One of the best ways to get into foundation work, of course, is to inherit or marry well………………..Since those options are not available to most of us, what are some other steps one can take to prepare for a career as a philanthropoid? This question has been on my mind since I recently taught a class about foundation work to a group of upperclassmen and women at Georgia Tech………………..I realize that a growing number of universities are now offering curricula in philanthropy, and that’s fine. But building upon what I told those young Yellow Jackets (and Jackettes?), here are the three courses that I would require for all would-be grant makers before they took on the challenge of giving away money intelligently…..The first course would be Empathetic Listening. (This course would be designed to help students develop the skill of knowing when to shut up and pay attention to what grant seekers are saying and only then to assist them with formulating their case for support in the strongest possible way.)………………..History of Philanthropy (designed to provide a grounding in the essential achievements of foundations and the contexts in which they took place, but even more essentially, a review of the values and strategies that foundations have applied to their work both successfully and unsuccessfully). Leszek Kolakowski put it this way: "We learn history not in order to know how to behave or how to succeed, but to know who we are." ………………..Great Philanthropy (Building upon the hierarchy of philanthropy first developed by the great philosopher Maimonides, this course would help students to discern when good philanthropy might be the enemy of great philanthropy………………..By all means, if you want to be a good foundation staff person or trustee, make sure you understand the laws that govern the field, the standards of prudent investment, and the appropriate governance and management skills. But, first, learn to be a great listener who is steeped in the history of your field and someone who is driven by a passion to achieve the greatest possible good with the philanthropic dollars over which you exercise stewardship………………..P.S. If you’re already in the field by virtue of birth, marriage or some other form of good fortune, remember that it can always be salutary to take a refresher course in any of these three essential topics.