We have inherited an uneven landscape of educational access and equity. What impact has philanthropy had in addressing these issues and the foundational roots of educational inequality?
How can this history inform today’s philanthropists working to increase educational opportunity?
What impact have our recent crises had on existing educational inequities, and what opportunities do they present for philanthropy to address them?
During the Pandemic, the fifth Power of Giving symposium convened a virtual discussion with education and philanthropy thought leaders and practitioners to discuss the critical issue of educational equity and the role of philanthropy.
Videos
View session videos on YouTube
The Power of Giving Symposiums
The annual Power of Giving symposium brings historic perspectives to contemporary conversations about philanthropy’s impact. View other Power of Giving symposiums focusing on annual themes: the 2023 Power of Giving symposium on Philanthropy's Impact on Social Justice, the 2019 Power of Giving symposium on Health and Medicine; the 2018 Power of Giving symposium on Culture and the Arts, and the 2016 Power of Giving symposium on Sustainability and the Environment. The 2015 Power of Giving symposium examined philanthropy more broadly as part of the launch of the Philanthropy Initiative.
Sessions
2020 Power of Giving - Day 1 Symposium Welcome
Dr. Anthea M. Hartig
Elizabeth MacMillan Director
National Museum of American History
2020 Power of Giving - Day 1 Smithsonian Welcome
Lonnie G. Bunch III
Secretary
Smithsonian Institution
The Power of History: A Conversation with Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III
Interviewer
Dr. Amanda B. Moniz
David M. Rubenstein Curator of Philanthropy
National Museum of American History
Lonnie G. Bunch III
Secretary
Smithsonian Institution
2020 Power of Giving Keynote: Confronting Educational Inequality: The Role of Philanthropy in Achieving a Just Society
Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond
President and CEO
Learning Policy Institute
Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education Emeritus
Stanford University
Philanthropy Today: Advancing Equity in Education
Interviewer
Liz Simons
Chair
Heising-Simons Foundation
Panelists
Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond
President and CEO
Learning Policy Institute
Charles E. Ducommun
Professor of Education Emeritus
Stanford University
Bob Hughes
Director of K-12 Education in the United States Program
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Dr. Na’ilah Suad Nasir
President
Spencer Foundation
2020 Power of Giving - Day 1 Closing Remarks
Dr. Anthea M. Hartig
Elizabeth MacMillan Director
National Museum of American History
2020 Power of Giving - Day 2 Symposium Welcome
Dr. Anthea M. Hartig
Elizabeth MacMillan Director
National Museum of American History
2020 Power of Giving - Day 2 Smithsonian Welcome
Steve Case
Chair
Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents
Funding Opportunity and Resilience at HBCUs and Community Colleges
Interviewer
David M. Rubenstein
Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents
Panelists
Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón
President Emeritus
Miami Dade College
Dr. David A. Thomas
President
Morehouse College
Ebony A. Thomas
Senior Vice President, ESG and Public Policy
Racial Equality and Economic Opportunity Initiatives Executive
Bank of America
Dr. Suzanne Elise Walsh
President
Bennett College
Educators’ Perspectives on Equity Practices in the Face of Dual Pandemics
Interviewer
Dr. John B. King Jr.
President and CEO
The Education Trust
Former US Secretary of Education in the Obama Administration
Panelists
Michele Hand
K/1 Interventionist
Stanton-Smith Elementary School
Whitehouse, TX
Dr. Manuel Rustin
Social Science Teacher
John Muir High School Early College Magnet
Pasadena, CA
2020 Power of Giving - Day 2 Closing Remarks
Dr. Anthea M. Hartig
Elizabeth MacMillan Director
National Museum of American History
The Philanthropy Initiative is made possible by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and David M. Rubenstein, whose generosity also supports the initiative's Power of Giving symposium.