15 Biggest Mega-Donors to Charity in 2022

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The biggest donors in the U.S. last year gave $14.1 billion to their favorite causes, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s just-published Philanthropy 50.

In compiling its annual list, The Chronicle counts gifts and pledges of cash, stock, land and real estate given only to organizations with charity or foundation status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

For the new report, researchers interviewed numerous charities, philanthropists and their representatives to learn more about big donations made public in 2022, as well as the quiet giving of other large donors.

Some philanthropists do not publicly disclose details of their giving and are not legally required to do so. Melinda French Gates and MacKenzie Scott were among those who personally, or through their representatives, declined to provide information about their giving to The Chronicle.

The former continues to co-lead the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with her former husband. She also makes multiyear commitments and develops partnerships with grantees to fight poverty and advance equality for women and other marginalized groups through Pivotal Ventures, a limited liability corporation and investment firm she set up in 2015, according to the report.

Scott gave some $3.8 billion to charities last year. The Chronicle, citing a report by the online magazine Puck, said her giving vehicles were likely three donor-advised funds housed at The Chicago Community Trust, Fidelity Charitable and the National Philanthropic Trust.

Ann and John Doerr are also absent from this year’s Philanthropy 50. The Chronicle noted that they pledged $1.1 billion through their family foundation to launch the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

See the gallery for the Philanthropy 50’s top 15 donors in 2022.