Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy

As we enter the new year, we reflect on the transformative power of innovation and entrepreneurship in driving global change. In a recent interview with The Boardroom TV Network (Ntlalontle Ngcakaza), Emily Musil shared insights into the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize Program. This program empowers entrepreneurs to leverage cutting-edge technology to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. Currently in its third phase, the program is making incredible strides.  The Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech is now down to three exceptional finalists —Chumz.io, Oze, and Verto— and we are inspired by their potential to revolutionize financial access and inclusion. Motsepe Foundation, Milken Institute, #Innovation, #FinTech

The MI Strategic Philanthropy team is beyond grateful for our partners and the progress we have been able to achieve together. Even amid uncertainty and challenges that seem to be coming at a relentless pace, another year of strategic collaboration and innovation to create a better world is something to be extremely proud of. Funding deployed toward issues ranging from biomedical research, access to care, FinTech and green energy. More than a dozen open-access reports. Countless events and panel discussions. Every one of them laddering up to demonstrable progress toward a better, more equitable world. Here’s the latest from our team. https://lnkd.in/e4pXF_PW Thank you to our partners and colleagues. We wish you a good holiday season. #MilkenInstitute #SocialImpact Melissa Stevens Emily Musil Cara Altimus

Could faith-based philanthropy unlock new opportunities for climate action? A new Milken Institute Insights article by Kellen Silver explores this possibility. In 2023 alone, religious giving accounted for over $145 billion—the largest share of US philanthropy and nearly seven times more than funding directed toward environmental causes. Investing time, cultivating trust, and investing resources in collaboration with religious organizations can boost the impact of overall climate giving. Explore the untapped potential of religious giving and how it can amplify climate impact: https://lnkd.in/gGzStRqm #MilkenInstitute, #PhilanthropyForClimate, #ClimateAction, #FaithBasedGiving #Philanthropy

Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) is a rare disease that causes sudden, irreversible vision loss. Typically striking during adolescence or early adulthood, LHON disrupts education, careers, and family lives as individuals are plunged into a world in which they can no longer recognize faces, drive, or read.     Currently, there is no cure or therapy to reliably prevent, halt, or reverse LHON vision loss. A Giving Smarter Guide from SPARC showcases the five most impactful opportunities for philanthropic investment to foster a collaborative, strategic, and focused effort to advance LHON research, bridge funding gaps, and accelerate breakthroughs in therapeutic development and patient care.     Download our Giving Smarter Guide here: https://lnkd.in/eRWBAs7C     Read a short digestive on this rare disease: https://lnkd.in/efXeJVec     #LHON #RareDisease #VisionLoss #Philanthropy #HealthInnovation     Nadia Penrod Caitlyn Barrett

Launched in 2021, the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AgriTech was a $2 million  global #Innovation competition that challenged global innovators to demonstrate solutions for smallholder farmers in Africa to utilize technology to bring more food to the table. Over two years, winning teams introduced solutions that increased crop yields, reduced food waste, and strengthened local food systems, benefiting more than 200,000 individuals in sub-Saharan Africa. The prize funding enabled these innovators to scale their impact by hiring additional staff, acquiring advanced equipment, and conducting critical research. Discover how these innovations are creating lasting change: https://lnkd.in/ewRy8KpG #AgriTech #FoodSecurity #TechforAgriculture #MilkenInstitute #GlobalImpact #Sustainability

North Carolina Central University received a $1 million Google.org grant to establish the Institute for AI and Equity Research. The first of its kind at an HBCU, this is a major step toward ensuring equity in the #AI workforce and creating tools and data sets that benefit everyone. The SPARC team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy released several reports in 2024 highlighting the many ways that philanthropists can catalyze major, lasting change toward equity in AI. The most recent of these reports focuses on #healthequity: https://bit.ly/4eidtwf

Corporate philanthropy executives face immense pressure as they navigate politically sensitive environments and juggle the need for swift action while staying focused on long-term strategic goals. “We need to institutionalize solutions for the hard things so we can focus on the harder things,” said an executive from Google.org. We engaged around 60 corporate philanthropy leaders to document innovative strategies for tackling these challenges. The report Ford Philanthropy. Discover how companies are crafting thoughtful, impactful solutions to address the evolving needs of their communities and stakeholders: https://bit.ly/49oKg1L #MilkenInstitute #CorporatePhilanthropy #SocialImpact #CorporateResponsibility #CrisisResponse John Schellhase, Hilary McConnaughey Page, Melissa Stevens

Corporate philanthropy executives face immense pressure as they navigate politically sensitive environments and juggle the need for swift action while staying focused on long-term strategic goals. “We need to institutionalize solutions for the hard things so we can focus on the harder things,” said an executive from Google. org. We engaged around 60 corporate philanthropy leaders to document innovative strategies for tackling these challenges. The report features insights from organizations like Mattel, Inc., Google, and Ford Philanthropy. Discover how companies are crafting thoughtful, impactful solutions to address the evolving needs of their communities and stakeholders: https://lnkd.in/dGpDcPQ6 John Schellhase, Hilary McConnaughey Page, Melissa Stevens, Milken Institute #MilkenInstitute #CorporatePhilanthropy #SocialImpact #CSR #CorporateResponsibility

Breakthrough Discoveries for thriving with Bipolar Disorder (BD²) has been working to accelerate scientific research and advance medical care for people living with #bipolar. Led by our Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team, BD² has already made strides in launching a large-scale clinical study and has advanced progress through its collaborative research efforts. The 2024 Milestone Report has more: https://lnkd.in/e8mnxvXA 

Are you a climate scientist looking to diversify your funding streams? Climate philanthropy expert Sara J. ElShafie, Ph.D., presented at the #AGU24 conference today with actionable strategies to broaden funding opportunities, including:   1. Break complex issues into addressable topics. 2. Ask stakeholders what is needed. 3. Emphasize your collaborations.   At Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy, we are exploring how philanthropy can provide catalytic funding for climate action. American Geophysical Union #ClimateAction #ResearchFunding #ClimatePhilanthropy