Stanford PACS
@stanfordpacs.bsky.social
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Engaging scholars, practitioners, and leaders to improve philanthropy and strengthen civil society. Publisher of @ssir.org‬. Repost ≠ endorsement. pacscenter.stanford.edu
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On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Ajay Piramal details the Piramal Foundation’s efforts to partner with government and civil society to not only #EndPoverty but prepare for what comes after: ensuring that people can flourish with #dignity and #agency.
Shifting the Poverty Paradigm: Piramal Foundation - Stanford PACS
A Journey of Purpose Eighteen years ago, I began the journey of building the Piramal Foundation with a simple belief: if we can instill compassion and empathy in rigid systems, especially among govern...
stanford.io
Please join us in celebrating Johanna for this extraordinary honor!

#SocietyOfProgress #ProgressMedal #SocEnt #SocialEnterprise
In bestowing the award, the Society praised Johanna's "pioneering research on social entrepreneurs as architectural innovators who advance well-being and sustainability by activating community, engaging democratically, and creating markets."
Congratulations to Johanna Mair (@johannamair.bsky.social), who has been awarded a 2025 Progress Medal from the Society of Progress for her groundbreaking research on social entrepreneurship! 🎉
Reposted by Stanford PACS
Millions use #GenerativeAI chatbots for emotional support, yet little research re: whether AI dialogues can improve psychological well-being

We test whether brief, structured dialogues grounded in psych research can reliably help

WP👉 osf.io/preprints/ps...
STG is a global hub for teaching, training, and research in governance beyond national borders.

“Leading the STG means engaging in meaningful work that bridges research and practice, and helping to shape the next generation of leaders dedicated to Europe’s future,” says Johanna.
Reposted by Stanford PACS
Philanthropy advisor Ben Klasky sees donors hit four common roadblocks to giving:

1. Option paralysis
2. A less streamlined marketplace
3. Reputational risk
4. It's work

Luckily, there are ways to overcome each of these hurdles.
Helping Donors Get Unstuck (SSIR)
Many philanthropists have the capacity and desire to give more. A few simple strategies can help them overcome common roadblocks.
ssir.org
The Technology, Culture, and Power Speaker Series returns next week!

Join us and the Department of Communication on Thursday, Oct. 9 for a lecture and Q&A on “Open Worlds and the Constitutive Outsides of Artificial Intelligence,” featuring Lucy Suchman, Professor Emerita at Lancaster University.
Technology, Culture, and Power Speaker Series: Lucy Suchman
stanford.io
"It didn’t just give me answers, it taught me to ask better questions."

We spoke with M’Chelene Shull, Executive Director of the Lee H. & Marion B. Thompson Foundation, about what she gained through our Education for #Philanthropy Professionals program.

Read the interview:
Leading with Trust with M’Chelene Shull - Stanford PACS
M’Chelene Shull is the Executive Director of the Lee H. & Marion B. Thompson Foundation, a private foundation in Portland, Oregon that has supported conservation, environment, animal welfare, youth, a...
pacscenter.stanford.edu
Explore recent research from PhD Fellow alum Minju Choi, Faculty Co-Director Patricia Bromley, and co-authors 👇
30 U.S. history textbooks. 874,125 sentences.

Only 1% of all sentences in the sample has any mention of Asians, with the most prevalent sentence topic being war. Learn how researchers suggest textbooks can give voice to Asians/Asian Americans: bit.ly/42IeZ7V.

@aeraedresearch.bsky.social
Final days to apply for our Fall EPP!

Apply by Wednesday, October 1 for our Education for Philanthropy Professionals program to earn your Stanford PACS Certificate of Effective Philanthropy.

Explore our full list of course topics and speakers, and apply now to join us!

🔗 stanford.io/3l4C2ma
Reposted by Stanford PACS
Many wise insights from Gov Spencer Cox & @ezraklein.bsky.social Gov Cox rightly notes his 2020 video w Chris Peterson was among most impactful in Strengthening Democracy Challenge, a striking example of cross-party engagement.

Grateful for their commitment. Hear it: 👇

youtu.be/WJB87niNCk0
youtu.be
Reposted by Stanford PACS
How can nonprofits and funders maximize the effectiveness of litigation?

"The takeaway here is *both-and*: Fund the best legal teams to develop the best legal theories and pursue litigation where necessary. But don’t only do that part of the puzzle."
Litigation in an Information Vacuum Is a Missed Opportunity (SSIR)
In an age of lawsuits, storytelling is paramount for long-term progress.
ssir.org
Two weeks left to apply! 🙋🏽

Our Education for Philanthropy Professionals course enables you to dig in on principles, strategy and trends to sharpen your practice and refresh your thinking.

Learn more and apply now to earn your Certificate of Effective #Philanthropy this fall!

🔗 stanford.io/3l4C2ma
Reposted by Stanford PACS
Should RCTs be the gold standard of impact measurement?

SSIR’s Aaron Bady speaks w/ Nicole P. Marwell and Jennifer E. Mosley about their new article, “The Nonprofit Sector Has an RCT Problem.”

Join us tomorrow at 10 a.m. PT!

ssir.org/live-rct-conversation
Join @stanfordkingctr.bsky.social on September 30 for The Future of Aid, exploring how foreign assistance is evolving in an era where traditional donors are stepping back and new actors—from #philanthropy to the private sector—are stepping in.

Details & RSVP: stanford.io/46mSRRp
Reposted by Stanford PACS
Our new fall print issue is online! Subscribe now for full digital access.

On the cover: An updated collection of essays on philanthropy's challenges in responding to government threats and funding cuts, including a brand new concluding essay from MacArthur Foundation president John Palfrey
Fall 2025 (SSIR)
Read about philanthropy’s response to new threats to the social sector; how community-led outcomes contracts are working for Indigenous communities in northern Canada; how randomized controlled ...
ssir.org
Reposted by Stanford PACS
"The scale and urgency of the current threat should settle a long-simmering debate about the strategic value of targeting oil and gas production directly."

@earthjustice.org president @abbiedillen.bsky.social writes in SSIR on the next chapter of the climate fight:
No Way Out Without a Fight (SSIR)
The ground-up work to stop US oil and gas expansion and create new climate politics
ssir.org
In this age of AI, where and how does assembly take place, and who participates by choice and who by coercion?

A new volume edited by Toussaint Nothias and Lucy Bernholz explores this question through a series of essays, including contributions from Ashley Lee and Danaé Metaxa.
AI and Assembly | Stanford University Press
Artificial intelligence has moved from the lab into everyday life and is now seemingly everywhere. As AI creeps into every aspect of our lives, the data grab required to power AI also expands. People ...
www.sup.org
Are you looking to level up your practice as a #philanthropy professional or new funder?

Our #EPP course connects you with philanthropy leaders, scholars, and practitioners to help you learn best practices and ground your work in strategy and values.

Apply by October 1!

🔗 stanford.io/3l4C2ma
"It’s time for #philanthropy to step up and step in."

As Sobrato Philanthropies deploys its largest annual giving budget to date, Lisa Sobrato Sonsini shares a powerful call to action for funders to step up their giving in this pivotal moment.

Read on our Philanthropy Innovation Summit blog:
Our Imperative: Commit and Invest - Stanford PACS
Nonprofits and foundations across the nation are working under immense pressure to meet rising needs, even as they themselves face growing threats. Policy reversals, investigations, funding cuts, and ...
stanford.io