John Cary

An architect by training, John Cary has devoted his career to expanding the practice of design for the public good. His writing on design, philanthropy, and fatherhood has appeared in the New York Times, on CNN.com, and in numerous other publications. John works as a philanthropic advisor to an array of foundations and nonprofits around the world, and he frequently curates and hosts events for TED, the Aspen Institute, and other entities.

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, John is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and the University of California, Berkeley. He is a fellow of the American Academy in Rome, a resident of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center, and a three-time commencement speaker, among other honors.

John lives in a cohousing community in Oakland, California, with his wife, author Courtney E. Martin, and their two daughters, Maya and Stella.