Foundations can outlive their charitable missions – and that’s a problem

The missions the foundations’ original donors champion during their lifetimes can become outdated after they’ve died.

By: Thomas Adam, University of Arkansas, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 16, 2026

Words: 1,627

Last Updated: 5 days ago

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By Thomas Adam, University of Arkansas

Bill Gates, Jensen Huang and many of today’s tech titans have two things in common with Gilded Age robber barons like John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. After playing a role in propelling the U.S. economy to new heights, they established massive foundations. The foundations are usually designed to last for eternity. Gates is a rare exception in that he decided in 2025 to empty the …

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