The Solve Effect

Are we living in unprecedented times for philanthropy, or have we seen this all before? 
In this episode of The Solve Effect, we welcome the CEO and co-founder of The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Stacy Palmer.
For four decades, Stacy has reported on trends in giving, government funding, and the extremely wealthy people behind it all. With the authority that only comes from paying deep, sustained attention to a field, Stacy brings us through her history to this present moment, where the field is still reeling from the loss of government funding. 
Tune into a conversation all about: 
Concentrated Wealth and Philanthropic Deserts: Why are only 25 of the Forbes 400 giving generously? And is Middle America a philanthropic desert? 
Building an entire field of journalism: When Stacy helped start The Chronicle of Philanthropy, philanthropy was drastically under-covered. Learn more about how she built an entire ecosystem of information and why that matters. 
The importance of big risks in giving: Big problems need big solutions. Sometimes, the only way to build them is through even bigger risks.
Full transcript available here. 
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Rama Kayyali brought an artifact from her early entrepreneurial days–a homemade VHS tape–during this recording. 
That’s how long her company, Little Thinking Minds, and her product, I Read Arabic, have been making an impact in the EdTech world. 
Rama is our first guest in the brand new 10 Years, 10 Solvers series. Solve is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and to mark the occasion, you’ll be getting two episodes a month. One of those will be our special series with guest host Alexander Dale, Director of Global Programs at MIT Solve. 
This series will highlight 10 Solvers from the past decade who embody the spirit of Solve: innovation, grit, resilience, and impact. 
Tune in for a conversation all about: 
Building for a sector that doesn’t exist yet: As a filmmaker and mother, Rama wanted to see content made for her own child to read Arabic. So she went out and made it.

Dedicating yourself to lifelong learning: Spanning decades and technological upheavals, Rama has chosen the path of curiosity. Hear more about how starting a company has been like her own real-time MBA. 

Choosing hope: It’s not easy, but change is possible. Learn how Rama stays dedicated to hope.

Full transcript available here. 
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Her grandfather picked up litter in the amusement park he helped build. She continues that legacy by taking out the trash of inherited wealth and showing a better way forward.
On this episode of The Solve Effect, Hala Hanna interviews award-winning filmmaker, writer, philanthropist, and activist Abigail E. Disney. 
Tune in for a conversation all about: 
Where dignity fits in the global economy: Abigail rejects the idea that shareholder value should reign supreme above all else. How do we create systems where everyone can thrive?

Storytelling in the digital age: Coming from a lineage of storytellers, Abigail has explored documentaries, podcasts, publishing, and more. What does the future of spreading her message look like? 

The power of a good sense of humor: Can laughing easily indicate a strong moral compass? How do we center joy in a world that feels increasingly heavy? 

Courage in the face of fear: Our shared sense of what we all care about together is shrinking. How can we take hold of our fear and still take action, too? 

Full transcript available here. 
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Every startup has its origin story. Some started in garages while others started in Ivy League dorm rooms. 
MIT Solve’s story may have started in a broom closet in the UN. 
On this episode of The Solve Effect, Hala sits down with directors Pooja Wagh, Alexander Dale, and Sara Monteabaro to explore their journeys over a decade of working at Solve. This team has gone from building furniture in an empty office to building a global platform that has impacted over 370 million lives. 
Tune in for a conversation all about: 
The transformative power of ambition: The Solve team turned an idea into a global platform for social impact. Learn how we went from agonizing over mail merges to running over 100 challenges in ten years. 

Leveling up the model: If Solve’s first decade was all about proving how getting innovators the resources they need could lead to incredible impact, then what does the next decade have in store? 

A team worth celebrating: Part of the Solve story is a team of people who inspire each other to improve and iterate daily. Learn more about what makes this team so special. 

Full transcript available here.
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Where do you go after building a unicorn? 

For Jessica Jackley, the possibilities are infinite. 

After redefining how the world thinks about microlending by cofunding Kiva, Jessica could have stayed in her lane. Instead, she chose reinvention: teaching entrepreneurship courses at USC’s Marshall School of Business and, in a brand-new chapter, leading VOW for Girls as its new CEO. 

Hala and Jessica connect in a conversation all about: 
Staying rooted in your values: From turning down $10M at Kiva to teaching students how to interrogate power and impact, what does mission alignment really cost, and why does it matter? 

Pivoting with intention: Big moves. Small experiments. What happens when reinvention doesn’t go as planned, and how do you keep going anyway?

Leveling up: When you’ve already reached the “pinnacle,” how do you keep growing without losing the fire that got you there?

Full transcript available here. 

This episode was produced by Bridget Weiler and Elisabeth Graham.
Audio production by Kurt Schneider at MIT Audiovisual Services.
Music by Tunetank.

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Join our CrowdSolve mailing list for more social impact news: ⁠https://solve.mit.edu/newsletters⁠ 
Make sure to follow us on ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, and ⁠Facebook⁠.  
Email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠