- Pierre Omidyar, eBay's founder, discusses his philanthropic goals and strategies with Kelvin Taketa of the Hawaii Community Foundation at the conference's keynote luncheon session. Taketa joked that he and Omidyar joined Facebook and Twitter on the same day. Today, Omidyar has 390,000 followers, while Taketa has less than 100.
2011 conference stresses innovation, sustainability
and leveraging technology to bolster mission impact
How has philanthropy changed Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay -- now a global business with some 17,000 employees -- whose $50 million pledge is the largest gift by one man in Hawaii history? It has made him more hopeful about the future of humanity, he told the nearly 800 Hawaii nonprofit leaders and supporters gathered for the keynote luncheon at the 2011 Conference of Nonprofit Communities on Nov. 29 at the Sheraton Waikiki.
Working with entreprenuers, social entreprenuers and nonprofits makes him more hopeful. "There is a whole lot of negative news and the challenges seem insurmountable but, when you get into the work, it's remarkable what emerges from it," he said.
The next generation is growing up in a more connected, transparent world, which is a remarkable global advancement for humanity. Omidyar is hopeful we are moving in the right direction, creating an exciting new world based on values and connectedness.
Why engage in social good? What was his motivation? Omidyar said it was "the challenge of having an impact and the opportunity to put to use a new set of tools." He enjoys bringing the power of the private sector to making social change and said he was blessed in creating a business that generated a vast amount of money in a short time.
What has he learned? First, there's a difference between charity and philanthropy and we need both. Charity addresses immediate needs while philanthropy gets to the underlying causes of social problems. Second, money matters but making an impact matters more. The organizations he helps are developing human capital -- building teams and improving governance, which makes them more effective and increases their impact.
Finally, he's found that the status quo is powerful and changing systems is very hard, particularly in Hawaii. It takes a lot of time to map the systems that deliver energy, food, health care, etc., and to learn where to intervene at the highest level, where real change can be made.
Through his Ulupono Initiative, Omidyar hopes to address Hawaii's overdependence on imports for energy and food. His near-term goals are "15-15-15." By 2015, he hopes to have 15 percent of Hawaii's energy and 15 percent of its food locally produced, while achieving a 15 percent improvement in recycling efficiency.
Click here to watch the keynote presentation on the Honolulu Civil Beat website.
- Kelvin Taketa of the Hawaii Community Foundation, the conference title sponsor, greeted conference attendees on the opening day. Triathlete Sarah Reinertsen, who completed the Ironman after several tries, inspired nonprofits in a down economy to set high goals and never give up.
Omidyar's luncheon keynote was just one of some 60 events -- plenaries, luncheons, breakout sessions and annual meetings -- included in the four-page conference agenda, which combined three major annual gatherings into one: The Hawaii Community Foundation's board leadership conference, The AFP-Aloha Chapter's Philanthropy Day and HANO's nonprofit conference and annual meeting.
Sarah Reinertsen set the tone in the opening session. After teaching herself to swim, run and ride a bike, Reinersten, who had her left leg amputated at age seven, eventually completed the Ironman Triathlon. "For me to keep up, I've always had to try harder than the rest," she said.
It took her 11 years from the time she saw Jim McClaren, an amputee, do the Ironman in a TV broadcast, to complete her first triathlon. She failed in her first attempt but kept training and in 2005 she finished in 15:05:12. "Talk about a long day," she said.
Her formula for getting to your finish line: Get committed to achieving your goal; identify the small goals that will move you along the way; make a plan and a schedule; ask for help and find mentors and supporters; be adaptable and open to change; and take action -- consistent work leads to success.
"The power to change lies within ourselves," she said. "Nobody but you can make it happen."
- A record crowd of nearly 800 nonprofit leaders, board members and supporters attended this year's conference, which was sponsored by the Hawaii Community Foundation and co-presented by HANO, the Association of Fundraising Professionals -- Aloha Chapter and Chaminade University with associate partners the Aloha Society of Association Executives and the Partnership for Philanthropic planning Hawaii.
- Governor Neil Abercrombie addressed the luncheon audience on Tuesday, noting that last year's conference was his first public appearance after his election.
- Venture capitalist Hank Wuh, who founded "hybrid business accelerator" Skai Technologies, offered advice on fostering an organizational culture of innovation with fellow panelist Dr. David Derauf, left.
Creating an organizational structure willing to innovate and evolve was the theme for several breakout sessions, including a panel discussion featuring venture capitalist Hank Wuh and Dr. David Derauf of Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, who said, "It's the easiest thing in the world to default to your level of comfort and not take risk."
It's important for an organization's board to include members "who are willing to question everything the organization is doing," he said, noting that too often boards remain focused on the somewhat mundane issues of finances and not on what the organization is doing for the community or on the executive's director's personal wellbeing.
"Innovation is essential for competitiveness," said Wuh. His advice? "Three words: Trust your instincts." Innovators see something no one else does, which is why it's new. "Don't ask permission," he urged.
