Patrícia Villela Marino participates in panel discussions at the Philanthropy Innovation Summit at Stanford University

The president of Instituto Humanitas360 (H360), Patrícia Villela Marino, was one of the guest speakers at the Philanthropy Innovation Summit at Stanford University, in September. The event brought together, on its discussion panels, prominent figures such as Laurene Powell Jobs (widow of Apple founder Steve Jobs, and president of the NGO Emerson Collective), California Governor Gavin Newsom, Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen (who together with Marc Andreessen, developer of Netscape and Mozilla, created the Marc & Laura Andreessen Foundation), and the creator of Airbnb, Brian Chesky.

The Philanthropy Innovation Summit is a biannual event that brings together some of the leading individual philanthropists and family foundations in the world to discuss their donation strategies with the aim of maximizing social impact. It is organized by the Center for Philanthropy and Social Innovation at Stanford University in California. During the day, around 200 donors participate in panel discussions, interviews and private conversations in thematic philanthropy halls. Invitation to the event is open only to philanthropists who are able to donate at least six figures (above US$ 100,000) annually to charitable causes of their interest.

The president of H360 took part in a panel discussion entitled “Social Entrepreneurship: Betting on People by Investing in Leadership.” On the panel, Patrícia shared a table with Carter McClelland (president and founder of the investment bank Union Square Advisors of San Francisco, focused on the technology sector) and Jim Bildner (president of Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, which invests in social organizations that work to resolve complex problems such as systemic poverty, food insecurity and lack of healthcare services and housing). Kathleen Kelly Janus, senior advisor on social innovation to Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, served as panel moderator.

In her speech, in addition to highlighting some of H360 projects and presenting the work developed by CIVI-CO in fostering civic and social entrepreneurship, Patrícia spoke of her vision of grass roots philanthropy. This grassroots philanthropy, practiced and promoted by her through H360, advocates the direct involvement of the donor, and learning through real-world experience. The professional engagement or voluntary work of the donor is, in this vision, the best way to maximize social impact. In this way, she intends to guide the donor back to the etymological root of the word philanthropy, which is love of humanity. A concept that has been slowly lost over time, to the point that philanthropy today is associated exclusively with monetary donation or handouts.