In late 2006, I toured the completed education and research center at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The view from the balcony outside the sixth-floor library is stunning: To the right stand the charming buildings on West 54th Street; to the left, the glass windows of an adjacent church; and in the center, the Sculpture Garden and atrium of the new main building.

I am quite proud that this new building bears the name The Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Center. On the day of the ribbon cutting in late November, I felt a wonderful sense of completion. A week before, my wife, Dorothy, and I experienced one of the warmest tribute dinners we have ever attended. At the dinner, MoMA’s president, Marie-Josée Kravis, made a disarming comment. "Lewis Cullman was once a meteorologist," she announced to the crowd, "but now he’s become a rainmaker!"

The remark was a nod to my past and a clever play on words. It also reminded me of how far I have come, not only from my youthful compulsion to study the weather, but also in the few years since 1999, when I sold my company, At-A-Glance, to Mead Paper for $550 million—and pledged to give most of that money away.

Since my wife and I began working full time helping institutions and causes, we have had the time of our lives. The years I spent in business earning my fortune cannot begin to rival the joy I’ve experienced from giving it away. For me, the key to happiness is more than just writing a check. It is also getting fully involved with the people and organizations one cares about, and contributing one’s own expertise. That often means raising money.

Dorothy once said to me, "I’d rather be with smart people than stupid people." Who could disagree? In my fundraising efforts on behalf of the charities I love, I have altered Dorothy’s sentiments a bit: "I’d rather raise money from rich people than poor people—it’s more productive." While this statement may seem obvious, it is one of the many lessons I’ve learned about fundraising and philanthropy. For instance, no matter how many advantages you may have in your life, it is still important to cultivate leads. That means keeping your eyes and ears open when you meet people. Just as in the business world, it is important to get to know others and to learn about their interests. Take them to events. Expose them in subtle ways to what your priorities are—and then watch to see if their eyes light up. Affluent individuals who are passionate about various causes should take these (and other lessons) to heart as they strive to change the world. Remember, even among the rich, raising money still takes hard work.

Success Stories
When I was asked to give a dinner for Environmental Defense, I noticed that a friend’s daughter was in attendance. Impressed with the presentation, she donated $250,000 on the spot. My wife and I then invited her to a MoMA event. The lesson learned here is to leverage all your contacts. And, if you have a network of people who know your priorities, they can help by mentioning you and your projects.