2021’s Top Donors: ‘Forbes 400′ and ‘Giving Pledge’ Billionaires Who Gave Big
Only 22 people on the 2021 Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans appear among this year’s Philanthropy 50 list. That could be a sign that many of the wealthiest people in America aren’t big givers
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
How the Chronicle Compiled Its List of the Top 50 Donors of 2021
The 22nd annual Philanthropy 50, the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s list of America’s biggest donors, is based on gifts and pledges of cash, stock, land, and real estate to nonprofit organizations in 2021.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
26-Year-Old’s $70 Million Donation Puts Him on the List of Top Donors of 2021
Austin Russell, the founder of Luminar Technologies, determined that per capita philanthropic giving in Orlando lagged other cities.
By Ben Gose
Senior Editor
Why a Young Billionaire Who Led Trip to Space Gave $125 Million to Children’s Hospital
When Jared Isaacman led the first all-civilian trip to space, he and his wife, Monica, donated $125 million to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital — and encouraged others to give as well.
By Ben Gose
Senior Editor
How a Truckdriver-Turned Harvard MBA Came to Give $101 Million for Nursing Education in Mont.
Mark and Robyn Jones believe their donation to Montana State University will have a bigger impact than if they had made a similar gift to Harvard Business School, where Mark earned an MBA.
By Ben Gose
Senior Editor
Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Elon Musk Top List of America’s 50 Biggest Charity Donors
A handful of Americans donated at least $1 billion to charity last year, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual ranking of the 50 Americans who gave the most to charity in 2021.
By Maria Di Mento and Ben Gose
Our Annual Philanthropy 50: Top Donors Returned to Pre-Pandemic Causes in 2021
Despite the continuing Covid threat and racial-justice problems, the nation’s wealthiest donors have largely returned to old standbys — handing out big sums to universities, medicine, and their own foundations. But there are exceptions and some interesting new faces.
By Maria Di Mento and Ben Gose
MacKenzie Scott Gives $133.5 Million to Communities in Schools to Aid Underserved Students
Plus, Memorial Sloan Kettering, three universities, a private school in Palm Beach, and a medical center in Bellingham, Wash., landed major gifts.
By Maria Di Mento
Senior Editor
Philanthropy observers see her signal as a sign that she wants other donors also to do more to hear from nonprofits, though some wish she had gone further.
By Alex Daniels
Senior Editor, Foundations
2 New Studies Aim to Show Nonprofits What Appeals to Donors Most
The studies highlight why video and other forms of technology are the key to connecting with donors, especially amid the pandemic.
By dan.parks
Contributor