Gates Foundation: Too Powerful...Or Too Malleable?

The basic premise of Libby Quaid's article (The influence game) is that billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates may be too powerful over districts, states, and even the federal government. 

And yet, as noted lower down, the foundation caved under pressure from state education agencies who complained that it was only helping 15 states with their federal grant application, and said they'd help anyone who asked. 

If that's being powerful, I don't want to know what being weak looks like.