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Blair Smith

Senior Director, Milken Institute Finance
Blair Smith is senior director at Milken Institute Finance, with more than 20 years of financial services and capital markets experience. He leads the Access to Capital and strategic innovative financing initiatives to enhance economic and social impact.

Philanthropy Leadership Collective

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Milken Institute Philanthropy has established the Philanthropy Leadership Collective (PLC), a collection of active learning communities that emphasize peer engagement and create a forum for sustained funder connections. The PLC convenes affinity groups for leaders who share specific interest areas or preferences for funding models, combining strengths and resources to achieve a vision of a better world.

Participating funders can mobilize talent, technology, and resources to maximize the impact of their own projects. Members of PLC affinity groups convene virtually and at Milken Institute flagship events, including Global Conference, the Future of Health Summit, and other regional summits and convenings.

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Innovation Prize Programs

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Milken Institute Innovation Prizes offer exciting and effective tools for partners interested in sourcing or scaling innovative solutions. As a think tank and research institute, the Milken Institute approaches each unique prize as an important opportunity to landscape a given field, incentivize new ideas and innovators, create and analyze data, and prime new markets and entrepreneurs for success. From seed money and achievement awards to large-scale global competitions, we tailor competitions and awards to maximize the impact and goals of our partners. Through its exceptional research capacity, convening power, expertise, and global network of experts and investors, the Milken Institute is well-positioned to execute each prize cycle stage. 

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A smiling light-skinned woman named Sarah ElShafie with shoulder-length brunette hair, wearing a black sweater with a long red necklace, and standing in a room with dark wood details.

Sara ElShafie, PhD

Senior Associate, Environmental and Social Innovation team, Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy
Sara ElShafie, PhD, is a senior associate on the Environmental and Social Innovation team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. Serving its Social Innovation portfolio as a global climate specialist, ElShafie helps to build climate and environmental philanthropic initiatives.

Changemakers

What is the power of philanthropy to disrupt the biomedical innovation ecosystem? That is a question that will be tested by the members of our new advisory group, which brings together the chief executives of 22 leading nonprofit, patient...
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FasterCures Business Council

The FasterCures Business Council brings together leaders committed to FasterCures’ mission to speed treatments and cures. Given the leadership and expertise that they have demonstrated across the health landscape, members have the...
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Feeding Change Business Council

Feeding Change Business Council members are pivotal to moving forward our mission of catalyzing a more nutritious, sustainable, resilient, and equitable food system. Members provide critical insights through high visibility thought...
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