From Code To Cash: Stack Overflow Co-Founder Jeff Atwood's Unorthodox Path To Philanthropy

Forbes

25-04-2025

Jeff Atwood's Purpose-Driven Wealth, Why Tech Entrepreneur Jeff Atwood is Giving Away More than $50 Million
Jeff Atwood, known for co-founding Stack Overflow, has recently taken a bold step in philanthropy by committing to give away half his wealth within five years. In this conversation, we discuss his motivations, his call to other business leaders to utilize their resources toward solving pressing societal problems and his unique approach to community-centered giving.
Nyandoro: What motivated you to commit to giving away half your wealth within five years?
Atwood: You come into a lot of money suddenly, and it's like you've won the lottery. I had to think a lot about, 'what is the purpose of money?' Why do we have money, and how much money is enough? The more I looked at it, the more I thought the money should be actually out there working to make the world better in some form. I didn't see the purpose of holding on to a bunch of wealth if it's not doing anything.
Nyandoro: How did you begin executing on your philanthropic commitment?
Atwood: We started with immediate one million dollar donations to areas of most need and made diverse bets on different strategies. Then came the longer-term plan—how do we fix this more systemically, rather than just relying on generosity? I believe in generosity, but we also need to eventually codify it into law.
Nyandoro: What inspired your focus on guaranteed income?
Atwood: I kept coming back to universal basic income. The data from Open Research and GiveDirectly was really compelling. When you give people money, the outcomes are really good. It helped a lot of people very directly. I was especially struck that people in deep poverty often shared the money with others—this kind of generosity was incredible.
Nyandoro: Can you share more about your planned guaranteed income experiments?
Atwood: We're using $50 million of my family's wealth for guaranteed income studies in counties where my parents are from—Beaufort County, NC, and Mercer County, WV—and are finalizing a third county. We're working with members of the community directly, including churches and veterans' organizations. This isn't about setting up new power structures.
Nyandoro: Was there a pivotal moment or experience that led you to focus on guaranteed income?
Atwood: The data from direct cash assistance studies always stuck with me. My partner, Betsy, a biologist, helped evaluate the studies—they were solid. And that statistic from the OpenResearch study that 26% shared their cash? That was the moment. It validated everything. It's so simple—give people money and trust them.
Nyandoro: How do you respond to skepticism around guaranteed income?
Atwood: I rely on data. Let's talk about data, not opinions. And being around working people really helps you understand the realities. If you're isolated, you don't fully understand what people are going through. But personal stories plus data make a compelling case.
Nyandoro: What are your hopes for the future of guaranteed income?
Atwood: I want to run enough studies that we create an overwhelming amount of evidence that this works. Then the people get excited, they spread the word, and we—'we the people'—start making this happen together.
Nyandoro: How do you describe the impact of this work on individuals receiving guaranteed income?
Atwood: It's profound. People work hard and are generous. They just don't often experience open generosity themselves. Seeing people plan and use the money as a springboard—like in your Magnolia Mothers Trust—gives me so much hope and optimism.
Nyandoro: What shaped your philosophy of working with communities instead of over them when it comes to your giving?
Atwood: It goes back to my work on Stack Overflow—essentially Wikipedia for programmers in Q&A format. The community did all the work in answering those questions, while I coordinated facilitating. We signed a Creative Commons contract, ensuring the content remains freely available. And that's the same approach I take in my giving. I believe in collaborative, sustainable engagement where both sides benefit and are respected.
Nyandoro: Why do you think connection to community matters so much, especially when someone becomes wealthy?
Atwood: Community is a source of tremendous power. I've learned so much from people using our software and talking to Lyft drivers. Listening is hard, but worth it. The more wealth I amassed, the more disconnected I felt. That's why I make an effort to stay grounded—because without people, what do you have?
Nyandoro: Why do you think generosity and trust aren't built into our social safety nets?
Atwood: There's a long history—some great ideas in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence—but we haven't written down clearly what we're trying to do as a country. I'm steeped in Jeffersonian ideals and I believe in "we the people." Sustainable programs, like democracy or guaranteed income, require that we listen to and work with people.
Nyandoro: What do you think is missing from traditional philanthropy?
Atwood: Trust. If you start from a place of mistrust, you design guardrails and bureaucracy that actually hurt people. I prefer to start from trust. For example, I tip Lyft drivers in cash at the start of a ride—it's a gesture of trust and respect. That mindset carries over into my giving.