Speaker Bio

Capturing the Promise of Philanthropic Prizes: McKinsey & Company will present the findings of its recent research report "And the winner is ...": Capturing the Promise of Philanthropic Prizes. The report responds to the recent surge in interest in philanthropic prizes by examining their potential as instruments of philanthropy and by profiling current practices in their design and delivery, drawing lessons from the social, public, and private sectors. The session will discuss the recent renaissance in prizes, identify a number of ways in which they can be distinctive instruments for producing social benefit, and review interesting practices in their effective design and delivery. Finally, the session will discuss the potential future of prizes, and how philanthropists can invest to support it. Jonathan Bays is a consultant in McKinsey & Company’s Social Sector Office, which helps the world’s leading institutions address significant societal challenges. Based in New York, he specializes in philanthropy and economic development, working primarily with grantmakers and nonprofits on issues of strategy. His current research includes the potential of prizes as philanthropic instruments.

Before joining the Social Sector Office in 2005, Mr. Bays worked as a Policy Advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada. He was previously a consultant in McKinsey’s Toronto office.

Mr. Bays graduated from the University of Toronto with a B.A. and M.A. in history. He received his M. Phil and D. Phil in International Relations from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.