Muther attributes her own openness to working with different types of people to the team model found in fast-moving technology companies, and to her experience as a graduate of Stanford's MBA program in 1978, when significant numbers of women began enrolling in business school for the first time. "There wasn't any career path or role model for us," she says. "We didn't know what we were doing. But that wasn't all bad: We were able to be more entrepreneurial because there wasn't a set path." Muther, who also had a master's degree in anthropology from England's Cambridge University, went on to become a VP of corporate marketing at 3Com and a VP of marketing at Bridge Communications.

The biggest idea that Muther is nurturing: Put the power of the Web behind a new model of philanthropy. Her vision: philanthropy that puts the giver in charge of contributing. "What if there were a global hub, where anyone, anytime, anywhere could contribute to any nonprofit?" Muther asks. "Instead of being on the receiving end of direct-mail solicitations, imagine choosing the topic that you care most about, getting all of the information that you need to make an informed decision about contributing to that cause -- and enjoying that process. This is part of what the new economy is about: doing things yourself, with your attitude, and putting you in control of your experience."

Her goal is to build a group of interested people in Silicon Valley to align with existing philanthropic entities, with the ultimate purpose of bringing about strategic change in the industry of philanthropy. And she's pledged $1 million -- separate from the Three Guineas Fund -- to make that happen. What might that change look like? Diverse teams of experts from many different fields of endeavor -- education, nonprofits, business, and government -- coming together not only to work on doling out money to disparate groups but also on getting results by attacking specific problems.

"People who come out of the technology culture operate with a sense of urgency, which can be mistaken for impatience, and confidence, which can be mistaken for arrogance," she explains. "Venture philanthropy is really a metaphor. It's philanthropy with attitude." For Muther, philanthropy begins with finding an issue that you care deeply about. "If you have a passion, then you have something to contribute," she says. "It's not about asking 'What should I do?' It's about asking 'What is my passion?' "

You can see the issues that she's passionate about in the art that hangs on a wall of her home office. One contemporary piece by a woman artist is a visual commentary on the changing role of women in society: It's fabricated from the torn pages of romance novels. Muther plans for the same artist to contribute an installation to the Women's Technology Cluster -- a series of aprons to be strung across the ceiling, each emblazoned with a quote describing a duty traditionally assigned to women. For example, one apron might read, "Today, I cleaned out the closets." Whenever an entrepreneur hits a major milestone, a new apron will be commissioned: "Today, I got $4 million in funding." When an entrepreneur's company gets too big and it graduates from the incubator, she'll get to take along her own apron -- a reminder of where she came from and the trails that women have blazed together.

Katharine Mieszkowski (katharinem@fastcompany.com) is a Fast Company senior writer. Contact Catherine Muther by email (cate@womenstechcluster.org), or visit the Women's Technology Cluster on the Web (www.womenstechcluster.org).

Sidebar: What's Fast

Catherine Muther believes that the new economy requires a new philanthropy -- a "philanthropy with attitude." Here is her quick guide to doing good while doing well -- to giving in the age of venture philanthropy.

Go with your passion.

If you have a passion, then you have something to contribute. The question isn't "What should I do?" or "What would be best for me to do?" The question is "What is my passion? What can I contribute?" Look at issues that relate to your life and your values. That's where you'll have the most passion, the most inspiration, and the most impact.

Philanthropy is a team sport.

Complex problems require more than one point of view. In a company, it takes people from technology, technical support, product marketing, and manufacturing to create a successful product. Any social problem that you work on will also need a diverse team whose members bring different experiences and ideas to the table.

Don't give away money -- solve problems.

Too often, people look at philanthropy as a task that requires reviewing proposals and distributing grants: "We have a certain amount of money to give away each year. How shall we allocate it this year?" Instead, organize a team around solving a problem. Make the team responsible for solving that problem, not for funding programs. Once you know what you're trying to accomplish, then see what role capital can play in accomplishing it.

Giving should be as easy as shopping.

Imagine that every Web page that offered a product or service also offered an opportunity for philanthropy. If philanthropy were made available to all people on Earth to pursue when they want to, how they want to, and as much as they want to, we could create a World Wide Web of giving. You could go to the Web and, just as easily as you order a book or shop for clothes, you could contribute to a cause.