Mar 6, 2025, 7:00 PM ETConference Presentation, Panel

New Pathways to Help Forgotten America | Finance Forum 2025

The panel identifies a "sea change" in the public sector, characterized by retrenchment in the U.S. government that permanently alters the traditional handoff of social solutions from philanthropy to the state.
Marla Carter (Skoll Foundation) notes that the "mezzanine funder" model—supporting innovations destined for public sector adoption—is disrupted as ministries of health and education may no longer serve as the final destination for these solutions.
Dan Price (Amazon Web Services) highlights the U.S. government's fiscal constraints, noting debt of $36 trillion where interest expenses now exceed defense spending and absorb 50% of federal revenue.
Price argues that the future is being written in computer code in Silicon Valley and other tech hubs rather than legislation in Washington, D.C., shifting the primary role of change-making to the private sector and technology.
The panel agrees that technological solutions are now essential infrastructure for addressing poverty and marginalization; without technology, solutions for these demographics are "doomed to fail."

With annual charitable giving in the U.S. reaching $500 billion, the panel calls for a rethinking of philanthropic tools beyond direct grants, incorporating loan guarantees and backstops to enhance capital recyclability.
Price emphasizes separating social impact from financial returns in fund structures, warning that demanding specific demographic targets in venture funds will prevent the generation of capital returns necessary to prove viability.
The Skoll Foundation is re-evaluating the "historic" model of writing checks, moving toward capital stacks where philanthropic, private, and public capital play distinct but coordinated roles based on their risk tolerance and mandates.
Price cites the "Make Wakanda Real" campaign, launched with Will.i.am, to reframe technology for Black and Brown communities as a "jetpack" for advancement rather than a "hand grenade" that destroys jobs.

Criminal Justice: Rasa, a tech startup founded by a former public defender, reduced the cost of record expungement from $5,000–$6,000 to ~$600, enabling 10x more individuals in three states to access legal relief.
Infrastructure: Amazon invested in an EV charging partner to de-risk expansion into the Bronx, addressing the specific need for charging access for ride-share drivers (Uber/Lyft) who cannot travel to suburban stations.
DEI and Empathy: A new AI platform, Rapport.co, utilizes technology to increase emotional intelligence (EQ) in firms, targeting empathy deficits rather than just intellectual capability (IQ).

Panelists express disappointment, but not surprise, at the rapid withdrawal of corporate support for DEI, citing that S&P 500 leadership remains 93% male and 1% Black.
Marla Carter categorically rejects the premise that merit and inclusion are contradictory, asserting that talent is widely distributed while opportunity is concentrated.
Dan Price advocates for a strategic pivot in DEI messaging: shifting from a narrative of guilt ("you are racist") to one of mutual benefit ("you need diverse partners to win").
Price argues that the most persuasive argument for inclusion is economic: diverse teams drive higher performance, and straight white men can "have more" money, contracts, and respect by collaborating with diverse partners.
The panel notes a critical "imagination gap," where the public fears AI and automation rather than leveraging these tools for breakthrough solutions.

Dan Price details his own background as a product of affirmative action, entering Yale Law School via a minority scholarship and relying on his father's advice to "outwork" peers who had more resources.
Price observes that while DEI initiatives often alienated straight white men, the narrative must evolve to show that exclusion harms the broader economy by limiting the pool of talent.
Marla Carter credits her mentor, John Hedden, with placing her in a "punishment assignment" at Capital One, publicly backing her to the CEO when others attempted to bypass her authority.
Dan Price credits his sixth-grade teacher, Ms. Ollie Curry, for recognizing his ability to draw and write despite his speech impediment, assigning him tasks that eventually led to a national competition appearance in Washington, D.C.

The Milken Institute is launching the "Center for Advancing the American Dream," aiming to film 10,000 individual stories to highlight the mentorship figures who catalyzed success.
The panel posits that we are witnessing the emergence of a "new human civilization" where political arrangements, ecological realities, and technological integration (including space travel) will redefine the next 100 years.
Price states that "breakdowns can become breakthroughs" if community groups are given early access to technology tools like AI.
The speakers urge the audience to identify their own mentors and thank them, framing individual belief as the "touchstone" for future resilience and success.