Economic Opportunity
About the Economic Opportunity Initiative
The Economic Opportunity initiative focuses on philanthropic strategies that advance entrepreneurship and economic growth; economic independence through work and asset ownership; and personal responsibility and life skills. Read more about the program here.
The Philanthropy Roundtable Goes to Prison
Check out the highlights from the Charting a Path from Criminality to Opportunity event in Houston, February 2013, where donors and nonprofit leaders shared innovative solutions to the growing problem of incarceration and recidivism.
Questions on “Economic Opportunity” Philanthropy
What exactly is “economic opportunity”? The Philanthropy Roundtable is asking some committed donors. Our first respondent, Jeanne Bistranin of the Adolph Coors Foundation, zeroes in on one important question: What counts as self-sufficiency?
The Little Red Book: Economic Mobility as Mindset
The Pathways to Economic Mobility conference, sponsored by The Philanthropy Roundtable and co-hosted by Philanthropy New York and Legacy Venture, provided a forum for donors, experts, and practitioners to share stories and strategies on how to revitalize economic opportunity for low-income families in the United States—not just to provide more jobs; but to grant wider access to the American dream.
A Welfare System That Works
Welfare, it is sometimes said, can only be effectively administered by the government. Charitable groups are too small, too disjointed, and too parochial to ever provide an adequate social safety net. Not so fast. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints runs a vast and effective social welfare system. Read Naomi Schaefer Riley’s article on a how private individuals can administer a large-scale welfare system—that works.
Interview with Andrew Grove
Andrew Grove is angry with philanthropy, and he thinks other donors should be angrier too. The former CEO of Intel uses his anger to fuel his giving, and he recently spoke with ‘Philanthropy’ about his work in vocational education, American philanthropy—and other things that make him angry.
A Model of Self-Reliance
The Philanthropy Roundtable finished our year-long celebration of economic opportunity landmarks at Salt Lake City’s Welfare Square. You can read more about this inspiring event as featured in the Deseret News. Read their special report here.
Building Men
For donors interested in supporting nonprofit technical education, the Roundtable’s 2012 Annual Meeting will feature a panel exploring three models for post-secondary career training. One is the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades, a tuition-free trade school for under-privileged young men that has been teaching craftsmanship and character for over a century. Read all about Williamson in the Spring 2011 issue of Philanthropy.
A Stimulus That Works
In 2009, some of the nation’s top entrepreneurs, experts on entrepreneurship, and donors gathered at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, Missouri, to explore how philanthropists can advance entrepreneurship as a central growth engine of our economy. Read the special report from this Roundtable meeting here.
Sweet Taste of Success
Michael Holthouse is on a mission to revitalize America—one lemonade stand at a time. Lemonade Day is Holthouse’s innovative program that teaches kids the nuts and bolts of entrepreneurial startups—all while having a great time.
Positive Coaching Alliance Event Highlights
The Positive Coaching Alliance event brought attendees courtside for the Amateur Athletic Union’s national youth basketball championship at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. Read more about this meeting which inspired attendees to think of new ways to foster character education among today’s youth.
Interview with Ken Behring
Real estate developer Ken Behring talks to ‘Philanthropy’ about some of his signature achievements in global health—including the creation of a world-class water purification system.
Lemonade Day 2011
The Economic Opportunity Road Tour made its first stop at Lemonade Day in Houston where we visited lemonade stands around the city. Donors from across the country got a first-hand look at this unique model for training young entrepreneurs as supporters shared strategies for bringing this program to more communities nationwide.
Year Up in Boston
Our Economic Opportunity Road Tour made its second stop in Boston to visit Year Up, a year-long training program that helps low-income, urban young adults get the skills they need to land jobs in today’s economy.
Fisher House: All about Family
Ken and Tammy Fisher lead the Fisher House Foundation, one of the most innovative philanthropies dedicated to helping hospitalized servicemen and veterans and their families. The Fishers spoke with Philanthropy magazine about their commitment to family and their work building Fisher Houses, which provide free lodging and transportation for military and veterans’ families while their loved ones recuperate at military and veterans’ hospitals nationwide.
Interview with David Weekley
David Weekley, founder of the nation’s largest privately held homebuilding company, spoke with ‘Philanthropy’ about his charitable giving, his guiding principles for evaluating charities, his support for character education programs, his funding of microfinance initiatives in the developing world, and his advice for new donors.
Taking It to the Streets
From coast to coast, gang crime ravages inner cities, destroys families, and causes whole neighborhoods to cower in fear. In an age in which government is the go-to for everything from health care to transportation, coming up with a solution to the problem of gang violence seems like an obvious government responsibility. Fortunately, a growing cohort of social entrepreneurs knows better. See what they’re doing to reclaim America’s inner cities.
Interview with Patrick Byrne
Patrick Byrne, chairman and CEO of Overstock.com, talks about Worldstock, the company he launched to help artisans in the developing world enter the global marketplace.
