America is the greatest underdeveloped country of the world; what it reaches for exceeds by far what it has grasped. Yet if there has ever been a time when we need to embrace bold solutions in education, especially to the challenges faced by the underserved, now is that time. At this critical time, social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and foundations should lead by doing what Michael Bloomberg called “emboldening government,” by investing in innovation and demonstrating what works, even if that means assuming more than a normal amount of risk. We hope that this series will stimulate, provoke, and challenge others to consider our venture philanthropy approach.