Warren Buffett, known for being wealthy and choosing to stay in Omaha, is giving a majority of his money to the Gates Foundation - says the eerie smile of Don Dodge. This builds up a juggernaught of philanthropy not seen since the gates of Eden closed.
The Gates Foundation has done amazing work and much of it, despite what Dodge says, went to schools and libraries. At least the portion I worked on did. Not capital projects, but school connectivity projects. Which, at the time, was just as important as brick and mortar.
The Gates Foundation has been a leader in global AIDS relief funding. They do very good work. Previously, they've seen a bit unfocused. Much of that was due to their maturation as an organization and their desire to distribute much of their warchest. I think that the addition of Bill to the foundation will give them that focus and provide some attention to metrics of success.
Not only that, but Bill Gate's particular strength is seeing what has worked - or is capable of working - and finding a way to make that work better or in larger distribution. Microsoft, right now, needs the guiding hand of Ray Ozzie. But the Gates Foundation needs Bill Gates. And 44 billion dollars from my fellow Omahan, Mr. Buffett.
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