It is known in the lobbying trade as ‘astroturfing’ – super-rich donors bankrolling supposedly grass-root movements that are, in fact, just an artificial creation designed to lever political influence out of their cash. In recent weeks it is libertarian billionaire brothers David and Charles Koch (rhymes with poke) who have been in the the firing line […]
The Social Innovation Fund established by the Obama administration is an important pilot of a new approach to scaling up successful ideas by social entrepreneurs, that we believe could be a model of philanthrocapitalism at its best. (See Matthew’s article on social innovation in The Economist.) However, what Steve Goldberg calls a “kerfuffle” has taken […]
At first glance, the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama is absurdly premature. Beyond his fine words, it is hard to demonstrate conclusively that President Obama has yet added a net ounce of peace to the world, and although hopefully he will ultimately do so, the record of past US presidents, including […]
Although he did not actually appear in person, Barack Obama stole the show at last week’s Global Philanthropy Forum, as senior figures from his administration invited the philanthropists and non-profits gathered in Washington to partner with them. This is is great news, and something we have argued for. If done well, it can help philanthrocapitalism […]
“Possibly within the next month, President Obama will launch the White House Office of Social Innovation,” reports Andrew Wolk in his welcome new blog. Indeed, according to the White House website, the Office already exists. Wolk, chief executive of Root Cause, a non-profit that supports social innovators, notes that this initiative has the potential to […]
Whether Hillary Clinton has really “set [her] ego aside for world peace, world stability and for the good of the country”, as Senator Barbara Boxer suggested during Mrs Clinton’s confirmation hearing yesterday, is not for us to say. But we are pleased that her appointment as President Barack Obama’s Secretary of State will not mean […]