Only in America: Teaching Rich People Not to Suck at Charity Donations

From NY Magazine: We know that ultrarich people can be very good at giving their money away. Think of Bill Gates, who started a massive and well-respected charitable empire and has given his way off the top of the Rich List. Or George Soros, whose political contributions often overshadow the billions of dollars he has given to uncontroversial programs like the U.N.'s Millennium Villages project.

We also know that the wealthy can make very puzzling philanthropy decisions. Think of the private equity baron Henry Kravis, whose $100 million gift to Columbia Business School will enrich a demographic (Ivy League MBA students) that hardly needs a boost. Or hedge fund honcho John Paulson, who gave $100 million to the Central Park Conservancy despite it already being insanely well-funded.

The idea that you can take the Kravises and Paulsons of the world, and teach them to be more like the Gateses and Soroses, is the root premise of GiveSmart, a new, Gates-funded initiative……

More?  Check out http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/11/teaching-rich-people-not-to-suck-at-charity.html