In 2024, The Chronicle released its yearly compilation showcasing the most significant charitable donations from individuals and foundations, accumulating nearly $6 billion. Remarkably, half of this total stemmed from just three contributions, each exceeding $1 billion. Two of these substantial gifts were directed toward medical schools to enhance financial aid programs. Overall, four donations on the list, amounting to $2.3 billion, were aimed specifically at supporting financial aid initiatives.

Additionally, three contributions were made to the donors’ own foundations, also totaling $2.3 billion. Other notable donations included support for medical research and treatment, civic engagement, and the arts. The list comprises 12 prominent gifts due to several ties among the donors. Notably, six of these philanthropists are multibillionaires, with an estimated combined net worth of around $365 billion.

Leading the list is a substantial gift from Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, whose net worth exceeds $5 billion according to estimates. Hastings and his wife, Patty Quillin, donated 2 million shares of Netflix stock valued at $1.1 billion in January to their Hastings Fund at the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The couple launched this fund in 2016, primarily focusing on educational organizations, a cause close to Hastings, who previously taught high school math during his time as a Peace Corps volunteer and later served as president of the California State Board of Education.

The second-largest contribution came from Michael Bloomberg, founder of the Bloomberg financial news organization and former mayor of New York City. Bloomberg donated $1 billion through Bloomberg Philanthropies to Johns Hopkins University to ensure free medical education for most students, along with increased financial aid for nursing and public health students. Bloomberg, whose wealth is approximately $105 billion, has made significant contributions to his alma mater, totaling at least $3.5 billion since his graduation in 1964.

Following Bloomberg’s lead, Ruth Gottesman, a professor emerita at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, also aimed to make medical education accessible by donating $1 billion in February to support lifelong free tuition for students at her former institution. Gottesman, who has a long history with the college, initiated various educational programs and contributed to its growth.

Another notable donation came from Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, who contributed 1.5 million shares of his company’s stock worth $716.1 million in November to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, named after his late first wife. Buffett’s foundation, established in 1964, primarily supports women’s reproductive health and provides scholarships for students in Nebraska. This large donation was separate from his usual annual contributions to the foundation and other charitable organizations tied to his substantial pledges made in 2006.

The Chronicle’s annual rankings of the year’s largest donations are based solely on publicly disclosed gifts, excluding donations of artwork or gifts from anonymous donors. The detailed list of donations will be complemented by an annual ranking of the 50 biggest donors in March, which will account for the total contributions made in 2024 instead of just individual gifts.

**THE LIST**

1. Reed Hastings and Patty Quillin (co-founders of Netflix): $1.1 billion to Hastings Fund at Silicon Valley Community Foundation

2. (tie) Michael Bloomberg (founder of Bloomberg): $1 billion to Johns Hopkins University for financial aid

2. (tie) Ruth Gottesman (professor emerita at Albert Einstein College of Medicine): $1 billion to Albert Einstein College of Medicine for financial aid

4. Warren Buffett (CEO of Berkshire Hathaway): $716.1 million to Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation

5. Reed Hastings and Patty Quillin: $502.4 million to Hastings Fund at Silicon Valley Community Foundation

6. Roy Vagelos (retired Merck chairman) and his wife, Diana: $400 million to Columbia University for the establishment of the Roy and Diana Vagelos Institute for Basic Biomedical Science

7. Alice Walton (Walmart heiress): $350 million to Mercy Health for the establishment of a cardiac care center

8. Jackie and Mike Bezos (parents of Jeff Bezos): $185.7 million to Aspen Institute for the establishment of the Center for Rising Generations

9. (tie) Barbara Britt (late widow of Glenn Britt): $150 million bequest to Dartmouth College for financial aid

9. (tie) Hyatt Brown and wife Cici: $150 million to the Museum of Arts and Sciences for a new building

9. (tie) Emmet Stephenson Jr. and daughter Tessa Stephenson Brand: $150 million to City of Hope for pancreatic cancer research

9. (tie) Byron Trott (chairman of BDT & MSD Partners) and wife Tina: $150 million to STARS College Network to help students from small and rural towns graduate from college.