America's 50 Biggest Donors Gave $22.4 Billion in 2025, Led by Bloomberg

The Chronicle of Philanthropy released its annual Philanthropy 50 list on March 10, revealing that America's 50 largest individual donors gave a combined $22.4 billion to charity in 2025. The median gift on the list: $105 million.

Michael Bloomberg topped the rankings for the third consecutive year with $4.3 billion in charitable contributions across a broad range of causes. Bill Gates followed at $3.7 billion directed to the Gates Foundation, while a $3.1 billion bequest from Paul Allen's estate — earmarked for a science and technology foundation — landed third. Warren Buffett contributed $1.3 billion to four family foundations.

Where the Money Came From

The financial industry produced the most donors on the list — 20 philanthropists contributing $4.1 billion total. But technology wealth dominated in dollar terms: just 12 tech donors accounted for $10 billion, nearly half the list's total giving. Real estate rounded out the top three sectors with four donors and $466.7 million.

Geographically, New York and California led both in donors and in dollars received.

Where It Went — And Where It Didn't

Science and technology attracted more than $3 billion, healthcare and medical research drew $1.5 billion, and athletics pulled $871 million. Phil Knight and his wife contributed $500 million specifically for cancer research, with several other donors making eight- and nine-figure gifts to pediatric healthcare.

But the list also exposed a participation gap among the ultra-wealthy. Only 19 of the 400 richest Americans on the Forbes list donated enough to appear in the Philanthropy 50 — suggesting that the vast majority of billionaire-class wealth holders are not engaged in major charitable giving.

What This Means for Grant Seekers

For nonprofits and researchers, the Philanthropy 50 is a roadmap to where private capital is flowing. The concentration in science, technology, and healthcare signals continued opportunity for organizations working in those spaces. The relative scarcity of arts, education, and environmental funding from mega-donors points to areas where smaller foundations and federal grants remain the primary lifelines.

Organizations seeking to identify and approach major funders can research foundation giving histories and grant patterns on Granted, which tracks over 133,000 U.S. foundations alongside federal and state grant programs.