Our First 100 Days
Building the Future of Philanthropy, Faster
When we kicked off Genara on January 27th, we were driven by a straightforward idea: how can we help more people in need, more quickly?
On a personal note – at a moment when so many people are hurting, and so many institutions are struggling to address their need, it feels really good to be building something that can help.
We firmly believe (and see it happening already!) that artificial intelligence is set to revolutionize the scale and speed at which philanthropy operates. Our focus has been on harnessing this power in practical ways that create real benefits for communities.
Starting a new company to address critical needs means you learn – a lot – as you go. Here are the three themes we are hearing from customers and leaders in the philanthropic space.
Actionable Data: Intel and analysis that shows helpers where the needs are right now has been a light in the darkness for our partners.
Time Creation: If we can simplify the complex process of making funding decisions, we give our partners back the only resource they can’t create – time. So far, this is a big win.
Do More With Less: For most of Genara’s existence, policy chaos and market revolt have ruled. That means foundations and high-net worth individuals are focused on leveraging what they have to the fullest extent. This mindset has focused our efforts to augment the impact of traditional foundation organizational structures and help HNW individuals analyze and act as if they had the power of a full-time team at their disposal.
What We’ve Built & Achieved in Our First 100 Days
Fueled by our conviction that AI can act as a powerful development engine for good, we’ve hit the ground running. Here’s a snapshot:
Insights Platform (live). More than 200 indicators covering health, education, environment, and overall well‑being now give funders a detailed view of local conditions and urgent needs.
Focused datasets delivered at speed.
Federal layoffs. In seven days we produced the first large‑scale analysis of how potential federal workforce reductions could affect 25 metropolitan areas—an estimated $17.8 billion economic risk, down to the ZIP‑code level.
Tariff impacts. We followed with a city‑by‑city look at the economic effects of new tariffs, highlighting the industries and regions facing the greatest pressure.
Strategy Agent (v1). Our first product helps organizations turn data into actionable plans, starting with communities most exposed to federal budget cuts.
First customer on board. A national advocacy network is piloting Genara’s platform to speed up the support it provides to partners.
Coalition building. We are connecting with a growing circle of institutions and individuals who see the same opportunity to modernize philanthropy.
We have achieved this with a small, AI‑native team that uses technology as a force multiplier – keeping overhead low so more resources reach the people who need them.
What’s Next on the Horizon: Our Next 100 Days and Beyond
Our first 100 days were about building the engine and proving what’s possible. Here’s what is next:
Measuring the impact of the AI transition on communities.
Quantifying the impacts of federal funding cuts on education and health initiatives.
Releasing response tools for first-responders and emergency managers for hurricanes.
Exploring the challenges to civic engagement and voter turnout in the '26 and '28 elections.
Expanding our network of like-minded organizations who are focused on meeting immediate needs.
Working with large national philanthropies to move money quickly and effectively to mitigate impacts in communities due to these unprecedented challenges.
Join Us in Shaping the Future
This journey is just beginning. Our next phase of growth is all about finding strategic partners who are as passionate as we are about transforming philanthropy for the better. We are committed to stabilizing American democracy through targeted giving, with an ambitious goal of keeping 20 million Americans out of long-term poverty.
We love doing this, and we feel so grateful to be building something that helps. Do you know someone working in philanthropy and crisis response? Send this to the helpers in your network and urge them to be in touch – our impact grows as our community expands.
