Philanthropist and Board Chair Sally Liu Shares Her Own Story: Why She Supports the Pacific Institute’s New Strategy and How You Can, Too
Key Takeaways:
- Board Chair Sally Liu recently announced a generous $1 million contribution to jumpstart a funding campaign to expand the Pacific Institute’s impact through 2030.
- The Pacific Institute has influenced critical policy shifts locally, nationally, and globally, including the UN’s Human Right to Water.
- By 2030, the Pacific Institute’s goal is to catalyze the transformation to water resilience, and we’re currently catalyzing action in 100 of the world’s most water-stressed regions.
- This Giving Tuesday, when you support the Pacific Institute, you are directly investing in solutions for lasting, positive change in global water security.
In the conversation below, philanthropist Sally Liu, Chair of the Pacific Institute Board of Directors, discusses why now is the time she chose to step up her support of the Pacific Institute’s mission. She specifically discusses how her recent $1 million contribution will help jumpstart a funding campaign to expand the Pacific Institute’s impact through 2030. Guiding the conversation is Sumbul Mashhadi, Manager of Multimedia Content and Impact Communications.
Sumbul: Sally, what prompted your recent $1 million contribution to the Pacific Institute?
Sally: Water is simply one of the most critical issues of our time. It’s a precious resource, and it is in crisis around the world. Now, we’re seeing in real-time how climate change is only intensifying these challenges. Things must change.
At this particular moment in time, it’s clear to me that the Pacific Institute’s new strategic plan will be transformative. My gift is an investment in the future, not only to support the plan’s ambitious goals but also to encourage others to join me in supporting this critical effort. This work requires us all to step up. I hope my contribution helps set the stage for that.
And on a personal level, I have a great desire to honor my father, Chin-shu Liu, who passed away last year and was the inspiration for my own professional career in water. He was a water resources engineer at New York State’s DEC. I have been thinking for several years how I wanted to honor his legacy. And what could have greater impact than to ensure that more people can have clean water and that we can ensure there is water for nature? This gift to the Pacific Institute, which is at the epicenter of water solutions, will drive meaningful change.
Sumbul: Why is this the right time to support the Pacific Institute’s mission?
Sally: We simply don’t have any time to waste. We are at a turning point. When you watch the news or look around your own community, you can tangibly see how climate change is intensifying the water crisis. Historic floods ravage some communities, while historic droughts threaten human health, livelihoods, and nature in others.
To put some numbers on it, more than 2 billion people still don’t have access to clear water. And, worldwide, the cost of water insecurity to the global economy is estimated at US$500 billion a year. In my mind, these are numbers that must cause us to act—and act swiftly. Urgent action is needed to build water resilience so that all people, including those on the frontlines, can thrive.
The time is also now because of the few years remaining until 2030. The Pacific Institute has adopted a bold organizational goal: to catalyze the transformation to water resilience in the face of climate change by 2030. At this critical moment in time, the Pacific Institute’s strategic plan focuses on pathways to ensure the most powerful and viable solutions are implemented and rapidly scaled on the ground.
It’s not only the right time, but also the right organization. As a nonpartisan organization, the Pacific Institute is trusted by policymakers, businesses, communities, and other partners because of its longstanding reputation for evidence-based research on water issues.
So, in my mind, it’s both the right time and the right organization to invest in solutions that will have lasting impacts for water resilience.
Sumbul: How does the Pacific Institute stand out in the water resilience space?
Sally: What really strikes me is the role the Pacific Institute has played in defining what water resilience actually means. Ten years ago, almost no one was talking about “water resilience,” let alone defining it and proposing multisector solutions to build it.
The Pacific Institute has taken a global leadership role in advancing one of the earliest definitions that has now been widely used by practitioners. Now, the Pacific Institute is also catalyzing companies, communities, NGOs, and others to take action.
Looking back over the Pacific Institute’s nearly 40 years of expertise, it’s clear much of the work happens somewhat behind the scenes, driving large-scale change. Establishing the United Nations’ Human Right to Water, relentless focus on water reuse and efficiency leading to shifts in local, national, and international policies, identifying 100 of the world’s most water-stressed basins, and equipping hundreds of corporations to take action on water across their operations and supply chains spanning 140 countries. These are all critical shifts that have the Pacific Institute’s fingerprints all over them. As a donor, I know I’m making this type of transformative work possible. It’s exactly the type of impact we so desperately need to help solve the water challenges of our time.
Sumbul: What is your hope for the impact of this strategic plan by 2030?
Sally: My hope is that by 2030, we see substantial progress across all four impact areas- Water Equity, Water Efficiency and Reuse, Nature-Based Solutions, and Corporate Water Stewardship. These areas have the potential to accelerate action for the greatest impact — to solve the water crisis and build water resilience. They are also areas where the Pacific Institute is globally recognized for its expertise.
Each of these areas has the potential to make a real difference in communities worldwide, especially for those most affected by water scarcity and climate impacts. I truly believe the Pacific Institute is positioned to catalyze this transformation, and I’m proud to support it.
Sumbul: What would you say to those considering a donation to support this work?
Sally: This Giving Tuesday, I invite you to join me in being part of a movement dedicated to securing our water future. When you support the Pacific Institute, you directly contribute to solutions that address today’s most urgent water challenges, from climate resilience to ensuring equitable water access for all.
I’d encourage anyone who’s passionate about creating a sustainable future to consider a gift. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a big difference in supporting the urgent work of building water resilience in communities and ecosystems worldwide. This is a chance to be part of a solution that’s deeply needed right now and a part of an amazing community of changemakers.