Ask Mike

Thanks to everyone who asked me a question about how Bloomberg Philanthropies is making a difference in the arts, education, the environment, government innovation, and public health, and what we're working on at Bloomberg . By supporting the most innovative ideas in cities around the world, we can make a global impact.

How do you and your company evaluate potential organizations to support? - Gera O.

The mission of Bloomberg Philanthropies is to help the greatest number of people live longer, better lives. We often start by identifying unmet needs that have been overlooked or underfunded – and strong partners who are thinking imaginatively about new ways to tackle difficult challenges. Governments can be understandably reluctant to fund innovative ideas, because of the risks involved. That’s where philanthropy can come in. We take on the risk of experimentation, and if successful, governments can take the programs over – and we can help them spread to more places.

Who inspired you, and how has giving so much impacted your life overall? - A.J. Ali

The importance of helping others was something I learned from my parents. And after graduating from business school, I was lucky to work at a firm on Wall Street where giving back was expected. I brought those lessons with me when I started Bloomberg , and service has been an important part of our culture from the beginning. Our company gives nearly all its profits to philanthropy, something not a lot of other companies can say.

There is nothing more rewarding than giving. It’s incredibly inspiring to see people and organizations doing life-saving and groundbreaking work, and to feel a sense of contributing to their success. There are many ways to give, including time. One of the best decisions I ever made was to step away from running the company to run for mayor. Getting the chance to help bring New York City back from the 9/11 attacks, and to take on big challenges – from overhauling the public school system to fighting poverty in new ways – was an honor I’ll always be grateful for.   

I’m particularly curious about the organization’s approach to tackling climate change through partnerships with cities and local governments. - Valentyna Danyliuk

By 2050, nearly 70 percent of the world’s population will live in cities, which account for most of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. So, fighting climate change successfully requires empowering cities, and that’s a big part of what Bloomberg Philanthropies works to do. We support mayors as well as a variety of city networks – like C40 Cities and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) – that help spread proven solutions.

A lot of media coverage focuses on Washington, D.C. and other national governments, but cities and local leaders are playing an increasingly big role on climate issues. And that’s encouraging, because mayors tend to be less ideologically driven and more pragmatic than national legislators. To be successful, mayors have to be problem-solvers, not firebrands – so they’re natural partners for us.

Thanks to everyone who shared such thoughtful questions. I enjoyed reading them all and learning more about the causes that matter most to you.

Until next year,

Mike