It’s that time of year again! ❄️ This year’s Stanford PACS winter reading, watching, and listening recommendations come from our new Faculty Affiliates, offering a wide range of options for learning and inspiration, as well as joy and entertainment. 📚 🖥️ 🎧 Explore the list and happy holidays! ✨

What SSIR stories stuck a chord around the world this year? Our local-language partners in Brazil, Korea, China, Japan, and Latin America shared the social innovation topics and articles that were most resonant for their readers this year:

"The capacity to interpret, to disagree, and to withhold judgment is essential to any pluralistic society. But the consequences reach beyond cognition. When systems reward simulation over understanding, meaning begins to erode, and when meaning collapses, so does the self."

New research led by Faculty Affiliate @mbernst.bsky.social, former Postdoctoral Fellow @jiachenyan.bsky.social, and fellow scholars sheds light on the role of social media algorithms in driving political polarization and outlines new paths forward for both social media users and researchers.

"Given the dramatic contraction of Big Aid, we need market-based solutions more than ever, and it’s a really bad time for impact investing to be failing us. Luckily, I have a solution to the myriad disappointments of impact investing: Get rid of it." New from @mulagostarr.bsky.social:

In honor of #HumanRightsDay, Caitlin Heising, Vice Chair of the Board at @heisingsimonsfdn.bsky.social, board member for @hrw.org, and advisory board member for Stanford PACS, shares her approach to advocating for and investing in #HumanRights protections in the U.S.

CASBS study dedicated in honor of Woody Powell About 100 people gathered here recently to celebrate Woody Powell. Because he has been who he is for about 15 years of his career here, he has achieved certifiable super-community member status. He bleeds CASBS red. casbs.stanford.edu/news/woodys-...

🗳️ How do lessons from 2024 shape what to expect in 2026? On Dec. 4, Nate Persily joined CDDRL to break down what went right, what went wrong, and why election administration remains a critical vulnerability for U.S. democracy. https://ow.ly/Ob0K50XE89z

For 60 years, USAID’s memory lived in PDFs. The agency commissioned over 100,000 evaluations, stacking up tens of millions of pages. But the system was human-bounded by three limits that defined it: - Cognitive load - Timing - Incentives So what do you find when you can finally read everything?

Stanford PACS Faculty Affiliate @susanathey.bsky.social shared takeaways from her research with @gsbsilab.bsky.social on how small changes to charitable asks at checkout in an online store can have a big impact. Learn more via Stanford GSB ⤵️

A recent paper co-authored by former Senior Research Fellow Luke Hewitt considers the potential impacts of advanced #AI systems on #democracy, including implications for the information ecosystem, functioning of elections, and the health and strength of foundational democratic principles. ⤵️

Where should pro-democracy forces focus their efforts? How can they distinguish causation from correlation? This new article examines potential leading indicators of democratic backsliding across five elements that scholars agree impact democratic health. THREAD

Stanford PACS Executive Director Priya Shanker spoke with @vox.com about MacKenzie Scott's approach to #giving and the value of #TrustBasedPhilanthropy.

Our newest voters (18-year-olds) will graduate from from high school in a few short months. If we want them using their voices in the 2026 midterms, the time to register them is now. Read more in our cover story, out now! ssir.org/articles/ent... @ssir.org

Today is the day! 🥳  Share your story with #GivingTuesday and tag us so we can show you some love. Grab any last-minute resources at GivingTuesday.org/Participate ❤️

Public health is profoundly informed and shaped by the diverse array of civic data that captures the life and well-being in communities. But data isn’t neutral or objective. In fact, it’s often rooted in structural racism, patriarchy, and other systems of oppression.

Thank you to @myra.bsky.social for her recent insightful presentation on how sycophantic AI can reduce people’s willingness to take responsibility and repair interpersonal conflicts! @robbwiller.bsky.social

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new Faculty Affiliates program! Our 2025-26 cohort brings together more than 30 affiliated faculty members, representing disciplines from all 7 schools across campus, who are leading research related to #philanthropy, #CivilSociety or #SocialInnovation.

"A good mission statement performs a similar function to the role the US Constitution plays (on a good day) for the American government: It helps to keep an organization grounded and offers an important reference point for resolving conflicts about vision and direction."

Thank you to Kasey Rhee for an exciting recent presentation on her work analyzing how party registration has shifted across demographic groups using an unprecedented dataset of six billion voter records! @robbwiller.bsky.social

Today, I have an article in @SSIR.org on lessons from our first decade, including: (1) The importance of choosing causes (2) Field-building pays off hugely (3) Great philanthropy is possible anywhere on the risk spectrum (4) Balancing maximization and moderation is hard 🧵 ssir.org/articles/en...

Where exactly are we in terms of civil liberties in the United States? We spoke with the leaders of the @aclu.org, who went deep on their battles with the Trump administration, how they are prioritizing issues, the Supreme Court, and implications for civil society.

Had the pleasure of returning to @hiddenbrain.bsky.social for a follow-up convo with Shankar Vendantam (I’m on in the second half!). I answer questions about how to talk across divides, what to do with people who seem awful, and when to walk away. Check it out 👇 www.hiddenbrain.org/podcast/why-...

To mark this year's #NationalPhilanthropyDay, Kathryn Zekus of Next Legacy shares insights from leading members of the Next Legacy and Stanford PACS communities on how funders can use their time, talent, treasure, and ties to uplift local #nonprofits and strengthen communities.

Join us TODAY at 5PM PT!

Thank you to @joshcjackson.bsky.social and Dan Medvedev for a fascinating recent lab presentation on how attitudes toward the rich vary globally! Innovative methods and fascinating findings, all around. @robbwiller.bsky.social

A new excerpt of my new book on adapting to climate change, Sink or Swim, is now up on @ssir.org celebrating the North American launch this week! @bloomsburybooksus.bsky.social ssir.org/books/excerp...

"As a city leader, I care about people in my community who are experiencing homelessness, but I’m frustrated that we keep being told the only solution is putting more money into the same system. We need to be able to show that this spending works or we will lose residents’ trust."

Stanford PACS Faculty Co-Director Patricia Bromley joined the Stanford Initiative on Business and Environmental Sustainability podcast to discuss this year’s Civil Society and Sustainability Conference, hosted at Stanford in March. Listen to the conversation ⤵️ #CivilSociety #Sustainability

In 2018, a group of funders established Farmed Animal Funders to accelerate progress toward a more humane, sustainable food system. It offers a case study for philanthropists and advocates working on other new, underfunded causes on how to coordinate effectively to create wide-ranging impact.

"Women’s generative AI hesitancy is rooted in rationality, not hysteria. It is not risk aversion. It is risk awareness."

Since 2010, @johannamair.bsky.social has served as @ssir.org’s academic editor. As she prepares to take on a new role as the director of @eui-stg.bsky.social, she sat down with the team to reflect on her time at #SSIR, the evolution of the field of #SocialInnovation, and what’s next.

Following our Beyond the Summit Salon on Strengthening Democracy, Stanford PACS Advisory Board Chair Jeff Raikes and Executive Director Priya Shanker share their takeaways on the unique role of #philanthropy in advancing a shared vision for a #democracy that protects the rights of all people.

"For years, I overextended myself in the name of purpose. I felt an unspoken pressure to keep going no matter the cost, to hold everything together because the stakes felt so high..." An excerpt from The Future Is Collective by Niloufar Khonsari, with a new, original introduction from the author:

"I’ve been here before, having spent decades watching development institutions try and fail to catch up with tech. As the same story unfolds, this time, we have to rewrite the script: AI offers a path to do more with less, if we invest in the infrastructure that will make it work for everyone."

📌 Take That for Data: Decoding Identity, Sport, and Technology Join us on November 12 for a lecture and Q&A with Dr. Courtney M. Cox (@courtmcox.bsky.social) of the University of Oregon, as our Technology, Culture, and Power Speaker Series continues! 🔗 events.stanford.edu/event/techno...

"Whether rooted in science or metaphysics, people throughout history have often held a belief that hidden patterns beneath everyday life set the world’s course, and that revealing those patterns can unlock flourishing and prosperity."

On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Ajay Piramal details the Piramal Foundation’s efforts to partner with government and civil society to not only #EndPoverty but prepare for what comes after: ensuring that people can flourish with #dignity and #agency.

Congratulations to Johanna Mair (@johannamair.bsky.social), who has been awarded a 2025 Progress Medal from the Society of Progress for her groundbreaking research on social entrepreneurship! 🎉

Millions use #GenerativeAI chatbots for emotional support, yet little research re: whether AI dialogues can improve psychological well-being We test whether brief, structured dialogues grounded in psych research can reliably help WP👉 osf.io/preprints/ps...

Congratulations to @johannamair.bsky.social, who has been appointed as the new director of the Florence School of Transnational Governance (@eui-stg.bsky.social) at the European University Institute (@eui-eu.bsky.social)!

Philanthropy advisor Ben Klasky sees donors hit four common roadblocks to giving: 1. Option paralysis 2. A less streamlined marketplace 3. Reputational risk 4. It's work Luckily, there are ways to overcome each of these hurdles.

The Technology, Culture, and Power Speaker Series returns next week! Join us and the Department of Communication on Thursday, Oct. 9 for a lecture and Q&A on “Open Worlds and the Constitutive Outsides of Artificial Intelligence,” featuring Lucy Suchman, Professor Emerita at Lancaster University.

"It didn’t just give me answers, it taught me to ask better questions." We spoke with M’Chelene Shull, Executive Director of the Lee H. & Marion B. Thompson Foundation, about what she gained through our Education for #Philanthropy Professionals program. Read the interview:

Explore recent research from PhD Fellow alum Minju Choi, Faculty Co-Director Patricia Bromley, and co-authors 👇

Final days to apply for our Fall EPP! Apply by Wednesday, October 1 for our Education for Philanthropy Professionals program to earn your Stanford PACS Certificate of Effective Philanthropy. Explore our full list of course topics and speakers, and apply now to join us! 🔗 stanford.io/3l4C2ma

Many wise insights from Gov Spencer Cox & @ezraklein.bsky.social Gov Cox rightly notes his 2020 video w Chris Peterson was among most impactful in Strengthening Democracy Challenge, a striking example of cross-party engagement. Grateful for their commitment. Hear it: 👇 youtu.be/WJB87niNCk0

How can nonprofits and funders maximize the effectiveness of litigation? "The takeaway here is *both-and*: Fund the best legal teams to develop the best legal theories and pursue litigation where necessary. But don’t only do that part of the puzzle."

Two weeks left to apply! 🙋🏽 Our Education for Philanthropy Professionals course enables you to dig in on principles, strategy and trends to sharpen your practice and refresh your thinking. Learn more and apply now to earn your Certificate of Effective #Philanthropy this fall! 🔗 stanford.io/3l4C2ma

Should RCTs be the gold standard of impact measurement? SSIR’s Aaron Bady speaks w/ Nicole P. Marwell and Jennifer E. Mosley about their new article, “The Nonprofit Sector Has an RCT Problem.” Join us tomorrow at 10 a.m. PT! ssir.org/live-rct-conversation