Jim Balsillie finds giving away $30 million is tougher than he thought

Poor Jim Balsillie. First Research in Motion’s board wanted some distance, and now over 270 professors at York University do, too. Balsillie is the founder of the nebulously named Centre for International Governance Innovation, a private think tank that’s trying to give York University $30 million donated by Balsillie himself. Problem is, York’s professors say the deal gives CIGI too much sway over which scholars and research projects get the funding. Now, the university’s senate is frantically trying to revise the funding agreement to appease both the profs and the think tank, which doesn’t want to be seen as “an ATM,” according to a CIGI spokesperson. It seems a wee bit ironic that giving away money is proving difficult for the former RIM co-CEO, when losing it seemed oh-so-easy. Read the entire story [Globe and Mail] »