When Patti Harris first met Dan Doctoroff in the fall of 2001, he was leading New York City’s bid for the Olympics. She recalls being so impressed by his focus and ambition that when Mike Bloomberg was elected mayor, the team knew Dan was someone they wanted on board. Dan went on to serve as Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding, working closely with Patti on projects that would shape the city’s future, and ultimately, both their careers.
“It’s always been inspiring to work with Dan. He’s never been afraid of incredibly ambitious goals or the work needed to achieve them. No matter how long the odds, I’ve never seen him waver,” Harris reflected. “That fearlessness is a trait he shares with Mike, and it’s a big part of why they hit it off from the beginning.”
Today, as CEO of Bloomberg Philanthropies, Harris carries forward that spirit of ambitious leadership. Her own path began in 1994 at Bloomberg LP, where she partnered with Mike Bloomberg to establish a strong corporate philanthropy program. By the time she became Deputy Mayor, Harris had seen first-hand how bold ideas in one city could ripple outward to transform lives everywhere. This is a lesson she now applies to Bloomberg Philanthropies’ five global focus areas: Arts, Education, Public Health, Environment, and Government Innovation.
Shared Values: Bloomberg Philanthropies & Target ALS
Target ALS was founded on values Dan Doctoroff brought from his years in business and public service: radical collaboration, deliberate disruption, and impatient optimism. For Harris, these principles feel deeply familiar.
“They resonate completely. Our two organizations are cut from the same cloth,” she said. “We operate with a spirit of urgency, setting short-term goals to drive our long-term progress. Collaboration lies at the heart of that approach. We’re always looking for partners who are doing good work, with the hope of helping them scale proven solutions – and identify new breakthroughs and innovations. So Target ALS is a natural partner for us.”
It’s this shared belief in urgency and collaboration that underpins the success of both organizations and why Bloomberg Philanthropies continues to invest in accelerating ALS research.
Breaking Down Silos to Speed Discovery
Historically, biomedical research has been hampered by silos; scientists, industry leaders, and government agencies working in isolation. Dan Doctoroff recognized that this fragmentation slowed progress, especially in underfunded diseases like ALS.
“Dan’s ability to bring people together has changed the landscape,” Harris explained. “Thanks to him and his team, collaboration has turbo-charged the work.”
The Target ALS model, prioritizing shared resources and collaboration over competition, embodies the very qualities Harris believes make philanthropy a unique catalyst.
Philanthropy as a Catalyst for Action
Harris is clear-eyed about the role of philanthropy: it cannot replace government or industry funding, but it can spark the breakthroughs that make large-scale solutions possible.
“Philanthropy is not a substitute for federal funding, but it can be a catalyst for action when traditional funding falls short,” she said. “Organizations like ours can move faster to build coalitions, test ideas, and support early breakthroughs. But it’s critical that we eventually hand things off to government or industry leaders, because of their ability to scale solutions.”
For Harris, the lesson is clear: philanthropy can prove what’s possible, but lasting change depends on systems that can carry those solutions to scale.
Fearless Leadership, Shared Vision
From City Hall to global philanthropy, Patti Harris has witnessed firsthand how ambitious leadership and collaborative values can drive lasting change. Her partnership with Dan Doctoroff and her support for Target ALS underscore a shared vision: to take bold risks, dismantle silos, and move urgently toward a future where effective treatments for ALS are not just possible, but inevitable.
