Chapter 23: Reasonable philanthropy (from Intellectually Impaired People)

Parents’ associations try to improve the fate of their children. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) was established by parents of children with cystic fibrosis when their children’s life expectancy was only a few years. They invested money they had collected in for-profit pharmaceutical companies that they assumed had good chances to develop effective therapies. They had breakthrough success with it, were able to sell the shares of these companies at a great profit, and have now more resources to further promote cystic fibrosis research and care. Today, most patients with cystic fibrosis have a normal life expectancy provided they receive competent treatment. The CFF approach is called venture philanthropy. It combines philanthropy with a tough business approach. It would be desirable to use such an approach also for taking care of people with intellectual impairment.