If there’s a theme to Alexander McCobin’s career, it’s putting ideas into action. As a high school student in Pennsylvania, Alexander fell in love with ideas and philosophy through debate competitions and went on to study philosophy and economics at the University of Pennsylvania.
Not content to merely study philosophy, Alexander’s knack for founding new ventures led him to launch Students for Liberty during his senior year of college. The group would grow into a global network spanning more than 100 countries under Alexander’s leadership. In 2016, he joined Conscious Capitalism to work with business leaders to advance a vision of holistic business philosophy and capitalism as an engine for good. He continues that work today at Principled Business and Liberty Ventures, both of which he founded.
It was through his nonprofit work that Alexander first encountered DonorsTrust—not as a donor, but as a fundraiser seeking support. “I first got involved in DonorsTrust from the other end,” he recalls. “I was a nonprofit executive who wanted to get involved with DonorsTrust to access the donor network.” But his long-term goal was to grow into a philanthropist himself. “I knew I eventually wanted to switch to the other side, not just ask for money to support good causes, but to be donating to great causes.”
That shift—from builder to backer—didn’t change Alexander’s underlying business-minded approach. “Philanthropic giving is like investing. It is so much better to start when you’re younger and the benefits compound over time.” Too often, he argues, people wait, assuming they need more experience, more connections, or more resources before they can contribute meaningfully. “Too many people, including young people, underestimate what they’re able to do. But it’s not about experience. It’s not even about the network that you already have. It’s about having a vision for the change that you want to see in the world.”
The organizations Alexander supports must reflect his principles and demonstrate that they can translate those principles into results. “The point of giving to philanthropic causes is to make a change. It’s not just to feel good or fulfill an obligation. It’s to make a difference.”
Partnering with DonorsTrust ensures Alexander’s giving remains both strategic and aligned. “If I ask DonorsTrust to do a little digging into an organization, they’ll get back to me promptly with information that they find.”
In Alexander’s words, DonorsTrust “gives me the encouragement to give more because I’ve got, not just me, but a team of people willing to work with me to help make sure that my capital is deployed in the most effective manner.”