This week, former president Bill Clinton gathers world leaders, philanthropists, and celebrities for a meeting in Manhattan to discuss ways to solve global problems.

The event, which got its start in 2005, has produced more than 1,000 commitments that Mr. Clinton says are worth about $46-billion. But organizers told Reuters that the recession is likely to lead participants to commit less than in previous years and to focus their pledges on helping Americans.

From the Clinton Global Initiative, The Chronicle will update readers on philanthropic pledges made at the event, discussions about how to fix social inequities, and, of course, the occasional Matt Damon sighting.

The meeting focuses on four broad issues: poverty alleviation, climate change and clean energy, education, and global health.

This year’s event will include several discussions that are likely to be of interest to the nonprofit world. They include:

• A session about how business leaders become philanthropists with a panel that includes Eli Broad and Ted Turner.

• A discussion about the rebuilding of New Orleans with Brad Pitt and others.

• A panel on helping women and girls in impoverished nations with Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank, the ABC newswoman Diane Sawyer, and Zainab Salbi, the founder of Women for Women International.

About 1,200 people are expected at the conference. Participants are required to make a charitable commitment. People who don’t won’t be invited back next year.