Alumni Gift Launches Pioneering “Bowdoin Innovators Group”

Because Open AI is a privately held company, explained David, his assets are not liquid, meaning he can't simply turn them into cash whenever he wants-he is only able to sell his stock during certain times, or "windows," when sales agreements are made.

It is somewhat complicated, he admitted, but the bottom line is that this gift, which is unrestricted, is good news for the various programs run by Bowdoin, whether financial aid, academics, student development, or any other fund.

The College's share of the gift at the moment is worth around $200,000, said David, although greater sums are likely to come in the future as he gets further opportunities to sell off more of his stock.

The Liberal Arts in Tech
David, who majored in anthropology, and English major Charlotte are both passionate about bringing their liberal arts perspective to the tech world.

"The liberal arts education we received at Bowdoin deeply influenced the careers we've had in technology, which some folks might find surprising," they said. "We believe there's a need for more of that liberal arts perspective in the tech world. It has a lot to offer in terms of helping the industry do a better job of ameliorating the harms that it creates. If people making decisions had liberal arts degrees, things might not be going so poorly."

The Willners began their careers at Facebook, helping shape the company's content policy and safety standards in its early years. David now runs Zentropi, an AI platform he cofounded that develops content moderation tools, while Charlotte is executive director at the Trust and Safety Professional Association, a forum for professionals that helps develop policies for online behavior and content.

Thinking BIG
"The Willners' generous commitment to BIG is just one of the many examples of their dedication to the Common Good," said Martinez. "I am hopeful that David and Charlotte's generosity will inspire others to become members of BIG and help future generations of Polar Bears to thrive."

Bowdoin is one of only a few colleges and universities to initiate a program like BIG, she added.