While the debate rages over whether Big Data and Cognitive Computing are going to save or destroy our way of life, or even perhaps life itself, most non-governmental organizations are on the sidelines waiting to see who wins. In the meantime, we have never been faced with more urgent, and complex, problems needing solutions now. From climate change to homelessness to helping students turn into successful alums, the answers are not going to be found on traditional business intelligence dashboards or by using old-school analytics based on incomplete data. Big Good - Philanthropy in the Age of Big Data & Cognitive Computing is written for the people who need actionable insights to help them meet the challenges of their organization's mission. For a generation, David Lawson has been on the leading edge of turning technology and data into invaluable tools for NGO's. David's goal with this book is to help NGO leaders, staff, and supporters understand what makes Big Data and Cognitive Computing different, and how it can be applied to their important work. This is not a "how-to" but rather a "why-do" book, designed to spark your imagination and get you excited about embracing the most transformational technology yet created.