February 26, 2015 5:00 pm
Published by Michael
26, The Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship (PCSE) hosted a talk entitled “Corporate Social Responsibility and Strategic Philanthropy: Stories From the Field,” featuring Anne Lebleu ’00.
Director of the PCSE Makaela Kingsley, introduced Lebleu and the event.
“One really important piece [in understanding] the whole scope of social change is money,” Kingsley said. We identified that the problem wasn’t so much with the quality of care [but] that there’s this precarity going on at a much higher level where we don’t know if the money is going to get re-upped every year and you’re not able to service the people that need your help.”
She described this as a “big light bulb moment” because she and her colleagues decided to look into funding a nationwide association for state directors, who would hold a conference where they could meet up, identify the dues, and eventually ensure that the project becomes self-sustaining.
Lebleu said that $650,000 was necessary to make this possible; Arabella pitched the idea to the three siblings who owned the foundation and they agreed.
“That’s an example [that] just shows an issue that started with early childhood education, went all the way to D.C. and back, and [what] effect it had nationwide from Native American tribes, who have their own allocations, to state governments, who are trying to do what they can right now in a time of austerity,” Lebleu said.
Kingsley further spoke to the example.
“I think that’s an especially great story, because it brings it to a level that we can all understand even if we’re not working in this field,” Kingsley said. This other model is the way they could stretch their dollars the furthest.”
Kingsley went on to ask Lebleu about the big picture trends in philanthropy currently and Lebleu emphasized impact investing.
“I also think women in philanthropy is a really interesting trend,” Lebleu said. “Not that this is a career planning talk by any stretch, but there are a lot of interesting jobs out there to think about after [college], if this is something that you care about.”
Cindy Horng ’17, who attended the discussion, appreciated the event’s scope.
“I thought it was really interesting that she talked about both the financial side and the social impact side of philanthropy,” Horng said. “I know I came in focusing more on the social impact but then you also have to talk to wealth managers and stuff, which is something I hadn’t considered.”
In concluding the talk, Lebleu addressed a skill she deems necessary in any field.
“I can’t not reiterate how important it is to learn how to write well, and I think that regardless of what major you come out with at [the University], hone that skill while you’re here because it really makes a huge difference,” Lebleu said.
