The Morino Institute was founded in 1994 to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship, advance a more effective philanthropy, close social divides, and understand the relationship and impact of the Internet on our society. Initiatives have included the Potomac KnowledgeWay, Netpreneur, the Youth Development Collaborative, and YouthLearn. The culmination of its early years resulted in  helping create Venture Philanthropy Partners which it continues to support.