In this 41-minute podcast, Stanford’s Paul Brest (and former President of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation) gives an overview of the philanthropy sector, explaining the growth of foundations, the trade-off between a foundation and a donor-advised fund and the coordination of foundation policy on big bets, particularly climate change. Much of our discussion touches on aspects of his just released book, co-authored with Hal Harvey, Money Well Spent: A Strategic Plan for Smart Philanthropy. 

Paul further discusses the trade-off and analysis between what are the benefits of succeeding and the likelihood of that success, the "happy accident" of becoming the President of the Hewlett Foundation, as well as touching on a few of the larger California foundations and their programs. Given the increase in the creation of foundations as well as their experimentation in policies potentially impacting a large swathe of the population, this is a timely discussion about their role. 

Feed your soul. Keep listening. 

Next up: Lauren Jabusch on Protest Divestment.