Every night, thousands of mothers and children sleep in cars parked outside Walmart, not by choice but because homeless shelters are full and safer options simply don't exist. While a wealthy couple down the street wonders why their charitable donations haven’t solved the problems they care about, and a builder struggles to create affordable housing due to rising costs, the real issue isn't a lack of will—it's how we allocate our resources.

In a powerful TED Talk, the speaker proposes a radical yet simple idea: what if we used philanthropy as zero-interest capital for large-scale builders, clean energy companies, and water utilities? By replacing the high cost of debt with philanthropic funds, companies could offer lower rents, generate clean power, and restore clean water to millions. This concept, called philanthropic private equity, leverages the scale and speed of major corporations to make tangible, immediate change where traditional giving falls short.

This approach challenges us to rethink how we do good, not just with heart, but with strategy. Instead of waiting for slow-moving systems to catch up, we can invest purposefully to unlock massive impact. Watch the full TED Talk to explore how philanthropy, when used differently, can be the most powerful tool for systemic change.