Top 2023 charity donors include Phil Knight, James Simons, and Warren Buffett

Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett on a visit of the CHI Health convention centre, where several Berkshire Hathaway.Photo byNati Harnik

In 2023, The Chronicle of Philanthropy recorded over $3.5 billion in charitable donations, spotlighting several substantial benefactions made by individuals and their foundations. The list featured 11 major gifts given to institutions, with notable allocations to universities, research institutes, healthcare, and philanthropic initiatives.

At the forefront stands Warren Buffett, renowned investment tycoon who contributed 1.5 million shares of Berkshire Hathaway Class “B” stock valued at $541.5 million to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation. This monumental gift, announced in November, reflects Buffett’s dedication to managing family charitable endeavours, particularly in backing women’s reproductive health and fostering educational opportunities in Nebraska.

Following Buffett's lead, mathematician James Simons and his wife, Marilyn, bestowed $500 million through the Simons Foundation to the State University of New York at Stony Brook, aiming to fortify the university's endowment, scholarships, and research ventures.

Entrepreneur Ross Brown, founder of Cryogenic Industries, pledged $400 million to the California Institute of Technology, shaping the Brown Institute for Basic Sciences and aiming to sponsor scientific research and the Ross Brown Investigators Award Program.

Phil and Penny Knight, Nike cofounders and spouses, committed $400 million to the 1803 Fund, fostering Rebuild Albina to revive the cultural and economic vitality of Portland's historic Albina, an erstwhile vibrant black neighbourhood.

Daniel and Jennifer Gilbert, through the Gilbert Family Foundation, offered $375 million to Henry Ford Health, intending to construct two medical centers. One centre focuses on rehabilitation for spinal cord and brain injuries, while the other, the Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute, concentrates on finding a cure for neurofibromatosis.

Financier Kenneth Griffin contributed $300 million through the Kenneth C. Griffin Charitable Fund to bolster financial aid and various programs within Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Griffin and entertainment executive David Geffen also joined forces, presenting $400 million to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, although the exact amounts from each benefactor remained undisclosed.

This roster of exceptional philanthropic gestures, though limited to the ten largest publicly announced donations, showcases the profound generosity of individuals and foundations, heralding impactful contributions across diverse spheres of education, healthcare, scientific research, and community welfare. The Chronicle of Philanthropy's forthcoming annual ranking in March will present a broader overview, encompassing the total philanthropic contributions of donors throughout 2023.