social welfare research institute - Boston College

While we do wish to claim some distinctiveness, we must be careful not to erect
an insurmountable wall around high-tech philanthropy. Many donors who are not
involved in the high-tech industry approach their businesses and philanthropy in
relatively the same way as do high-tech donors. And, conversely, there must be high-
tech donors here and there who do not approach things in the way we describe. But there
is a dominant theme that surfaces from the accounts of every person with whom we
spoke: this theme is the effort to shape philanthropy in the way they have learned to
shape their high-tech businesses.
This is not because they are arrogant and believe they have a right to push their
views on others—although they admit this sometimes occurs.
You know a lot of times people make a lot of money and all of a sudden they
think they’re geniuses on every topic and I’m not, but what I’m hopefully smart
enough to do is to focus on the things that leverage what I do know and stay out
of the things that I don’t know and don’t just decide "well, gee I made all this
money so now I know all this about everything"—you gotta stay focused on one
thing because otherwise you drown in a sea of opportunity, if you will. You have
to pick your spot, and hopefully try and make an impact.--Retired Co-Founder
Internet Communications Company
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