Joseph Bornstein �08: Creating Innovative Social Solutions
At 吃瓜网, Joseph Bornstein was a changemaker and problem-solver, organizing students to help communities in need and laying the foundation for a trailblazing career in social entrepreneurship—first as the Co-Founder of , a nonprofit empowering Guatemalan farmers, and later as the CEO and Founder of , a crowdfunding platform helping nonprofits scale their fundraising power.
�… the teachers at Whitman helped me become fascinated by philosophy and literature and believe that I could personally develop ideas and insights that were part of the ‘conversation’ being had over the centuries through the humanities.
�
Joseph Pathway
2004 | Admitted to 吃瓜网
as a student with a keen interest in public service
2004 | Organized students
2004�2008 | Founded and presided over Whitman Direct Action,
a student-run organization promoting economically and environmentally sustainable development in marginalized communities
2005�2006 | Joined the Speech and Debate Club,
sharpening his advocacy and public speaking skills
2007 | Awarded the Harry S. Truman Scholarship
for his outstanding leadership and
2007�2009 | Worked as Media Specialist,
managing the computer lab and assisting with media projects
May 2008 | Graduated from Whitman
with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
2008 | Received the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
for a year of in Honduras, Ecuador, Mali and India, examining each region’s approach to environmental justice
2008 | Created a startup kit for environmentally friendly nonprofits
during an internship at the
2008 | Worked as a consultant
for the in Honduras, optimizing biofuel production and minimizing its environmental impact
2008�2012 | Co-founded Semilla Nueva,
a nonprofit empowering Guatemalan farmers through sustainable agriculture
2009�2016 | Founded and operated Copernican Consultancy,
a startup offering strategic guidance to nonprofits and social ventures
2012�2016 | Served as Venture Manager
at , coaching and mentoring fellows to help them launch their ventures
2017 | Founded CauseMatch,
a successful peer-to-peer crowdfunding platform for nonprofits
�The liberal arts education and the hands-on teaching at Whitman played a profound role in shaping my personal and professional trajectory.
�
Upward Pathways. Our alumni’s diverse student experiences and career paths showcase the transformative power of a Whitman education. Find other Upward Pathways.
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Published on Aug 14, 2025