This week we’ve paired some harsh criticisms with some optimistic perspectives for the future – quite fitting with my overall attitude about the sector. Let’s take in the good with the bad:

• The American Red Cross needs to answer some tough questions. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is demanding answers from the Red Cross about how it spent half a billion dollars earmarked for Haiti relief, following an in-depth investigative report from ProPublica and NPR.
• Empathy is a choice. A recent article from The New York Times argues that we can choose to embrace empathy (or not). Now how do we act on this in our everyday lives? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
• Optimism from the UN Foundation. Did you know that From 1990-2015, more than 1 billion people moved out of extreme poverty? To learn more about how our world is improving, click here.
• Some tech entrepreneurs are taking a surprisingly old-fashioned approach to philanthropy. C’mon start-up community, where is that innovation we’ve come to expect from you?