How is it that some very well intentioned nonprofits that do good work will return home after CGI with little more than fond memories, while others will leave with their pockets full to do more good in the world? The best way to answer this question is to tell the story of BRAC.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is teaming up with Beijing to fund a series of revolutionary agricultural and biotech initiatives. China might be using Gates to further its economic imperialism. But maybe that's not such a bad thing.
With the country's banking and financial infrastructure still in tatters, a new mobile service that allows Haitians to make and receive payments via text message is taking off and allowing commerce to flourish.
Malaria drugs are expensive, and the disease is becoming resistant. But nothing can resist microwaves. A new advance might simply explode the parasite inside people's bodies with a low dose of focused rays.
You can't dump on this idea: A new $40 million initiative by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will help develop futuristic toilets that transform human waste into usable electricity and fuel.
Developing countries lack both clean water and clean energy sources. By converting soiled water into energy and clean water, a new project could wipe away both problems.
A new set of $100,000 grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is funding a range of mobile phone applications in an effort to improve global health.
Since the 2010 earthquake, not-for-profits and corporations have developed new technologies to better deliver services to Haitians, transforming aid in disaster areas everywhere.
Mackey says a Conscious Capitalist focuses on one or more of four ideals -- the good, the true, the beautiful, and the heroic -- and on aligning the interests of all "stakeholders." But just what business should emulate is unclear.
