What Role Does Philanthropy Play in Creating Social Change?

Panelists (L to R): Michelle Shevin, Thea Charles, Victoria L. Olani-Oyaniran, KT Gillett, and moderator Carolyn Starke.

Last month, Thea Charles (SFE’s Head of Knowledge and Impact) joined panelists at NYU’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service for a discussion on social change and philanthropy.

Other panelists included Michelle Shevin, a Technology Fellow focusing on Internet Freedom at the Ford Foundation, Victoria L. Olani-Oyaniran, the CEO and Principal at US African Immigrants Gist, and KT Gillett, Program Manager for Community Engagement at Blue Ridge Labs and the Robin Hood Foundation.

Discussion topics ranged from how we discuss “problem solving,” to methods for making philanthropy less risk averse as a field, to the benefits and limitations of applying money from the tech sector in philanthropic contexts. Thank you to NYU Wagner for a terrific and thought-provoking event!