Jacqueline Bouvier Copeland and Designing for Social Impact

Experience by Design

Dr. Jacqueline Copeland grew up in Philadelphia, which she describes as a city of neighborhoods. But, just because you have neighborhoods doesn’t mean that everyone is neighborly. From those early experiences of people watching and trying to understand the dynamics of Philly, she became interested in exploring new worlds and understanding different cultures. Anthropology and philanthropy then became her new home from which she could explore and have a greater impact.

We explore her work in philanthropy around the world, especially on the African continent, women in technology, and founding Black Philanthropy Month. She shares with us her passion for creating sustainable social justice movements, and why the social sciences are essential to building a better world. Some of her projects have included helping the Federal Reserve bank meet the capital financing needs of religious minorities, assisting corporate social responsibility efforts, and aiding in capacity building for grassroots social innovators.

Finally, she helps us to understand how we can get started in philanthropy, social innovation, and social movements through giving time, talent, or treasure (or all of the above).