The 2025 Philanthropy Innovation Summit,  a signature event of the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (PACS), brought together over 200 philanthropic leaders globally to explore new strategies and approaches to giving and impact. We were honored to welcome a dynamic lineup of plenary speakers including Alice Waters, Cari Tuna, Frank McCourt, Jane Fonda, John Palfrey and more, all of whom shared insights on how strategic philanthropy can create lasting impact in the areas of democracy, climate change, digital technology, and societal health. 

We were also proud to be joined by members of the Stanford community, including Stanford University President Jonathan Levin, Stanford Trustee and PACS Advisory Board Chair Jeff Raikes, Stanford Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council Member Mellody Hobson, and prominent Stanford alumni Cecilia Conrad, Kim Meredith, Liz Simons, Mike Schroepfer, and Nicole Taylor.

The salon sessions offered an intimate space for candid conversations and peer-learning. Designed with a “living-room” style format, these small group discussions provided deeper dives into pressing issues such as youth homelessness, mental health, the future of work, climate change, and more. Featured speakers included Tegan Acton, Nancy Lindborg, Rachel Pritzker, Haven Ley, John Danhakl, Xin Liu, Neerja Birla, and many others. 

For the first time since the inception of the Summit, we hosted a complementary half-day program the following morning to explore Inspirations from the East: How Asia Is Redefining the Frontier of Philanthropic Innovation. The breakfast program, presented in collaboration with AVPN and Dasra, was a unique opportunity for philanthropic leaders to examine how visionary philanthropists from Asia and the diaspora community are reshaping the landscape of giving. The program featured inspirational speakers, including Ajay Piramal, Naina Subberwal Batra, Ichiro Kabasawa, Veronica Colondam, Meena Flyn, Dr. Abhishek Lakhatakia, and more. Speakers shared unique approaches that catalyze philanthropic action and can create effective, scalable, and sustainable impact—including lessons learned from faith-based giving, larger roles for corporate philanthropy, community-led philanthropic practices, and the role of the diaspora. 

All sessions were curated with a specific goal in mind—to inform philanthropists and philanthropy leaders in the room about the unique role that philanthropy can play in advancing positive social change.

This is our documentary moment.

Jane Fonda

Highlights from the Summit

Leading as a Donor Activist: Jane Fonda on Collective Action

The Summit kicked off with a powerful keynote by Jane Fonda, who spoke candidly about her journey as an activist and her belief in the power of collective action. Her call to action was clear: Now is not the time for caution, it’s the time for courage. She proposed five things that donor activists should do:

Choosing Opportunities for Outsized Impact: Cari Tuna & Rob Reich on Effective Altruism

How do you choose where to make the biggest difference? In a thought-provoking exchange, Cari Tuna and Rob Reich discussed how to prioritize causes and maximize impact, including issue areas that are often overlooked by funders. Cari emphasized the importance of evidence-based giving and staying open to long-term, high-risk investments. 

Key takeaways:

• Cari emphasized Open Philanthropy’s focus on causes that are high in impact potential, often neglected, and are tractable, like AI safety, global health, and pandemic preparedness. 

• Not everything is quantifiable. Cari acknowledged that while metrics are useful, some of the most meaningful impact happens in spaces that resist easy measurement.

“It’s not just about doing good, it’s about doing the most good you can.” – Cari Tuna

The Role of Independent and Local Media: John Palfrey, Peter Lattman, and Karen Rundlet

This session covered one of the biggest pillars of democracy we often take for granted: independent and local media. John Palfrey, Peter Lattman, and Karen Rundlet talked about how the collapse of local news, the rise of misinformation, and the dominance of tech platforms have created a perfect storm. The speakers made one thing clear: if we want to protect democracy, we need to protect the people telling the truth.

Key takeaways:

• Local journalism is disappearing fast, and with it, community connection and accountability.

• Misinformation spreads fast. Philanthropy can play a role in leveling the playing field.

• We need to support diverse voices and outlets that reflect the communities they serve, not just big national brands.

Regenerative Food Systems: A Hopeful Climate Solution with Alice Waters and Don Gips

Educating and Empowering the Next Generation: President Jonathan Levin and Mellody Hobson

A key highlight of the Summit was a thought-provoking discussion between Stanford University President Jonathan Levin and Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments. Their conversation underscored the urgent need to equip young people with the tools to navigate an increasingly complex economic landscape and highlighted the ways Stanford is taking action to support students in developing financial acumen. Last fall, Stanford introduced the Initiative for Financial Decision-Making, offering students—regardless of background— the opportunity to develop a fundamental understanding of budgeting, investing, and economic decision-making. These initiatives are particularly crucial in a world where financial challenges can often be a barrier to opportunity.

Key takeaways:

• Financial education empowers social mobility. Teaching money management isn’t just practical. It’s a tool for building a more inclusive and equitable future.

• Financial literacy is essential. Mellody emphasized that understanding money from a young age is critical for upward mobility and long-term success, not just personal wealth.

• Invest in underrepresented communities. President Levin and Mellody both stressed the power of targeted investments in education and financial training to break cycles of poverty and create lasting impact.

“Learning about how to manage money and be confident about finances is the path to having more freedom, and the root of a young person who is just entering the world having more autonomy and agency over their life.” – President Jonathan Levin

Creating a Healthier Digital Future: Frank McCourt and Chris Anderson

In this forward-looking session, Frank McCourt and Chris Anderson tackled one of the most pressing issues of our time: how to build a digital ecosystem that serves people, not profits. The conversation dug into what’s broken about the internet, and what it might take to fix it.

McCourt introduced his vision for a “digital public infrastructure”—a new model that prioritizes data ownership, interoperability, and civic trust. Platforms aren’t just shaping what we say online, but how we think, connect, and even trust each other. 

Key takeaways:

• The internet is not working for people. It is working for algorithms and ad dollars. 
• You should own your data. Think of it like your digital passport. Right now, it’s being sold without your consent.
• Philanthropy can step in where tech companies won’t. Funders can help build ethical platforms, support digital rights, and make this conversation more mainstream.
• This is bigger than tech—it’s about democracy. If we want a healthy society, we need an internet that informs, not inflames.

In this session, Paul Brest facilitated a powerful discussion with Lisa Sobrato Sonsini and Fay Twersky about how two influential family foundations in the U.S. are creatively integrating their business assets with philanthropic goals to tackle social challenges. The conversation explored how blending business strategies with traditional philanthropy can lead to more sustainable and impactful outcomes, particularly in areas like economic mobility, affordable housing, and climate change.

Key takeaways:

• Philanthropy and business should work hand-in-hand. Both the Sobrato Family Foundation and the Arthur Blank Foundation are combining business operations with social missions to maximize impact, like integrating real estate and capital enterprises with affordable housing and education initiatives.
• Maximizing impact means leveraging all assets. It’s not just about traditional donations. Business resources, real estate, and even stadiums (like Arthur Blank’s Falcons and Mercedes-Benz Stadium) can play a key role in advancing philanthropic goals.
• Sustainability and profit can go together. The Sobrato Family Foundation’s approach to real estate and housing aims to balance financial sustainability with social impact, showing that long-term goals can drive both profit and positive change.

Harnessing Philanthropic Capital and Leadership to Strengthen Democracy: Jeff Raikes and Nate Persily

In an insightful conversation on the role of philanthropy in supporting democracy, Jeff Raikes and Nate Persily emphasized the importance of targeted, inclusive, and community-driven giving. They highlighted that strengthening democracy means investing not just in institutions, but in the people closest to the challenges.

Key takeaways:

• Support community-based organizations. These groups are essential for bridging divides and reducing social isolation. Their grassroots efforts play a vital role in strengthening civic life. 
• Prioritize proximity. Fund and empower frontline leaders who are directly affected by the issues. Their lived experiences bring invaluable insights and perspectives that lead to more lasting impactful solutions.
• Empower youth participation. Engaging young people in democratic processes is critical. The more voices we include, the stronger our democracy becomes, while exclusion risks deepening polarization and distrust.

The 2025 Philanthropy Innovation Summit was a dynamic gathering of changemakers, leaders, and big thinkers all committed to using their capital, platforms, and influence for good. From bold calls to action by Jane Fonda to deep dives into digital equity, financial literacy, and civic engagement, this year’s Summit sparked powerful ideas and connections that will ripple far beyond Stanford’s campus.

A heartfelt thank you to our speakers, attendees, and generous sponsors for making this gathering possible. Together, we’re shaping a more just, equitable, and innovative future—one conversation at a time.

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About Stanford PACS

Since 2006, Stanford PACS has been a leading research center dedicated to developing and sharing knowledge that can create positive social change. PACS has supported over 150 emerging scholars and practitioners studying topics related to philanthropy and civil society. PACS’ founding vision was to establish an interdisciplinary setting where scholars and practitioners could actively examine, debate, and critique the interaction between philanthropy and civil society and help inform public opinion, policies, and professional practices to advance the public good. 

Published by Stanford PACS, the Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) is an award-winning magazine and website written by and for social change leaders that cover cross-sector solutions to global problems in 6 local-language editions: Chinese, Korean, Arabic, Spanish, Japanese, and Portuguese. With the support of global philanthropists and change makers, we aim to be a premier source for research, insights, ideas, and action for the social sector.