The Audacious Project — a bold adventure in social philanthropy

From two weekend retreats over the past two years, an intrepid group of individuals donated over a half billion dollars to philanthropic moon shots. The background vetting and social dynamics of mutual encouragement pushed some of us to give at a whole new level, and to support world changing opportunities. It is the incredible entrepreneurial brain child of Chris Anderson and several luminary donors from the TED community.

Here are the science winners, David Baker, $45M for advancing computational biology for broad applicability in medicine, agriculture and materials science) and Joanne Chory, $35M to develop a genetic patch for row crops to grow deeper roots with more suberin (a recalcitrant polymer similar to cork). At planetary scale, it is a save-the-world bet that could sequester the excess atmospheric CO2 from human activity while improving crop yields, enriching the soil and making the plants more robust to climate change itself. This is a record setting gift for the Salk Institute.

I have been involved in this project from the beginning. The genesis of the idea traces to a TED advisory brainstorming session several years ago where I argued for the continued acceleration of income inequality within the current political and economic framework and that philanthropy is the only negative feedback loop in effect. Beyond just talking about it, Chris Anderson took action.

More on the Audacious Project process.

Techcrunch News on this year’s record raise, and here are the other recipients:

• The Center for Policing Equity plans to use data-capture technology to bring measurable behavior change to police departments.

• Educate Girls is partnering with 35,000 volunteers to persuade parents and elders in remote Indian communities to register girls who are out of school and support them so they stay enrolled.

• The END Fund plans to bring treatment for parasitic worms to 100 million people, while also providing access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene education.

• The Nature Conservancy aims to protect 4 million square kilometers of the ocean by buying up the debt of 20 island and coastal nations — in exchange for government commitments to protect their marine areas.

• Thorn is building tech products to fight child sexual abuse online, for example by making it easier to locate the victims.

• Waterford UPSTART aims to help 250,000 children prepare for kindergarten by providing proactive family coaching and personalized learning.