Doing good, the Silicon Valley way

Having changed “the way we shop, search for information, connect with friends, and consume entertainment,” Silicon Valley companies are now transforming another sector: philanthropy, said Alana Semuels in The Atlantic. Nonprofits in Northern California seeking support from “the millionaires in their backyards” have learned to tailor their pitches to the Valley’s entrepreneurs. To bring in donors, nonprofits have begun “using the language and mindsets of business, and focusing on metrics, data, and effectiveness, rather than the language of altruism and ethics.” One philanthropic group had competing projects face off for donors in a Shark Tank–style event, raising $2.7 million in 45 minutes.