February 8, 2015 | Read Time: 1 minute
Amount donated in 2014: $79-million
Top beneficiary: Rockefeller University
Background: Mr. Rockefeller is a retired chairman of Chase Manhattan Bank.
The last living child of the philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr., David Rockefeller pledged $75-million to Rockefeller University to expand its campus. The university was established in 1901 by the donor’s grandfather, John Sr., who co-founded the Standard Oil Company and provided the family with a fortune it has been directing toward charity since the 19th century.
David Rockefeller has served on the University’s Board of Trustees since 1940.
The 99-year-old donor also pledged $4-million to the Natural Heritage Trust for the Rockefeller State Park Preserve. The 1,400-acre park was created from land the family started donating to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation in 1983.
