| We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. - Winston Churchill |
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What We Do
We make strategic investments in areas that mitigate the causes and effects of poverty wherever it exists. Examples include:
- Providing access to water and basic sanitation to stem chronic dehydration and water-borne illness
- Instituting public health programs to curtail infant and child mortality
- Promoting entrepreneurship to create sustainable sources of income
- Building schools to teach children the "basics" of reading, writing and arithmetic
- Supporting vocational training centers to develop career and life skills
- Investing in a prototype for low-cost, energy-efficient housing
We use a venture capital approach to philanthropy. This approach:
- Identifies needs and entrepreneurial solutions that promise significant results
- Exercises due-diligence over prospective social investments
- Engages the entire partnership in grant selection
- Infuses grantees, both entrepreneurs and existing organizations, with our collective knowledge, skills and contacts
To undertake multiple projects with high social impact, we are in the process of creating an investment pool of significant size. While our primary funding resource is the Class of 1980, we welcome contributions from all interested parties.
Download our 2009 Annual Report for additional information.