Spotlighting Some of America’s Most Charitable Donors - Pt. 2
In the United States, an ever-growing list of accomplished entrepreneurial visionaries have embodied the highest degree of philanthropy, donating billions of dollars of their collective wealth to countless causes and programs and aiding our most vulnerable communities. These leaders remain an ideal reference point for anyone interested in making a difference through philanthropic action.
Continuing from part one, here are a few more of America’s most charitable donors.
Bernie Marcus
American billionaire entrepreneur and Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus has made quite a philanthropic impact throughout his career. Last year, Marcus donated $233 million through his Marcus Foundation, impacting causes related to sustainability and the delivery of community food resources. As the foundation’s website notes, Marcus remains committed to viewing community food security as a significant focal point related to “hunger … poverty, community development, and economic policy –” and that sustainability “is both a principle and a practice that obliges us to carefully consider the consequences of today's actions on the future.”
Hugh Hoffman
Hugh Hoffman’s philanthropic contributions focus primarily on both ALS research and various betterment causes tied to the Cincinnati, Ohio community. His 2023 donations totaled over $231 million, affecting (among other causes) the ALS Association, the University of Cincinnati, and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. These donations reflect a well-rounded dedication to healthcare progression, community enhancement, and educational opportunity.
Franklin Antonio
Ranking sixth in the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s 2023 Philanthropy 50 list, Frank Antonio is one of the US’s most successful charitable donors – particularly within scientific research and technology. Antonio’s donations last year exceeded $400 million, a staggering number that has aided, in part, research within the SETI Institute and financial aid for the Summer Science Program, which offers immersive scientific experiences for high school seniors.
Melinda French Gates
Melinda French Gates is an established household name in American philanthropy – both with and without her former husband. With the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, she has made a considerable difference for gender equality, global health, US education, and various causes within policy, advocacy, and development; her 2023 contributions totaled over $249 million. Even as she moves on from the Gates Foundation, French Gates remains one of the US’s most impactful champions of gender equity and entrepreneurial opportunity.
The Lauder Family
Ronald and Leonard Lauder – along with their children William, Gary, Aerin, and Jane – make up one of the most accomplished philanthropic families in the US. As heirs to the Estée Lauder fortune, the family has leveraged its position to benefit crucial causes. Most notably, in 2023, the Lauder family donated $200 million to the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, striving to expedite research toward an Alzheimer’s cure.