Moderator:
Glenn Yago, Executive Director, Financial Research, Milken Institute

Despite decades of government aid and charitable giving, economic growth in frontier markets remains stagnant. How can we change this picture? From credit enhancements to advance market commitments, donors are looking for new, innovative tools to encourage more effective and predictable aid flows. Market-based approaches that align the interests of donors, local governments and the private sector are becoming increasingly popular in the philanthropic world. Traditional up-front grant-making is increasingly being supplemented (or even supplanted) by the use of "pull mechanisms," in which donors provide funding only after specified outcomes are achieved. The panel will discuss models that incentivize investment in developing countries to promote entrepreneurship and support sustainable economic growth.

The theme of impact investing runs through many panels at the Global Conference as well as through the broader work of the Milken Institute. We believe that new asset classes and investment instruments can yield financial returns while solving social and environmental problems at the same time. Public funding and philanthropic initiatives cannot bridge the capital gap needed to address poverty alleviation, sustainable energy, environmental conservation, water, education and global health. But market-based solutions offer new hope through a fresh approach. How can we complement traditional and limited grant-based funding with capital market mechanisms on a greater scale? How can impact investors evaluate these emerging financial products and processes, and measure results in the field? What lessons can be learned from recently launched experiments? This private dinner session will feature a lively discussion with pioneers and thought leaders in this sector, including representatives from public and private foundations, institutional investors, philanthropists and researchers. This is a unique opportunity to explore the issues surrounding social finance and impact investing with the people who can turn ideas into action.

Interviewer:
Michael Milken, Chairman, Milken Institute

Moderator:
Carole Brookins, Managing Director, Public Capital Advisors

The price of wheat has surged to its highest level since the summer of 2008. And that's not all: Prices for rice, corn, soybeans, sugar and coffee are also soaring, creating a tremendous burden on the poorest households worldwide. Protests and riots have already broken out in Algeria, Jordan, Egypt and India. Here in the U.S., consumer prices are only ticking up, and companies are struggling to adjust to higher raw material costs. Whether the price hikes are due to a catastrophic string of floods and droughts that damaged harvests or to rising energy costs and speculation, one thing is clear: Their impact on food insecurity around the world is significant. How can communities overcome the burden of price increases? Will world governments respond by hoarding food stocks and banning exports, exacerbating shortages? What role can agricultural firms and commodities markets play? As individuals and families face hunger in the midst of the economic downturn, how can corporations and philanthropies bridge the gap to meet their immediate needs as well as addressing longer-term solutions? How can we smooth the flow of funding and aid in light of the price spikes? This panel will take a look at the ongoing solutions needed to feed the world.

Moderator:
Paul Irving, Senior Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Milken Institute

In the last several years, we've seen some extraordinarily innovative nonprofits make an enormous impact in the global community. With a laser focus and growth that's powered by social media, these agents of change were, by and large, formed by a single person or a small team responding to a specific need with a global solution. These digital leaders are entrepreneurial in style, they inspire others to join their cause and they approach their mission with passion and leadership. Pioneers in the new age of philanthropy, they are the next generation that will shape the global conversation, impact millions of lives and change history.

Moderator:
Frank Sesno, Director, School of Media and Public Affairs, The George Washington University; Creator and Host, "Planet Forward"

The global health community has pulled off a series of miracles: We are on the brink of eradicating polio; maternal deaths have dropped significantly for the first time in decades; and AIDS patients around the world are receiving life-saving treatment. Millions of mothers and children are alive today because of investments in global health. But progress is fragile, and we've yet to erase the major disparities between rich and poor countries. Vaccines and other proven, effective solutions exist, but are not always deployed to save children in developing nations. Aid from the U.S. and other developed countries has been crucial to making strides forward - but how can we ensure that critical health interventions reach those who need them most when governments around the world face tough decisions about how to reduce spending? From bed nets that ward off malaria to targeted vaccine campaigns, what are the initiatives that would produce the greatest results? How can we expand the private sector's engagement?

Moderator:
Michael Milken, Chairman, Milken Institute

Successful entrepreneurs revolutionize the economy by building companies, launching innovations and creating jobs. When they turn to philanthropy, they often utilize the same kind of inventive approach - and they expect to accelerate solutions. Many philanthropists see their role as filling in the gaps left by government and by the workings of the economic system. And today, with jobs in short supply and government budgets feeling the squeeze, their role is more crucial than ever. Join a panel of philanthropists as they discuss meaningful and tangible ways to advance human welfare by promoting economic growth and bringing more people into economic participation.

Moderator:
Betsy Zeidman, Senior Fellow, Milken Institute; Director, Compass Program, Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights

Impact investors believe it's possible to solve social or environmental challenges while generating sustainable returns. Long-term investors, in particular, consider such factors as climate change, workforce policies and economic conditions to be an essential part of effective risk management. These impact investors vary in size (from small funds to large institutions), in sector (from private capital to public agencies) and in approach (from exercising ownership to restructuring government funding). But they all recognize that investments can produce benefits or costs beyond the targeted financial returns, and that investors and society alike are better off when investment decisions include these multiple factors.

Moderator:
Timothy Lappen, Founder and Chairman, Family Office Group, Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP

It's a tale of two recoveries: Many leading philanthropists have not only weathered the storm, but some are even in a position to increase their allocations. But the need is greater than ever as the aftermath of the recession drags on. With federal, state and local budgets being slashed, philanthropists are stepping into the gap. Their funding can make all the difference in maintaining critical services that address a range of issues, from education and housing to hunger and health. But are charities and foundations now facing unrealistic expectations that they can replace the safety net? When so many needs - both international and domestic - are crying out to be met, how do you narrow down your focus and find the cause that really speaks to you? Is there a way to leverage your professional expertise to make your philanthropy more effective? What approaches really assure donors of accountability and outcomes? How much personal involvement is practical, and how much depends on building the right team of experts to execute your vision? What are the legal, personal and practical challenges of formalizing philanthropic giving? How will pending changes in tax law impact future contributions?