Looking Back at America's Top Donors 2022
Philanthropy has long been an important aspect of American culture, with many individuals and organizations donating generously to various causes each year. New data from the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, which researches fundraising effectiveness, philanthropic donations rose by 4.7 percent in 2022's first three quarters, but the number of individual donors' contributions went down 7.1 percent compared with 2021. However, several donors stood out for their exceptional contributions to charitable causes in the past year.
Here are some of America's top philanthropic donors of 2022:
Bill Gates
The behemoth business magnate donated $5.1 billion to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation he established with his then-wife. The donation will be spent on the grant maker's work in development, policy and advocacy, global health and U.S. education. Gates, worth an estimated $104 billion, announced he was donating $20 billion to the foundation. Foundation officials confirmed that three-quarters of the $20 billion payed off the $15 billion he and Melinda Gates had pledged in July 2021, meaning the remaining $5 billion was a new infusion to the foundation.
Elon Musk
In 2022, Elon Musk donated $1.95 billion of his Tesla Inc. shares to charities. While the charities are listed as anonymous, it makes Musk the second largest charitable donor in 2022, as cited by a ranking of the Chronicle of Philanthropy, compiled before Musk's final filing in December. The previous year, he spent $5.7 billion of Tesla's stock towards The Musk Foundation.
MacKenzie Scott
MacKenzie Scott made headlines in 2022 for her record-breaking charitable giving. In just one year, she donated over $2.7 billion to various organizations working to alleviate poverty, promote racial and gender equity, and support environmental causes. Her donations have gone to more than 700 organizations, including historically Black colleges and universities, food banks, and groups advocating for LGBTQ rights.
Michael Bloomberg
Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg donated significantly to various causes in 2022. His charitable giving included $1.7 billion to his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University, to support financial aid for low-income students and $100 million to help fight climate change.
Warren Buffett
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett continued his long-standing tradition of philanthropy in 2022, donating more than $759 million to four foundations run by his family. These donations were given to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, named for his first wife. He also gave $300,000 shares apiece to three foundations run by his children: the Sherwood Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and the NoVo Foundation.
Jacklyn and Miguel Bezos
Despite their high-profile son being a major philanthropist, Jacklyn and Miguel Bezos continued their philanthropic push in 2022. The billionaires donated over $710 million to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. The couple has remained long-term supporters of the institution, with the Bezos Family Immunotherapy Clinic established in 2016. The center recently merged with clinical care partner Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Their donation will help fund the building of a new facility and the recruitment of new researchers.
"Science, particularly cancer and virus research, is at such a pivotal point right now," Mike Bezos stated. "We hope our investment in the Hutch leads to answers for the most pressing medical questions. We also hope this inspires others to join us now in pursuing scientific and medical breakthroughs."
These philanthropists' contributions are not only impressive in their sheer magnitude but also in their impact on the causes they support. Many of the organizations that received donations from these donors will be able to expand their work and help even more people in need.
America's top philanthropic donors of 2022 have set an example for others to follow by giving generously to causes they are passionate about. Their contributions have significantly impacted countless people's lives and helped support important causes such as education, health care, climate change, and poverty alleviation. By recognizing these philanthropists, we can help influence and encourage others to give back to their communities and make a positive difference in the world.