Participatory Philanthropy
How the wisdom of the crowds can improve
and democratize the giving of

Isaac Newton 1643 - 1727

John Harrison 1693 - 1776

Philanthropy
Then
Andrew Carnegie financed
the public library system in
the US and Britain.

PHILANTHROPY NOW
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER > THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION

Who should decide how
philanthropic money is
given away?
We should.

1920’s - Columbia Finance professor Jack
sociologist Hazel Knight Treynor asks his 56 students
asks classroom to guess to guess how many jelly
temperature. Their collective beans are in a jar. Their
answer was only .4 degrees group estimate, 871, was
off. only 21 off and closer than
all but one individual guess.
The Wisdom of Crowds

Changemakers.net
Open sourcing social solutions

Involvement &
Expertise

- The Judges
- Commenter
The Crowd & The Experts

Idea Blob
Users Choose What is Funded

Organic Food Vending Machines
$10,000 to help start new business

Votes, Comments, and Advice

Knight News Challenge
$5 Million every year for innovative journalism

Who will give away his money?