World Compassion Initiative (2014–2015)
In 2014 and 2015, Scott Cathcart collaborated with Dr. James Doty — founder and director of the Stanford University Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) — on the World Compassion Initiative, an ambitious effort to convene global leaders around compassion science and its application to leadership, policy, and institutional behavior. The initiative was conceived in advance of the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday as a moment to bring that work to a global stage.
The team assembled for the initiative reflected its ambition. A former Apple Worldwide Marketing Director and co-founder of West led development. Jack Dorsey and Ray Chambers — a philanthropist and humanitarian who was the World Health Organization Ambassador for Global Strategy — were engaged as near-collaborators. The initiative ultimately did not launch, but the work was real, the collaborators were serious, and the underlying mission — bringing rigorous compassion science into the mainstream of global leadership — remains as relevant today as it was then.
Sadly, Dr. Doty passed away in 2025. His work at Stanford CCARE and his broader commitment to compassion as a force for human flourishing remain an enduring influence.
Looking Forward
Scott’s work across Jamaica, Haiti, Iraq, and globally reflects a consistent disposition: when the need is real and the path forward is unclear, he gets involved. Current initiatives include the expansion of the Starlink school connectivity program to additional communities in Jamaica. This pillar is growing. More coming soon.
For charitable and philanthropic inquiries, contact Cathcart here.
To view Cathcart’s professional work as a frontier founder and operator, visit scottcathcart.com.