Shaping the Future of Philanthropy With Dedicated Leaders
Advancing Philanthropy
We are pushing the philanthropy sector forward, ensuring that we can deliver on the promise: to set the conditions for all to live healthy, thriving lives.
We bring together philanthropy leaders who are self-reflective, seeking innovative solutions, eager to hear from practitioners and frontline communities, willing to challenge the status quo, share knowledge and learnings and quick to collaborate. Through thoughtful, cutting edge programming and purposeful connections, we aim to foster a community of leaders willing to do what it takes to make philanthropy ‘fit for purpose’ in our dynamic and rapidly changing world.
our history
The Global Philanthropy Forum was formed in 2001 as a project of the World Affairs Council of Northern California, by a pioneering generation of philanthropists from Silicon Valley, who infused the project with a spirit of innovation that matched their desire to effect change.
Phillip Yun, Hosting the 2023 Global Philanthropy Forum
The first GPF conference on 'Borderless Giving' was held in March 2002, attracting 360 high net worth individuals and foundation presidents.
Jane Wales, former CEO of the World Affairs Council, led GPF from its inception in 2001 to 2019, building a diverse community of over 3,000 philanthropists, grant makers, social investors, and executives of private and public foundations and enabled its members to enhance the strategic nature of their work. GPF captured a zeitgeist moment and has continued to be a leader in global philanthropy ever since.
Today GPF is a project of the Commonwealth Club World Affairs (CCWA), a newly merged organization of the World Affairs Council of Northern California (est. 1947) and Commonwealth Club of California (est. 1903). Both organizations have long standing legacies of promoting civic engagement and have served as platforms for thought leaders, policymakers, and citizens to come together to address pressing global challenges.
What makes us unique
In today’s interconnected world, we promote the importance of embracing a global perspective in philanthropy. We leverage our diverse network and strategic partners, including affiliate organizations in Africa and Brazil, to facilitate understanding of cultural contexts and regional philanthropic methodologies.
Leveraging our global community and perspective, we are leading the way in engagement with the private sector and public sector. We believe that to be 'fit-for-purpose' there needs to be an ecosystems approach to funding, which requires cross-sector collaboration. GPF is committed to bringing philanthropy to the multi-lateral space to empower stakeholder engagement and catalytic capital to issues that transcend borders.
Steering Committee
Philip Yun, Committee Chair
Peter Laugharn
Anna Thompson-Quaye
Christine Morse
Valerie Dabady
Deval Sanghavi
Bernardo Guillamon
Una Osili
Mosun Layode
Paula Fabiani
Advisory Board
Laurene Powell Jobs
Fola Adeola
CO-FOUNDER, GUARANTY TRUST BANK FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN, FATE FOUNDATION
Syed Babar Ali
FOUNDER, PACKAGES LIMITED
Laura Arrillaga-
Andreessen
FOUNDER, STANFORD CENTER FOR PHILANTHROPY & CIVIL SOCIETY
Brizio Biondi-Morra
BOARD, AVINA AMERICAS
Larry Brilliant
CO-FOUNDER, THE SEVA FOUNDATION
Jean Case
CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, THE CASE FOUNDATION
Richard Curtis
CO-FOUNDER, VICE CHAIRMAN, AND TRUSTEE, COMIC RELIEF (UK)
Hernando de Soto
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, INSTITUTE FOR LIBERTY AND DEMOCRACY
William H. Draper, III
CO-CHAIRMAN, DRAPER RICHARDS KAPLAN FOUNDATION
Bill Drayton
FOUNDER AND CEO, ASHOKA
Peggy Dulany
FOUNDER AND CHAIR, SYNERGOS INSTITUTE
Peter Gabriel
CO-FOUNDER, WITNESS
CO-FOUNDER, THE ELDERS
Robert Gallucci
DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Stephen Heintz
PRESIDENT, ROCKEFELLER BROTHERS FUND
Esther Hewlett
CO-FOUNDER, YOUTH PHILANTHROPY WORLDWIDE
Steven M. Hilton
CHAIRMAN, CONRAD N. HILTON FOUNDATION
Teresa Heinz Kerry
CHAIR EMERITUS, THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS
Angélique Kidjo
UNICEF GOODWILL AMBASSADOR, FOUNDER, THE BATONGA FOUNDATION
Lata Krishnan
CO-CHAIR, AMERICA INDIA FOUNDATION
MANAGING PARTNER, SHAH CAPITAL PARTNERS
Carol Larson
FORMER PRESIDENT AND CEO, THE DAVID & LUCILLE PACKARD FOUNDATION
Peter Laugharn
PRESIDENT AND CEO, CONRAD N. HILTON FOUNDATION
Annie Lennox
FOUNDER, THE SING CAMPAIGN
Tsitsi Masiyiwa
CO-FOUNDER, HIGHERLIFE FOUNDATION
Graça Machel
FOUNDER, GRAÇA MACHEL TRUST
John P. Morgridge
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS, CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
Catherine Muther
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, THREE GUINEAS FUND
Pamela Omidyar
FOUNDER AND BOARD CHAIR, HUMANITY UNITED, CO-FOUNDER AND BOARD MEMBER, OMIDYAR GROUP
Sally Osberg
FORMER PRESIDENT AND CEO, SKOLL FOUNDATION
Susan Packard Orr
TRUSTEE, THE DAVID & LUCILE PACKARD FOUNDATION
Alan Patricof
FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, GREYCROFT, LLC
Jan Piercy
ADVISOR, SOUTHERN BANCORPORATION
Judith Rodin
FORMER PRESIDENT, THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION
Edward Scott
CO-FOUNDER, BEA SYSTEMS, INC. CO-FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN EMERITUS, CENTER FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
Adele Simmons
PRESIDENT, GLOBAL PHILANTHROPY PARTNERSHIP
Timothy E. Wirth
VICE CHAIR, UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION AND BETTER WORLD FUND
Tae Yoo
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS, CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
Muhammad Yunus
FOUNDER, GRAMEEN BANK, BANGLADESH
CHAIRMAN, THE YUNUS CENTRE