In a surprise Zoom call, the Global Water Institute (GWI) learned it was chosen to receive a gift from the Columbia Business School Philanthropy Fund, a donor-advised fund of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. The gift stems from a business class competition at Columbia Business School’s Tamer Center for Social Enterprise. 

Melissa Berman, founding President and CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and adjunct professor at Columbia Business School, teaches a course each January that exposes business school students to the inner workings of philanthropy. In a real-world competition, the students in the Global Philanthropy course form teams that analyze potential contenders for an award of nearly $100,000.

“Education is a foundation of effective philanthropy. Through this course, I’ve witnessed the power of student-led evaluation and the impact it can have on exceptional non-profit organizations,” Prof. Berman said. “The unanimous selection of the Global Water Institute by the MBA students at Columbia University Business School is a testament to the outstanding work being done by GWI. We are honored to support their initiatives in Tanzania, the Navajo Nation, and Senegal, and are certain this gift will further their mission of sustainable solutions and positive change.”

GWI was selected for the competition due to its top 100-ranked proposal submission to the MacArthur Foundation’s 100&Change Challenge in 2019. Although GWI’s project “Tanzania Today, Sub-Saharan Africa Tomorrow – A Sustainable Systems Solution” did not win the MacArthur Challenge, being highly ranked enabled it to be included in Lever for Change’s Bold Solutions Network, a database of highly ranked, vetted proposals.

Lever for Change is a non-profit affiliated with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Founded in 2019 out of the success of MacArthur’s 100%Change Challenge, Lever for Change connects donors with problem solvers to find and fund bold, effective solutions to accelerate social change.

“It was such a surprise and honor to receive this news out of the blue. It was made extra special by the fact that students selected GWI for their competition dollars,” said Amanda Davey, GWI Associate Director.

GWI will use the $95,000 gift to support its ongoing activities in Tanzania, the Navajo Nation, and Senegal.

Please visit the Bold Solutions Network for the GWI proposal and other vetted projects.

Image: Residents in the rural village of Sagara, Tanzania, receive fresh water from a new tap stand installed as part of GWI’s Water and Development Alliance Project.