High-tech millionaires are often painted as stingy, money-hoarding capitalists who do not extend a philanthropic arm to charities.

That view is beginning to change, thanks to the efforts of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other like-minded computer gurus who are taking a unique approach to charitable giving, the New York Times reports.

"People don't just want to give to the United Way, they want to have an impact," Jonathan Nelson, CEO of Web service provider Organic, told the newspaper. "The titans of the information revolution are talking about things like cleaning the water in Africa or wiping out diseases."

Most technology executives are approaching their philanthropic ventures much as they do business ventures. For example, some people may concentrate on instilling entrepreneurship in developing nations, while others want to bring Internet access to public schools and urban neighborhoods.

While the sector is benefiting from both the influx of new wealth and an enthusiastic, hands-on approach by these technology executives, many long-time philanthropic leaders say that simply wiring computers to the Internet or preaching the importance of being an entrepreneur doesn't solve deeply entrenched societal problems, the newspaper reports.

"Someone will say, 'Show me five schools I can wire on the weekend,'" San Francisco Foundation Chief Executive Sandra Hernandez said. "I'll say that's great. Then I'll take them out to show them a program that is really making a difference in homelessness. We know it works. But it serves 38 people, when we need the resources to serve 3,800 people."

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