Martin Morse Wooster

Martin Morse Wooster is senior fellow at the Capital Research Center. He is the author of three books: Angry Classrooms, Vacant Minds (Pacific Research Institute, 1994), The Great Philanthropists and the Problem of ‘Donor Intent’ (Capital Research Center, 1994; revised 1998, 2007, and 2017), and Great Philanthropic Mistakes (Hudson Institute, 2006; revised 2010). His monographs about philanthropy include Should Foundations Live Forever? (Capital Research Center, 1998), The Foundation Builders (Philanthropy Roundtable, 2000), Return to Charity? (Capital Research Center, 2000), By Their Bootstraps (Manhattan Institute, 2002), and Games Universities Play (Pope Center, 2011). His articles and reviews have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Washington Times, American Spectator, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Commentary, Elle, Air and Space, Esquire, Philanthropy, Policy Review, Reader’s Digest, Reason, and Washingtonian.

Wooster frequently comments on philanthropic issues for newspapers, magazines, and television in the U.S. and Great Britain. He has contributed to the Encyclopedia of Philanthropy, the Encyclopedia of Civil Rights, and Notable American Philanthropists.

Wooster was formerly an editor at The American Enterprise, Reason, the Wilson Quarterly, and Harper’s Magazine. He was graduated from Beloit College with degrees in history and philosophy.


In a talk at Cambridge University, Bill Gates is optimistic about helping poorer countries

Bill Gates is confident that focusing donor resources on researching and innovating medical advances for Third World country is the best way to fight poverty and disease.

Looking closely at “back row America”: a review of Chris Arnade’s “Dignity”

Chris Arnade’s book “Dignity” does a fine job of meeting—and introducing readers to—America’s poorer class. It fails, however, to ask the right questions about addressing poverty.


An online program in D.C. creates a random lottery for students applying to charter schools

A new online app in DC levels the playing field for students choosing between public and charter schools.

Poor Americans tend to love America—what does that mean for fighting poverty?

How we understand a problem affects how we try to remedy it. Is our understanding of the working poor accurate?


Success Academy charter schools provide an interesting approach to education

Success Academy charter schools attempt to combine the best of traditional and progressive educational methods in order to provide inner-city New Yorkers the best education available.

How much control should the government have over charter schools?

Charter schools are funded by public and private dollars, raising the question as to how much government control they should be under. The first in a two-part series.


Barron Hilton dies age 91, leaving his fortune to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

Prior to his death, Barron Hilton and the Hilton Foundation took measures to protect Conrad Hilton’s donor intent. These are important measures for ensuring donor intent, and time will tell the foundation board’s commitment to these measures.

Bernie Marcus plans to sunset his foundation after his death

In order to protect donor intent, Bernie Marcus, Home Depot founder and Atlanta mega-donor, plans to give away 90 percent of his fortune—within 30 years of his death.


How occupational licensing blocks employees from entering the workforce

Broad occupational licensing laws serve to block too many applicants from the workforce—especially reformed ex-criminals.

The Kochs and the Pews

Similarities and differences between the two philanthropic brother duos.