“This is the book you need to read at this moment in our world. Jim Bildner offers hard-won, practical advice on tackling the problems most of us assume are unsolvable in our lifetimes. The ingredient that must infuse all this work is hope, he insists, and when you put the book down, you’ll have a lot more of it.”
—Judy Woodruff, (Retired)
Former Anchor of PBS News Hour, Peabody Award winner, and
internationally acclaimed journalist
In a world full of seemingly endless challenges, one human characteristic separates those who only see the world’s flaws from those who see its potential for change—and that characteristic is hope.
Drawing on more than a decade as the CEO of Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK), one of the largest global venture-philanthropy foundations, and on the hard-won clarity that comes from profound personal loss, leader Jim Bildner provides a playbook on what it takes to turn hope into action, sharing inspiring stories of hope transforming lives and the ripple effect it can have on whole communities.
Grounded in real cases from hundreds of social enterprises reaching millions, Bildner weaves the psychology of optimism with intimate stories of individuals finding strength through vulnerability and lessons from social entrepreneurs changing the world.
A Matter of Hope is written for social entrepreneurs, funders, impact investors, nonprofit and philanthropic leaders and their boards, business leaders driving change, incubators and impact accelerators, faculty, and anyone who wants to make a difference in the world, in their community, and in their lives.
“As an entrepreneur, CEO, company builder, and investor, I am in awe over what Jim and his team at DRK have achieved. In this book, Jim describes their work and true achievements, and offers a crisp playlist for current and new entrepreneurs in building scalable and successful social impact enterprises.It’s a must read.”
— Tim Koogle, Former CEO and Chairman of Yahoo! Former Chairman and Investor in Method;
Chairman, Ripple Foods, OllyPBC
A Matter of Hope offers a blueprint for anyone determined to make a dent in our toughest problems—poverty, food insecurity, access to health and mental health care, education, climate adaptation, justice, and more—by:
Understanding the nature of the problem you are trying to solve.
Analyzing the ecosystem that surrounds the problem as well as the existing infrastructure.
Defining your end game early and sticking to it so you don’t chase distractions.
Developing your execution strategy: the right people, the right places, the right time.
Knowing who needs to ultimately adopt your solution to embed or institutionalize it, and have a plan—and partners —to do that.
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“Emily Dickinson was right that hope is the thing with feathers, but Jim is right that hope is the thing that we need right now. With this book, and with his unceasing wisdom, he is determined to keep hope alive.”
— David Shribman, Pulitzer Prize Winner
About Jim Bildner
Visionary leader and dedicated philanthropist Jim Bildner has lived an extraordinary life marked by success, adversity, transformation, loss, and unwavering hope. As CEO of DRK, one of the largest venture philanthropy firms in the world with offices in Boston and Menlo Park, The Hague in the Netherlands and Nairobi, Jim has seen first hand, through hundreds of investments in social enterprises - the power of human beings to make a difference in the world. As a frequent keynote speaker, Jim is a force for good in the venture philanthropy world. His concrete lessons revealed through candid reflections, inspiring anecdotes, and practical insights on how to overcome challenges has served as a beacon of hope for so many.
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK) is a global venture philanthropy firm that finds, funds, and supports early-stage social impact organizations solving the world’s biggest social and environmental problems.
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Jim has partnered with Worthy Books, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, to share these stories of hope with nonprofits, libraries, and underserved communities across the country.
