If you were a super rich philanthropist, what causes would you support?

[BellaIsQueen]

What causes do you support now with either your money or your time and effort?

[BlueCoyote]

I'm against the idea of donating money to large charities for a number of reasons. Most importantly, I don't like the fact that a large part of my donating is used for administrative works and that I don't have any power over my money anymore.

Instead of donating money to some random organization, I would much rather take up the work myself. I have this dream of winning a large sum of money in the lottery (+20 millions) and using part of it to build a girls' school in a poor country of Africa, South east Asia or the Middle East. I would particularly love to build a girls' school because girls are still dramatically discriminated in many poor regions of the world when it comes to education. I would like to make this playing field more even and give smart young girls a real chance in life to become independent, free, strong and healthy individuals.
Depending on my funds, I would only build an elementary school or both an elementary and a high school. If I could, I would love to even attach a small university, which would also be open to guys. The university would only have space for 1,000-2,000 students but it would give quality education. I would try to pay professors good salaries and thereby attract qualified academics (ideally locals). The girls' schools for elementary and high school level would be completely free. The university would cost something but a moderate amount that locals can afford. Also, I would provide scholarships for those who can't afford it.
And if there was STILL some money left, I would love to attach a small but cute hospital to this whole institution.

Instead of mandatory daily praying and religion classes like in other private charity schools, I would establish a class called "secular humanism", where the kids would learn about philosophy from Plato to Kant and from Confucius to Rousseau. They would learn to think in a fundamentally humanist way, which includes using empathy, logical reasoning, critical thinking, mutual support, peacefulness and skepticism.

[Anonymous]

I'd donate towards more research for male health issues, as there's a disproportionate amount of funding for that compared to female health. Similarly to that, I'd also put my money towards creating more services for male victims of rape and domestic abuse, as I went through something before but did not get that much assistance when I needed it. Women in similar situations were given priority over me, in fact a person I spoke to over the phone when searching for resources had told me, "Unfortunately, there's very little I can refer to you unlike what we can do for women, but you can try calling ____."

I'd also support causes that want to help build schools and educational institutions in poorer, third-world countries, as well as donating towards feeding the hungry and helping provide them with clean water.

[BellaIsQueen]

I'm so sorry to hear that.
Were you provided with proper assistance eventually?

[Opinion Owner]

It wasn't until a failed suicide attempt that I got in touch with somebody. It seems like society doesn't take people seriously until they've went as far as harming themselves or other people. A lot of those situations could be prevented with better services for those that seek it. I think, especially for a lot of guys, they sadly still just want to try and be stoic instead of trying to find help or maybe they think it's pointless to try. I was only able to be stoic for so long. I'm actually 28 now and these were incidents from around 10 years ago, so I'm fine now I like to think, and have found somebody I can really trust that has been empathetic with me and has supported me for 6 years so far. There are no feelings of abandonment and contempt anymore, partly thanks to her.

[BellaIsQueen]

I totally agree that the society doesn't take people seriously until they exhibit some physical symptoms of distress. And sometimes even parents don't believe you.
I'm really glad to hear that her support helped you in someway. We need people like her to stand with us.

[BellaIsQueen]

*some way
*stand with us in time of need

[Gypsy_x]

I currently donate to Amnesty International and WWF. I imagine I'd continue to invest time and money in NGOs that protect animal and human rights.

[JenDB]

Well me and my family already are and what we do is to give money to Orphanages

[kterbo]

The kids that don't have stable homes, like foster care.

[madhatters4]

poverty
civil rights
crimes against children
adoption/foster system
education

[Soteris]

I would invest in Africa to provide stability and better infrastructure for people living there. Would be interesting if that place bounced back and became a powerhouse again and it might stabilize the region not to mention benefit the free markets and Europe.

[RegularTK421]

I've already premeditated this. I'm a bit of a workaholic, so my vision would be rebuilding this country literally block by block. Tearing down old, crumbling houses and either leaving a plot of land for new construction, or following up and rebuilding new masonry structures. I would also push for state and local policies that encourage growth and investment. Lower property prices, lower mill rate, etc. I just hate seeing deteriorating structures and general decay.

[WalterRadio]

The NRA. The Republican National Committee. The Cato Institute. My alma mater. Habitat's wounded veteran's program.

I already give to these causes.

[Intraluminal]

Solar power. Insect control. Fighting gerrymandering, breaking the control of the ruling elites, encouraging education in logic, marketing, psychology, and mind control, encouraging true democracy, space colonization, and life extension.

[FriendlyDrugDealer]

It would be education in poor countries, homeless people and water to countries who don’t have clean access.

[Nivinxus]

Clean and sustainable energy production. Energy is so quintessential for so many things such as food security, production, medicine etc.

[mattmanyah]

the same one I work towards now fatherless children

[metalsucks2]

Scientific research, space exploration, alternative energy, technology.

[Himig_Ng_Pag-ibig]

Water treatment plants.
Infrastructure such as lighting

Seemingly simple things still many have no access

[Maxemeister]

Right now? Disaster funds. But also stuff domestically to improve local communities in ways that will make them more self-supporting

[burpzzzzz]

Homeless men support and helping men being falsely accused or rape or assault.

[the_david]

I would donate so much money to wounded warriors. Those hero's deserve it

[Juxtapose]

I'd use my money to try to clean up the US government.

I know I know.. laugh along with me.

[karahiri]

translational research

[solidoxe]

I would support my own causes.

[jersos1]

Saving children from exploitation

[StarLord1]

Christian charities and cancer research.

[Sha84]

global warming

[LastNightmare]

I would start mine