December 7, 2006 | Read Time: 1 minute
An annual ranking of the 50 most-generous donors, published by BusinessWeek (November 27), included 11 people who had not previously made the list.
The list also reflected some trends: More philanthropists than in years past came from the worlds of energy and hedge funds. Also, the article says, “Giving to global causes was up, and big money went to promote research for disorders and diseases where donors have a personal connection.”
The list — which, unlike The Chronicle of Philanthropy‘s annual ranking of top donors, tracks giving over five years rather than one and includes gifts made by philanthropists’ foundations — is predictably headed by Warren Buffett, the Berkshire Hathaway leader who made headlines this year with his $31-billion gift to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (The Gateses are ranked No. 2.) But the list includes such newcomers as Herbert and Marion Sandler, former co-leaders of Golden West Financial Corporation, and Ms. Sandler’s brother, the businessman Bernard Osher. The Sandlers, who sold their company to Wachovia for $24-billion in May, gave a reported $1.3-billion in stock to unidentified charities the following month. Mr. Osher, an early investor in Golden West, has given $723-million to charity so far this year.
The article is available online.
