According to a 2008 study for the Center for Philanthropy at Indiana University, millennials will likely become philanthropic as they come of age. But some members of this younger generation are not waiting.
The Kairos Society is a student-run nonprofit organization based in the United States. It was founded by Ankur Jain and its members are some of the most intelligent students from the world’s top universities. They center their studies – and their lives – on the idea that they can "Do Well by Doing Good."
Each year, 100 of these future business leaders and philanthropists meet for the Kairos Global Summit. At this year’s summit held earlier this week, they formed partnerships with current business leaders to brainstorm solutions for myriad social issues.
Intelius – a company that empowers consumers with knowledge about personal safety – honored student startup companies at the summit that upheld the society’s motto and proved to have a positive impact on their communities.
Ankur’s father, Intelius CEO Naveen Jain said, "Intelius is committed to fostering and supporting the entrepreneurial growth of tomorrow’s leaders." Naveen Jain says the Intelius Entrepreneurship Awards honor "ground-breaking ideas" and new companies that creatively help improve the world. Students were recognized for startups that held promise with respect to social impact, technology, marketing and sustainability.
Former Kairos Society member, Bill Clinton, believes the Intelius Entrepreneurship Award winners demonstrate that students are connected to social issues in ways they never have been before. He said, "today’s generations of young entrepreneurs possess more power to change the course of our future than any previous generation."
While tech company Intelius encourages students who show promise in the realm of socially conscious business, another tech leader is giving a lecture tour to inspire other college kids to take up the mantle of philanthropy. Bill Gates recently spoke at several California universities advising students to consider how they can direct their studies toward improving the lives of others.