Over 4,000 people have signed up for a new online course offering advice from philanthropists including Warren Buffett and ice-cream entrepreneurs Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield.

The course offers students the chance to learn about giving to charity through six video sessions. They will also help to decide how to give away more than $100,000 donated by Warren Buffett’s sister’s Sunshine Lady Foundation.

Warren Buffett has pledged to give away all of his $58 billion Berkshire Hathaway stock. Doris Buffett has already given more than $150 million away. She plans to donate all of her wealth during her lifetime.

Other philanthropists sharing their wisdom include baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr., Boston Red Sox chairman, Tom Werner and journalist Soledad O'Brien.

The Learning by Giving online course is modelled on a class that has been taught at more than 30 universities across the US.

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This course gave students the opportunity to donate $10,000 from Doris Buffett's Foundation after evaluating charities and learning about effective giving.

Doris Buffett's grandson, Alex Buffett Rozek, organised the new online course, and he said he hopes this will be the first of many.

Registration on the course is still open. http://www.learningbygivingfoundation.org/.