Reid Hoffman Quotes

We have a new generation of very rich people who want to do more with their money than buy a lot of expensive toys. They want to live meaningful lives.

You can invest in companies, you can help grow companies, you can be a venture capitalist - and be a philanthropist at the same time.

I tend to look at potential investments from the standpoint of whether it is a valuable contribution to society.

True philanthropy requires a disruptive mindset, innovative thinking and a philosophy driven by entrepreneurial insights and creative opportunities.

If we are able to allow people to earn a decent rate of return, with sufficient scale, we can all do well by doing good.

When I started teaching at Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2000, no field-based courses in strategic philanthropy existed.

I don't think I've got the expertise with which to nit-pick, and I freely admit that my motivation to support charities has been emotional, rather than as a result of being particularly well informed as to how the money is used.

I am convinced that only by applying the values of an entrepreneur to philanthropy will you ever be able to meet the needs of the greatest number of people.

If you get to think of sharing wealth with people who need it and the purposes that need it, it gives a very different sense of satisfaction. I think I can build an institution which is very unlike the Gates' foundation. Gates' foundation is totally project-driven, that will serve a specific purpose and then self-destruct.

I firmly believe that philanthropy is most effective and outcome-oriented when you ensure that your pledge actually gets spent.

Today's investors want to see a positive impact on society and the environment as well as solid financial returns.

I think it's the strength of the idea that's made Donors Choose work, not me. I mean, I'm determined, and I work hard, but so does everyone else.

We’re seeing that business models and philanthropic models are not mutually exclusive.

Emerging investors want to invest differently. They want to have their dollars - their investment dollars - do double duty.

In contemplating what to do with my life, I felt like I had two possible paths: one was to move to New York and work in a design house; the other was to move to Africa and deliver food aid. That's when the idea of the FEED bag came to me. It's for those who want to put their consumer dollars to good use.

Effective philanthropy requires a lot of time and creativity - the same kind of focus and skills that building a business requires.

The competition between me and Bill Gates, probably: Who can spend money more effectively that can do better philanthropy.

The business aspect and the social aspect of FEED go hand in hand. The more we can strengthen our business, the more we are able to give. And the more we can focus on giving back, the more customers will want to buy our products, thus strengthening our business.

I feel that business leaders with their ability to create businesses, with their ability to scale, need to play an important role in social service.

If everyone had a business model like Raven + Lily, I feel like the world would be an awesome place to live in.

I created FEED as a way to provide people with a tangible way to make an impact in the fight against hunger, with each purchase of a FEED product donating meals directly to children in need.

Parents realize their wealth should be used for social good rather than children's good.

Over the years, we have gone beyond our businesses to take up philanthropic projects in diverse areas - from education to health care to skilling.

My brother and I made a pact that every deal we do has to have a charitable component; otherwise, we don't do it.

My own service started when I was 12, with the small charity I launched with 12 friends. Twenty years later, millions have joined our ranks - educators, business leaders and prominent Canadians.