofits and foundations across the nation are working under immense pressure to meet rising needs, even as they themselves face growing threats. Policy reversals, investigations, funding cuts, and regulatory uncertainty are requiring leaders to adapt quickly with fewer resources. Low-income families, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and communities of color are standing...