Cass R. Sunstein, Columnist

Hate the Donor, Love the Donation

Universities and nonprofit groups shouldn’t summarily shun ethically impure contributors.

January 6, 2020 at 2:00 PM UTC

Cass R. Sunstein is a former Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is the author of “The Cost-Benefit Revolution” and a co-author of “Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness.”

Just say yes.
Photographer: Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images

Provide news feedback or report an error

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

This article is for subscribers only.

Suppose that a nation, a company or an individual wants to give a lot of money to a university, a nonprofit group or an individual researcher. Suppose that many people think that the potential donor is morally abhorrent, or has done morally abhorrent things.

Is it wrong to take the money?