Remarks below are as prepared for delivery. A full-length video of the event is also available.
Good morning. And, on behalf of the MacArthur Foundation, welcome to 100&Change: The Finalists Live. Thank you for being here.
“Make no little plans; they have no magic… Make big plans; aim high in hope and work.”
Many of you might recognize these words as belonging to the famed architect – and Chicago’s own – Daniel Burnham.
His quote has become a credo of sorts not only for urban planning but for Chicago itself.
Encouraged by our Board, we at MacArthur tried something new:
We asked ourselves …
We asked our grantees and our partners…
And we asked many people in this room and the many more with whom we regularly engage: why not apply those words, and that spirit, to our work?
“Make big plans; aim high in hope and work.”
What impact can we have when we make a big bet on a critical challenge? What kind of change can we make… what kind of measureable progress will we see? We are applying that approach to specific social challenges, like climate change and justice reform.
We don’t know everything. So we also asked what else is possible with significant funding of $100 million dollars. Who else has ambitions that we should support? We didn’t decide where to focus, or what issue to tackle. We said: Think big. Tell us about a critical problem of our time and how you can solve it or make truly significant progress.
As you all know, those questions were not merely an intellectual exercise. And today, we will hear from four amazing finalists… one of which will receive our $100 million dollar grant, which we will announce on December 20.
$100 million dollars to make their solution a reality; to bring its benefits to a truly significant number of people; to make the world a better place.
I am particularly proud that each of the finalists has considered carefully issues of inclusion and equity, including specifically people with disabilities. Still, much work remains…for them and for MacArthur on this just imperative.
I want to get right to the finalists’ presentations. But before we do, I’d like to share three quick lessons. This was new for us; a real departure from what we have done in the past.
First, be optimistic.
It’s easy to become cynical when all you hear about is how things aren't working… when all you see is political fighting and policy gridlock.
100&Change provided just the opposite.
Feasible proposals with the potential for impact at real scale.
Problems seemingly intractable, with solutions in sight.
Ambitious. Audacious. Aspirational.
We saw it all.
In fact, we received almost 2000 proposals. Hopeful, creative, thoughtful, insightful. Bold solutions to critical challenges affecting people across the country and around the world. Hundreds ready to go. All they needed was a partner to help them get it across the line.
Inspiring then – inspiring still today.
Be optimistic—because solutions are possible.
Next: Be involved.
There are so many opportunities to support important work; 100&Change shouldn’t be the only resource.
It isn’t and it can’t be. Courageous, early stage funders helped bring these finalists to where they are today – our thanks to them.
Going forward, it has been thrilling to see new relationships form.
Judges and advisors helping applicants sharpen their focus and their proposals.
Funders introduced to new projects; not just the finalists, but from anywhere on the list.
Even foundations sharing strategies and approaches.
A network. An engaged community connected by common values and the shared belief that we can do some good.
Let’s nurture that.
Our work shouldn’t end with one grant or a single winner. There are hundreds of projects ready to be supported; ready to begin to amplify their impact. Today is the beginning of that process – not the end.
So be involved.
Finally, be bold.
This is where I started.
Even for an organization like ours that is focused on a small number of big bets… a single grant of $100 million dollars is a risky proposition.
It’s actually more than risky; it’s pretty scary.
But those of us with resources, who can take risks, who care about the planet and its people, we need to act.
The fact is that philanthropy is best positioned to provide society’s risk capital.
So yes, we will be diligent. We balance risk with empirical evidence. We will work to keep you all engaged and to welcome and involve others. We will be laser-focused on impact, on results.
But just as we asked our applicants to think big…
Just as Daniel Burnham says later in that famous quote, “do things that will stagger us…”
We will be bold. And we hope you will be, too.
Be optimistic. Be involved. Be bold.
Because solutions are possible. People with passion will make them happen. We can help.
All of us.
Now, to introduce the four 100&Change finalists… from the PBS NewsHour and our MC for the morning…
Hari Sreenivasan.
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