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The Great Data Debate

“There can be no turning back on data. We’ve got to accept that measurement is here to stay, and make it work”. So said Geoffrey Canada, the driving force of the Harlem Children’s Zone, on June 2nd at the annual conference of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy. Mr Canada had discovered the importance of measurement […]

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Purpose Driven President

While we are on the subject of the new American President, it was interesting that Barack Obama was willing to court controversy by giving the high-profile job of praying for him at his inauguration to Rick Warren. This choice caused no end of controversy ahead of what proved an uncontroversial prayer, Warren’s pro-life and anti-gay-marriage […]

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The Obama Opportunity

Barack Obama’s inauguration was truly inspiring, evoking the hope that, for once, the American government can help solve pressing problems ranging from economic crisis to war to climate change. What does this imply for philanthrocapitalism? Matthew is in Washington this week, and was spotted catching up with some philanthrocapitalists who were celebrating the new administration at […]

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Obama, Vartan and Brest

Barack Obama once ran the Chicago arm of the Annenberg Challenge, a $500m effort to improve schools in America funded by media tycoon Walter Annenberg. It was there that he came into contact with Bill Ayers, the Weatherman terrorist, a relationship that caused controversy during the recent election campaign. Less controversially, coming into contact with […]

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Mr Philanthrocapitalism Goes to Washington

Wednesday was a big day for philanthrocapitalism in Washington DC. Bill Gates delivered an impassioned speech, highlighting the growing success of his foundation in driving change in America’s schools and improving global public health. He urged politicians to do all they can to build on this success, including by working even more effectively in partnership […]

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Long Live CGI

It is being reported that a deal has been done that will allow Hillary Clinton to become America’s Secretary of State and her husband to continue his philanthropic work. This is good news, as this philanthropic work is important, as we explain in the book, and it had seemed that Mr Clinton might have had […]

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What Golden Age?

Another reviewer has noticed that there is currently some trouble in capitalism, which may have big implications for our hopes for a golden age of philanthrocapitalism. This time, a blogger at Foreign Policy magazine is worried that philanthrocapitalism may prove to be a passing fad, as “the financial and political situations have changed/are changing in […]

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Obama and philanthrocapitalism

Reports suggest that Barack Obama would like to make Hillary Clinton his Secretary of State, but may not do so unless her husband can be persuaded to pull back from his philanthropic activities. Matthew wrote an article in today’s San Francisco Chronicle arguing that this strategy is mistaken. Yes, President Clinton should be more transparent […]

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Rules of the Broad

Eli Broad and Matthew took part in a lively discussion of philanthrocapitalism today at the LA public library. Billionaire real estate and finance tycoon Broad, who said he enjoyed the book which he read on a trip to Morocco, said that he feared philanthropy would be hit by the financial crisis, but that this only […]