The Business of Giving

Brewster Kahle, founder of the Internet Archive, and Wendy Hanamura, its Director of Partnerships, dive into the ambitious mission to create a digital Library of Alexandria. They discuss the challenge of digitizing out-of-print books and the methods used to choose four million titles for scanning. Brewster elaborates on the digital lending model and the role of libraries in this transformation. The duo emphasizes how greater accessibility can profoundly benefit diverse communities, alongside navigating the complexities of copyright. Their vision aims to broaden public knowledge and empower global learners.

And this evening, we'll be joined by our second semi-finalist, Catholic Relief Services, who is looking to change how society cares for children and orphanages with the aim of getting them into family settings. And with us to discuss it is their President and CEO, Sean Callahan.

And this evening, you’re going to hear from another one of the semi-finalists in the 100&Change initiative of the MacArthur Foundation. He is Dr. Geoffrey Tabin, the Co-founder of the Himalayan Cataract Project.

And we have reached the midpoint of featuring the eight semi-finalists of the MacArthur Foundation’s 100&Change competition. And tonight, it is a great pleasure to have with us Dr. Rebecca Richards-Kortum, the Founder and Co-director of Rice University’s 360°: Institute for Global Health.

And this evening’s semi-finalist of the MacArthur Foundation’s 100&Change initiative is Sesame Workshop, teamed together with the International Rescue Committee to educate children displaced by conflict and persecution. And here to discuss their proposal with us is Sherrie Westin, Executive Vice President of Global Impact and Philanthropy for Sesame Workshop, and Sarah Smith, the Senior Director of Education at the International Rescue Committee.

And our semi-finalist for this evening in the MacArthur Foundation’s 100&Change Initiative is The Carter Center, and their proposal is to eliminate river blindness in Nigeria. And here to discuss that with us is Dr. Frank Richards, who is the Director of the River Blindness Elimination Program at The Carter Center.

The U.S. Impact Investing Alliance is a field-building organization committed to raising awareness of impact investing in the United States, fostering deployment of impact capital, and working with stakeholders to help build the impact investing ecosystem. And here to tell us about all of that, as well as what's happening in this field during this time of crisis is Fran Seegull, the Executive Director of The U.S. Impact Investing Alliance.

Although the pandemic and getting back to school and work are at the top of everyone's mind, this nation's policy on immigration remains a key issue heading into the 2020 presidential election. And here to discuss that with us is Mark Krikorian, the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies or CIS.

For nearly two decades, The Libra Foundation has done significant grantmaking in progressive causes and movements, with multigenerational families being closely involved with the foundation, setting its strategy, and interacting with many of the foundations' grantee partners. And here to tell us more about this work and how the foundation has changed over the years is Crystal Hayling, the Executive Director of The Libra Foundation.

Exceptional government programs and the outstanding work of nonprofit organizations can help address the most vexing social problems facing us, but perhaps, there is no greater force for good than business when that force is channeled in the right way. B Corp is leading the movement to see that happens. And it’s a pleasure to have with us, Lorna Davis, the former CEO of Danone Wave, and currently serving as the Global Ambassador for B Corp.