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Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, made a huge splash when they announced the birth of their first child, daughter Maxima, by posting a “Dear Max” letter, revealing the couple’s pledge to give away 99 percent of their Facebook shares (currently valued at $45 billion) over their lifetime.
The couple wrote their hopes for Max’s generation focus on advancing human potential and promoting equality. Further, this mission will require a new approach: making long-term investments of 25, 50 or even 100 years; engaging directly with the people they serve; building technology to make change; participating in policy and advocacy to shape debates; and backing the strongest leaders in each field.
A key component of their unconventional approach is the establishment of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a limited-liability company they’ll own and operate. Unlike traditional charitable foundations, it will have the flexibility to both fund for-profit businesses and influence public policy.
Understandably, their decision to not go the traditional route has generated anxiety, criticism and fear of “ending philanthropy as we know it.” History will judge, so relax.
In 2010, Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates announced the Giving Pledge, which has resulted in 138 billionaires worldwide pledging at least 50 percent of their wealth to philanthropy. Buffett’s and Chan-Zuckerberg’s letters announcing their pledges are at www.givingpledge.org.
According to Buffett: “More than 99 percent of my wealth will go to philanthropy. Measured by dollars, this commitment is large. In a comparative sense, though, many individuals give more … .
“Millions of people who regularly contribute to churches, schools, and other organizations thereby relinquish the use of funds that would otherwise benefit their own families. In contrast, my family and I will give up nothing we need or want by fulfilling this 99 percent pledge.
“Moreover, this pledge does not leave me contributing the most precious asset, which is time. Gifts of this kind often prove far more valuable than money. A struggling child, befriended and nurtured by a caring mentor, receives a gift whose value far exceeds what can be bestowed by a check.
“What I can do, however, is to take a pile of Berkshire Hathaway stock certificates and commit them to benefit others who, through the luck of the draw, have received the short straws in life.
“My wealth has come from a combination of living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest. I’ve worked in an economy that rewards someone who saves the lives of others on a battlefield with a medal, rewards a great teacher with thank-you notes from parents, but rewards those who can detect the mispricing of securities with sums reaching into the billions.
“In short, fate’s distribution of long straws is wildly capricious.
“The reaction of my family and me to our extraordinary good fortune is not guilt, but rather gratitude. Were we to use more than 1 percent of my Berkshire stock on ourselves, neither our happiness nor our well-being would be enhanced. In contrast, that remaining 99 percent can have a huge effect on the health and welfare of others.
“That reality sets an obvious course for me and my family: Keep all we can conceivably need and distribute the rest to society, for its needs.”•
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Kim is the chief operating officer and chief compliance officer for Kirr Marbach & Co. LLC, an investment adviser based in Columbus, Indiana. He can be reached at (812) 376-9444 or mickey@kirrmar.com.
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