Google.org Reveals Its Plans for Philanthropy

Google.org has rolled out five core initiatives that will be the focus of its philanthropic efforts over the next five to ten years.

Google.org, the philanthropic arm of the Internet search engine 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 $US 25 million in new grants and investments to initial partners. The resources come from a commitment by Google’s founders to devote approximately 1% of the company’s equity plus 1% of annual profits to philanthropy, as well as employee time.

Google Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin say that they want to make Google an institution that makes the world a better place.

Dr. Larry Brilliant, executive director of Google.org says the five initiatives are an attempt to address some of the hard problems the world needs to face in the coming decade.

He says they have been chosen because solving them will make a better, fairer, safer world for our children and grandchildren – and the children and grandchildren of people all over the world – but also because these core initiatives fit well with Google’s core strengths, especially its innovative technologies and its talented engineers.

Google.org’s five initiatives include:

– Predict and Prevent
Google.org supports 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.

– Inform and Empower to Improve Public Services
Google.org works with partners to improve the flow of vital information to improve basic services for the poor in India and East Africa.

– Fuel the Growth of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Google.org supports efforts to lower transaction costs to invest in SMEs, create opportunities to access larger financial markets and make investments in this sector.

– Develop Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal (RE