Google.org unveiled five core initiatives that will be the focus of its philanthropic efforts over the next five to ten years. The philanthropic arm of Google will collaborate with experienced partners working in each of these fields, investing its resources and tapping the strengths of Google’s employees and global operations to advance its core initiatives.
The announcement includes more than $25 million in new grants and investments to initial partners. The resources come from a commitment by Google’s founders to devote approximately 1 percent of the company’s equity plus 1 percent of annual profits to philanthropy, as well as employee time.
Google.org’s five initiatives and initial partners include:
• Support efforts to empower communities to predict and prevent events before they become local, regional, or global crises, by identifying “hot spots” and enabling a rapid response.
• Work with partners to improve the flow of vital information to improve basic services for the poor in India and East Africa.
• Support efforts to lower transaction costs to invest in SMEs, create opportunities to access larger financial markets and make investments in this sector.
• Develop renewable ebergy cheaper than coal, within years not decades.
• Accelerate the commercialization of plug-in vehicles.
Originally posted on January 17, 2008 @ 1:08 pm