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Major-Gift Fundraising

The 7 Most Interesting Big Donors of 2019

Clockwise from upper left: Jeff and Tricia Raikes give toward racial equity; Sylvia and Eddie Brown want more rich African Americans to give; Irene Pritzker has learned a lot trying to improve education in Ghana; Judy Kahrl, a Procter & Gamble heir, says dinner-table conversations in her childhood centered on social issues. Photo by Mike Kane; Photo by Kelvin Bulluck; The IDP Foundation, Inc.; Photo by Sala Lewis

December 23, 2019 | Read Time: 1 minute

One of the Chronicle’s core missions is to provide in-depth coverage of major donors — their favorite causes, the motivations behind their giving, and how nonprofits can connect with them.

Below are some of the Chronicles most popular and revealing portraits of big donors published in 2019:

The Giving Impulse: One Family’s Story

How generations of heirs to the Procter & Gamble fortune have nurtured a culture of philanthropy for more than a century.

How 2 Quiet Donors Became Outspoken Advocates for Wealthy African Americans to Give More

Eddie and Sylvia Brown contribute to education, the arts, and health care — often stipulating they will give only if other rich African Americans do, too.

Giving Cash and Comfort to the Most Vulnerable

Carol and George Bauer have donated millions to a number of causes, but their gifts — and her volunteer work — for infants struggling to survive are the most personal.


Digging Deep to Understand Racial Inequality and What to do About it

Jeff and Tricia Raikes draw on a diverse network of friends and colleagues to help identify their blind spots.

Outspoken Donor Says Philanthropy Must Change — Both Fundraisers and Donors

Lisa Greer, a businesswoman and philanthropist in Los Angeles, has a lot to say about philanthropy for a relative newcomer, and she’s not afraid to say it to anyone who will listen.

‘If It Were Easy, Someone Would Have Done It Already’

Irene Pritzker’s foray into funding efforts to improve schools in Ghana has been an education in itself.

‘If We Could Get Rid of Prejudice and Bigotry …’

The centerpiece of Robert and Jane Toll’s giving is their support of a camp in Maine that aims to bring together kids of different backgrounds in the hopes of understanding one another.

About the Author

Senior Editor

Maria directs the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual Philanthropy 50, a comprehensive report on America’s most generous donors. She writes about wealthy philanthropists, family and legacy foundations, next generation philanthropy, arts organizations, key trends and insights related to high-net-worth donors, and other topics.