Philanthropy. The love of humanity: the love of the potential for compassion, love, and life. Critical both at scale, and at each moment with each individual.

For us, philanthropy aims to enable people to realize their best selves. Sometimes, this is focused and pragmatic – such as supporting our local foodbank. Food security for families and children provides an essential foundation for life’s potential.

More broadly, this can also range to other dimensions. Supporting entrepreneurship – through Endeavor or Kiva for example – for prosperity and jobs. Supporting new technologies that enable networks of philanthropic participation – such as Crisis Text Line or DoSomething. Supporting science to address major diseases – such as the CZI Biohub. Supporting the next generation of educational leaders – such as the Pahara Institute. Supporting key projects to encourage leadership and courage in the love of humanity – such as the MIT Media Lab Disobedience Prize and Directors Fellows.

Some philanthropic investments are commercial models for social impact. As one example, Change.org endeavors to enable human voices to speak to powerful institutions and change policy.

What pattern shapes these philanthropic investments? The venture investing model: a selected and unique entrepreneur, a bold plan frequently with intelligent risk, the potential assets and skills to execute the plan, and favorable market conditions.

It is important for us to note, however, that philanthropy also seeks more than simply outcomes. It is also a form of community engagement. This engagement is a partnership between multiple stakeholders, the most important being the members of the community directly affected by the engagement.

We share common commitments, values, and principles regarding the expression of generosity in our community and the world at large. We also respect that our individual expression of these values often manifests in different ways. While there may be times when we will collaborate in a particular expression of giving, we also respect, honor, and support our mutual autonomy in making our giving decisions.

In the words of one of our heroes:

“Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.”

– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In this spirit of philanthropy, we are delighted to add our voices to the chorus of the Giving Pledge.

With love of humanity,
Michelle and Reid