> Skip to content
FEATURED:
  • America's Favorite Charities
  • Nonprofits and the Trump Agenda
  • Impact Stories Hub
Sign In
  • Latest
  • Commons
  • Advice
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Online Events
  • Data
  • Grants
  • Magazine
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Advice
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Advice
Sign In
  • Latest
  • Commons
  • Advice
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Online Events
  • Data
  • Grants
  • Magazine
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Advice
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Advice
  • Latest
  • Commons
  • Advice
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Online Events
  • Data
  • Grants
  • Magazine
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Advice
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Career Advice
Sign In
ADVERTISEMENT
News
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Show more sharing options
Share
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Copy Link URLCopied!
  • Print

The 2018 Philanthropy 50: Where They Live, Where They Give, and More

By  Maria Di Mento and 
Ariella Phillips
February 8, 2018
Philanthropy 50 logo blue background

Find out more about America’s 50 biggest donors: their ages, source of wealth, where they live, and where they give.

Big Gifts to Foundations

Foundations received 61.5 percent of the $14.7 billion that the Philanthropy 50 gave away.

Note: Not all donors provided names of organizations to which they gave.

Tech Titans Loom Large

The Philanthropy 50 includes 11 donors in the tech industry, who collectively gave nearly $8.7 billion in 2017; that’s roughly 60 percent of the total contributed by all donors on the list.

We're sorry. Something went wrong.

We are unable to fully display the content of this page.

The most likely cause of this is a content blocker on your computer or network.

Please allow access to our site, and then refresh this page. You may then be asked to log in, create an account if you don't already have one, or subscribe.

If you continue to experience issues, please contact us at 571-540-8070 or cophelp@philanthropy.com

Find out more about America’s 50 biggest donors: their ages, source of wealth, where they live, and where they give.

Big Gifts to Foundations

Foundations received 61.5 percent of the $14.7 billion that the Philanthropy 50 gave away.

Note: Not all donors provided names of organizations to which they gave.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tech Titans Loom Large

The Philanthropy 50 includes 11 donors in the tech industry, who collectively gave nearly $8.7 billion in 2017; that’s roughly 60 percent of the total contributed by all donors on the list.

From Youngest to Oldest

Austin McChord, 32, is the youngest living philanthropist on the list, and Florence Irving, 97, is the oldest. The median age is 71. The number of individual living donors adds up to 72 because some are couples. Not all donors disclosed their age.

ADVERTISEMENT

Geographic Breakdown

The District of Columbia and 34 states have no donors on the list.

Phil 50 2018 Horizontal Logo
The 2018 Philanthropy 50
The Chronicle’s 18th annual ranking of America’s biggest donors.
  • Big Gifts Can Transform Economies — but It’s Not Easy
  • ‘Forbes 400' and ‘Giving Pledge’ Billionaires Who Gave Big in 2017
  • America’s Superrich Made Near-Record Contributions to Charity in 2017
  • The Chronicle Digs Deep to Compile Annual List of Top 50 Donors
  • That $33 Million Bezos Gift for Dreamers? It Started With a Tweet.

A version of this article appeared in the February 28, 2018, issue.
Read other items in this The 2018 Philanthropy 50 package.
We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
Foundation Giving
Maria Di Mento
Maria Di Mento directs the annual Philanthropy 50, a comprehensive report on America’s most generous donors. She writes about wealthy philanthropists, arts organizations, key trends and insights related to high-net-worth donors, and other topics.
Ariella Phillips
Ariella Phillips was a web producer for The Chronicle of Philanthropy from 2018-2020.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED, GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
  • Explore
    • Latest Articles
    • Get Newsletters
    • Advice
    • Webinars
    • Data & Research
    • Podcasts
    • Magazine
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
    • Impact Stories
    Explore
    • Latest Articles
    • Get Newsletters
    • Advice
    • Webinars
    • Data & Research
    • Podcasts
    • Magazine
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
    • Impact Stories
  • The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • Our Mission and Values
    • Work at the Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Gift-Acceptance Policy
    • Gifts and Grants Received
    • Site Map
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Chronicle Fellowships
    • Pressroom
    The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • Our Mission and Values
    • Work at the Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Gift-Acceptance Policy
    • Gifts and Grants Received
    • Site Map
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    • Chronicle Fellowships
    • Pressroom
  • Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    • Advertising Terms and Conditions
    Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    • Advertising Terms and Conditions
  • Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Site License Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
    Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Site License Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037
© 2026 The Chronicle of Philanthropy
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • facebook
  • linkedin