May 19, 2009
America's Top Philanthropists Hold Secret Meeting To Discuss Global Problems
By Maria Di Mento and Ian Wilhelm
Editor’s note: Read an update to this article, posted at 7 p.m, May 20.
In a quiet meeting closed to the news media and the public, Bill Gates, David Rockefeller Sr., Oprah Winfrey, and other leading philanthropists met in New York this month to discuss ways to promote efforts to solve growing social problems in America and abroad.
Together, the philanthropists in the room have committed a total of more than $72.5-billion to charitable causes since 1996, according to Chronicle of Philanthropy tallies.
The unusual event occurred May 5 at Rockefeller University and was organized by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Among the high-profile participants were Ted Turner, Warren E. Buffett, George Soros, and New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. (All of those philanthropists have appeared at one time on The Chronicle’s ranking of America’s most-generous donors.)
Several of the people at the meeting confirmed their involvement, but declined to tell The Chronicle about what was discussed or why they gathered almost in secret.
According to a person familiar with the meeting, the wealthy philanthropists gathered to trade ideas about how to raise the level of philanthropy in the world.
According to IrishCentral.com, a Web site in New York that writes about Irish Americans and which first disclosed some of the details about the gathering, each philanthropist was given 15 minutes to talk about “how they saw the future global economic climate, the future priorities for philanthropy, and what they felt the elite group should do.”
Other people who attended included Eli Broad, a real-estate investor, Julian H. Robertson, Jr., a hedge-fund manager, and Patty Stonesifer, former chief executive of the Gates foundation.
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We are conducting a community cum health project of free cardiac surgery for less affluent children.The project is known as “Needy Little Hearts” under K J Research Foundation, Chennai, India. 50% of the cost of Simple open heart surgery $2500/- and Complex $5000/- are borne by the Government of Tamilnadu. I am trying my best to get donors for the rest . There are 250 who might either die or become inoperable in the waiting list. I am simply nonplussed. When ther are so many philanthropists and organisations, I am really finding it extremely difficult to get help from even one of them. Mine is a very practical application. How do I get at least one of them to help?
— Dr P S Sreemathi May 20, 08:49 AM #
You have the advantage of the government match, which should be an incentive to donors. Have you tried Indian organizations such as Rotary Clubs? These are groups of local businesspeople who raise money for worthy causes. The Rotary Clubs’ most common cause is eradicating polio, but a local club might be willing to help your organization, or refer you to other possible donors. You could try asking them to let you speak about your work at one of their meetings. Good luck, and here is a link to a list of Rotary Clubs in India: http://www.rotary.org/en/AboutUs/SiteTools/ClubLocator/Pages/ridefault.aspx?k=ClubKeywords%3aindia&txtKeywords=india
— Editors, Chronicle of Philanthropy May 20, 09:15 AM #
It is truly wonderful to see such powerful people actually showing interest in poverty among the people of our world. Something that politicians and communitty leaders often forget is that poverty exists 365 days of the year and not just the 2 weeks during the Christmas season where passionate and ferverish concentration of fund raising occurs. Only to be forgotten for the other 50 weeks of the year. Recently (2 weeks before Christmas) I sent an impassioned email to my Canadian federal government minister (I am a Canadian)on this very sujbect matter. It only took 20 weeks (20 WEEKS!) for her to reply but thankfully…she did reply to her credit. It was distressing for me to read all her accounts of what the government of Canada has done and is doing on behalf of poverty. However it does not explain away our government’s committment 20 years ago to the day almost, of our pledge to eradicate poverty here in Canada. Well let me assure you that here in Canada, not only has this promise not been kept according to measured and reliable governments accounts and statistics, but in fact the problem has only worsen sadly to report. So my point being is this as poverty relates in Canada. If as my federal government minister states that so much has been done and continues to be done in the name of poverty, then why is there a need for meetings like yours involving some of the richest of the rich philantropists in this world? I suspect that this situation is not one that is only “Canadian” in nature but in fact common to all “advantaged” countries of this world.
In closing I hope and pray that this undertaking is only the beginning of something great. But in order for your endeavours to succeed, regular and constant awareness must be the order of the day for your group. I beleive that this endeavour to succeed on behalf of poverty all around the world, your group will have to steadfastly maintain the promise to each other to hold such meetings on a yearly basis. I hoope such a promise and committement to each other could be considered as binding upon each other as a promise of faith and undying committment to succeed.
My apologies for such a long email but please consider the lenght of it as my humble plea to you all on behalf of world poverty.
With the greatest of admiration and respect
I remain
A concerned citizen
Jerry O’Connor
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
— Jerry O'Connor May 20, 08:18 PM #
It is amazing and hopeful that such wealthy people are interested in being personally involved in discussing ways to bring more hope and action to the hurting world. My small charity does a lot of good and I know there are many well rund charities that touch millions of lives daily but the fact that such smart, capapble and interested men and women want to think more clearly about their gifts is a very positive thing.
I have always been concerned about huge grants because money can help or hurt in charitable work. May God grant these people extreme wisdom and patience in their planning.
— Gary Sweeten May 20, 10:05 PM #
Let more focused initiative aganist poverty and war be given to the war ridden countries of Asia and Africa…this way peace of mind and polity can begin to make things happen as poverty has proven deep relational with instability.We hope to see their meeting translate into reality towards minimizing the world poor
— ikenna.oguejiofor May 21, 09:16 AM #
I think for a change charity should start at home.Baby boomers have paid into social security and medicare and the Govn’t. didn’t have permission to use that money over and over. Now we stand a chance of not being able to draw anything even though we paid all our working lives. Put strings on a donation to ss.& medicare that that is not for the govn’t. use but for the people that worked for it. I couldn’t be more proud of what all of you do with your money and know that whatever you decide will be right with me and God.
— malinda May 21, 09:45 AM #
Taking into consideration the collective resources of those attending, both financial and intellectual, the potential to address issues facing those less fortunate in an even more constructive manner than currently is truly inspiring. As Patricia Stonesifer said, attendees shared their insight in their respective areas of giving, their motivations and, likely most important, their experiences. As this group will certainly continue to periodically meet, their discussing methods to potentially increase giving could very well generate exciting advancements in philanthropy both at all levels.
— Lee Boveroux May 22, 11:23 AM #
Please don’t to keep place your money on big organizations and focus your goal educating the next generation and don’t be facilitator and spend time in the area are you help and know people that are you help, your money is not everything about make a very effective help and the people are work with you make sure they 100% are passionate its better than any University decree
— EDDIE BRITO May 25, 03:20 AM #