Philanthropy

Eric Schmidt in San Jose Mercury News | Google CEO Will Take New America Foundation's Helm

Google CEO Will Take New America Foundation's Helm (San Jose Mercury News)

Google Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt has been named to be the next chairman of the New America Foundation, which researches issues such as health care and education.

Schmidt will become chairman June 1, the foundation said Thursday in a statement. He succeeds James Fallows, a writer for the Atlantic Monthly magazine and former speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter.

Schmidt will help the organization as the… more

Eric Schmidt in The Washington Post | Google Chief to Chair Think Tank

Google Chief to Chair Think Tank (The Washington Post)

The New America Foundation named Eric Schmidt, the chairman and chief executive of Google, as its chairman. His unpaid position begins June 1 at the District think tank, which says its mission is to bring new voices and new ideas to public discourse. Schmidt's election follows the September arrival of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Steve Coll as president and chief executive. Coll formerly worked at The Washington Post. more

Eric Schmidt, Steve Coll | February 8, 2008

New America on CNET | Google's Schmidt named chair of think tank

Google's Schmidt named chair of think tank (CNET)

Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt has been named as chairman of the board to the New America Foundation, a non-partisan think tank in Washington, D.C. that focuses on issues like healthcare, education and foreign policy.

Schmidt joined the board 10 years ago when the centrist think tank was founded and before he joined Google. He will assume his new role June 1... more

Eric Schmidt, James Fallows, Steve Coll | February 7, 2008

Eric Schmidt in The Associated Press | Google CEO Named Chairman of Think Tank

Google CEO Named Chairman of Think Tank (The Associated Press)

Eric Schmidt, the chairman and chief executive of the world's largest search engine, needs to update his profile on the company Web site.

If he doesn't, his new chairmanship at the New America Foundation won't show up if Schmidt Googles himself.

On Thursday, the Google chairman and CEO became chairman of the Washington think tank whose various issues include telecommunications and technology policy.

His unpaid position will be… more

Eric Schmidt, James Fallows, Steve Coll | February 7, 2008

Eric Schmidt in Chronicle of Philanthropy | Google CEO Named Chairman of New America Board

Google CEO Named Chairman of New America Board (Chronicle of Philanthropy)

Eric Schmidt, chairman and chief executive officer of Google, will become the chairman of the New America Foundation’s Board of Directors on June 1, the group announced. He plans to mark his new role by making an an unrestricted $1-million donation to the group.

Mr. Schmidt has served on the foundation’s board since its founding in 1999, but he has not been as actively involved in philanthropy as many of his fellow… more

Eric Schmidt, James Fallows, Steve Coll | February 7, 2008

Muhammad Yunus: The Unlikely Disciple

There is no shortage of people who exemplify Peter Drucker's principles and practices -- a multitude of middle managers and top executives responsible for many millions, if not billions, of dollars in economic activity. Yet the most Drucker-like of all may well be a man who launched his enterprise with a series of transactions totaling 27 bucks.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, who pioneered the concept of microcredit -- providing the poorest of the poor with tiny loans to… more

Rick Wartzman | January 31, 2008 | BusinessWeek.com

Getting from Giving

'Tis the season for giving. Yet, as Peter Drucker knew so well, the rewards from such actions flow two ways -- not just to those in need, but to those who get a lift from making a difference in an all-too-troubled world.

That is why on Christmas day I went over to a church not far from my house to help dish up dinner for the hungry and homeless. Dozens of volunteers from my synagogue and elsewhere passed out about 1,000… more

Rick Wartzman | December 27, 2007 | BusinessWeek.com

Landing X Prize in Earthly Endeavors

More than two years ago, after the first privately funded manned rocket soared into space to claim a $10 million prize, the man behind the contest brimmed with jubilation, a profound sense of relief and visions of the next frontier to conquer.

"I’m going to the stars," he said at the time.

But, in fact, Peter Diamandis has moved on to something that, in many respects, is even more momentous. He has brought the concept of spurring "revolution through competition," as… more

Rick Wartzman | February 16, 2007 | Los Angeles Times

Network Philanthropy

They seemed so young. That’s what Peter Hero remembers most about the day, nine years ago, when Pierre Omidyar and Jeff Skoll walked into his office at Community Foundation Silicon Valley with an odd idea to give away a fortune. Omidyar wore jeans and a T-shirt; his thick black hair was tied back in a ponytail. Skoll had on what looked to Hero like a varsity jacket. He couldn’t still be in high school, could he? Hero thought they were… more

Douglas McGray | January 21, 2007 | WEST Magazine