I would like to further the idea mentioned that philanthropy should operate in a manner akin to scientific learning. A socially focused company or organization—be it a foundation, non-profit, or company—has an inherent incentive to be open and honest about its success and failures. The reason behind this is competition is valued.
The difference is not that you want the profits related to performing the work but rather you want the product/service/outcome to exist. To put this more concretely, I don’t feel I need to build my own wealth or fame from helping the poorest of the poor. I am interested in a world: where opportunities for prosperity exist for all, where subsistence is a forgotten notion, where human rights are understood by all. It needen’t matter whether work that moves the world toward this ideal comes from you or from me—the outcome should be.
I have tried to incorporate this idea into a committee and social venture company focused on poverty in Africa. I am at the early stages of organizing this work. See, for instance, the conflict of interest policy statement:
COMMENTS
BY Jason Higbee
ON May 15, 2008 05:07 PM
I would like to further the idea mentioned that philanthropy should operate in a manner akin to scientific learning. A socially focused company or organization—be it a foundation, non-profit, or company—has an inherent incentive to be open and honest about its success and failures. The reason behind this is competition is valued.
The difference is not that you want the profits related to performing the work but rather you want the product/service/outcome to exist. To put this more concretely, I don’t feel I need to build my own wealth or fame from helping the poorest of the poor. I am interested in a world: where opportunities for prosperity exist for all, where subsistence is a forgotten notion, where human rights are understood by all. It needen’t matter whether work that moves the world toward this ideal comes from you or from me—the outcome should be.
I have tried to incorporate this idea into a committee and social venture company focused on poverty in Africa. I am at the early stages of organizing this work. See, for instance, the conflict of interest policy statement:
http://www.socialcapitalcommittee.org/conflict_interest.html
Time will tell whether this model and mode of operations is a success or failure. Either way it will be open and available for the public good.
Jason Higbee