For generations, philanthropy has funded ideas ahead of their time — from early kindergarten programs to breakthrough research that later became public goods. Today, it stands at a turning point: under political pressure, yet increasingly vital to expanding opportunity and supporting innovation.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Semafor will convene leading funders, innovators, and builders to explore how philanthropy can drive scalable solutions for workforce mobility and community resilience. How can technology make giving more effective? And how can catalytic investments today create lasting public impact for the next 250 years?