Special Report: The Philanthropy 50
America's Wealthy Made More Big Gifts
By Maria Di Mento and Caroline Preston
The 50 biggest donors, including William S. Dietrich II (No. 2), contributed $10.4-billion last year, up from $3.3-billion in 2010.
• Who is No. 1? Margaret A. Cargill, who gave approximately $6-billion.
• How Donors Gave: Key facts and figures
The Biggest Donors of 2011
Google co-founder Sergey M. Brin and biotechnologist Anne E. Wojcicki donated $61.9-million in 2011, putting them at No. 25.
Browse the full list to see how the couple compares to other big donors.
You can also browse previous years' lists:
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000
The Philanthropy 50: Through the Years
2011: America’s Biggest Donors Hit a New Low
2010: A Slow Year for Big Gifts
2009: A Year of Big Bequests
2008: A Big Year for Big Giving
2007: Record-Breaking Giving
2006: How the Wealthy Give
2005: The Giving Spree
The Top 5
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No. 1: Margaret A. Cargill
Margaret A. Cargill ranked No. 1 on The Chronicle's Philanthropy 50 list of the most-generous donors of 2011.
- No. 2: William S. Dietrich II
- No. 3: Paul G. Allen
- No. 4: George Soros
- No. 5: Michael R. Bloomberg
Inside the Data
- The Philanthropy 50: Who They Are and How They Give
- How Much Top Donors Have Given Since 2001
- Gift Amounts by Cash Donations and Pledges
- Locations of Donors and Recipients
- Causes That Received Gifts of $5-million or More
- Donors' Sources of Wealth
- Bequests Included in the 2011 Philanthropy 50
- Women Donors on the List Since 2000
- Living Donors by Age
Live Discussion
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Seeking Big Gifts: Tactics for Trying Times
Read the transcript of a live online discussion about how charities of all kinds can win donations from wealthy donors.
Beyond the Rankings
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As Tensions Over Wealth Gap Rise, Rich Are Giving More
The nation’s 50 most-generous donors continued to direct most of their giving to colleges, foundations, and other causes rather than social-service groups.
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America’s Wealthy Made More Big Gifts, but Still Lag Behind Pre-Recession Pace
The 50 biggest donors contributed $10.4-billion last year, up from $3.3-billion in 2010.
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Buffett, Gates, and Turner Continue to Pay Off Mega Pledges
The Philanthropy 50 list doesn't include some of the best-known names in giving because those donors didn't make any new commitments in the past year.
Appealing to Big Donors
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Community Fund Uses Western Flair to Land Big Gift
The South Dakota Community Foundation uses its knowledge of what two donors cared most about to seek a big estate gift.
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Ore. University’s Honest Discussion of Strengths Wins Big Gift
Oregon Health & Science University Foundation offered a 12-page statement of what it could do with a large sum when an anonymous benefactor showed interest in the...
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