EIGHT POINT THREE: Re-shaping philanthropy to meet today
History presents us with moments that demand not just attention, but also a fundamental shift in approach. Philanthropy stands at such a juncture.
As technology advances at unprecedented speed and our social and political systems shift, the needs of Eight Point Three billion people continue to evolve and intensify.
The world is not short on capital, ingenuity, or technological capability. What it lacks is alignment. Efforts remain fragmented – siloed by issue areas and geographies. Resources flow through disconnected channels. Innovation is moving faster than coordination. In this environment, philanthropy is struggling to match the scale and pace of the challenges before us.
We believe philanthropy has reached a turning point. Progress now depends on redesign, not repetition.
That shift begins with rethinking the system itself.
Philanthropy has long played a vital role in identifying urgent needs and mobilizing capital. That’s no longer enough. This next era of philanthropy requires systemic change, collective action, and bold innovation.
Eight Point Three emerged in response to this moment.
This new philanthropic coalition is designed to convene leaders across philanthropy, technology, and the broader innovation ecosystem to work with greater alignment and ambition. More than a forum, it is a trusted working community where insight translates into action. Through rigorous dialogue and practical collaboration, we will strengthen how capital flows, how delivery models adapt to the best new technological capabilities, and how philanthropy rebuilds trust.
The work centers on three shifts.
First, redesigning how capital is deployed. Philanthropy can unlock far greater impact when funding strategies are aligned rather than siloed. This means moving towards coordinated strategies and co-funding approaches that align resources around shared priorities.
Second, reinventing how philanthropy engages with technology. From climate and health to economic mobility and democratic resilience, AI and technological tools are already accelerating impact when applied with care and discipline. Technology alone cannot drive progress. Philanthropy has a distinct role in aligning emerging technologies with public priorities, guiding responsible adoption, and investing in promising approaches to mature from experimentation into sustained, accountable scale.
Third, reclaiming philanthropy’s social license. Philanthropy cannot do this alone. Our work requires cross-sector collaboration: the engineers and the activists, the policymakers and the philanthropists, all working alongside the communities and people philanthropy is ultimately meant to serve. Trust is the foundation. That trust is built through transparency, accountability, and candid storytelling about both progress and setbacks. It also requires greater clarity about the sector’s contribution to shared societal goals.
Eight Point Three is collaborative by design – just as philanthropy should be. It evolves as conditions evolve and is shaped by those who engage with it. Its value lies not in prescribing a single model, but in convening diverse perspectives to generate insight that no one institution can produce alone.
We see this moment as both a responsibility and an opportunity. A responsibility to question whether current approaches are fit for a world defined by interconnected crises. And an opportunity to build systems that are more intelligent, more coordinated, more impactful.
A world in flux demands nothing less.
No single institution or sector alone can shape what comes next. We cannot solve twenty-first century problems with twentieth-century tools. The future of philanthropy will be defined by how effectively we collaborate, integrate technology responsibly, and build trust through accountability and results.
We invite leaders across philanthropy, technology, and allied fields to join us as co-builders of this next era. Together, we can redesign how impact is delivered and ensure our collective resources rise to the complexity and possibility of the world we share.
Join us in shaping what comes next.
Maggie Johnson, Global Head and Vice President, Google.org
Eight Point Three, Co-Chair
Arlo Brady, CEO, Freuds
Eight Point Three, Co-Chair
Shannon Farley, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Fast Forward
Eight Point Three, Impact Partner