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January 17, 2018 at 09:19 PM
Wealthy philanthropists made 2017 the strongest year for charitable giving in the U.S. in the past decade, The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported in announcing its annual list of the 10 largest gifts.
Last year’s 10 biggest donations totaled $10.2 billion, more than double the total from 2016, when the 10 largest ones totaled $4.3 billion, Chronicle data showed.
The annual top 10 list comprises the largest gifts announced by individuals or their foundations.
Three donations, each of $1 billion or more, came from rich technology entrepreneurs and benefited their foundations.
Four universities, four foundations and one conservation group received the biggest contributions of 2017.
The Chronicle noted that a multibillion-dollar donation that George Soros reportedly gave to his Open Society Foundations was not included on the list of the top 10 gifts because a foundation official told the publication in October the money was from a series of donations Soros had given his foundations over multiple recent years.
Following are the top 10 gifts of 2017, according to The Chronicle:
10. Parcel of California Coastal Ranchland Valued at $165 Million
Donors: Jack and Laura Dangermond
Beneficiary: Nature Conservancy
9. $200 million
Donors: Susan and Henry Samueli
Beneficiary: University of California, Irvine
Donor: A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation
Beneficiary: University of Maryland
The Chronicle said this was one of several large gifts the foundation made in 2017.
7. $250 million
Donors: P. Roy and Diana Vagelos
